Longridge filmmakers win global filmmaking competition

what if we lived film by Route Nine Showreels — What if we lived film by Route Nine Showreels

Two Longridge-based filmmakers won the MusicBed filmmaking challenge this year.

Route Nine Showreels founders, Teri Moran-Dawson and Mike Moran-Dawson entered the MusicBed filmmaking competition with their film ‘what if we lived’.

The Longridge based filmmakers have entered this competition three times before and have been finalists twice.

The MusicBed challenge took place over 30 days in which competitors must make a short film. In previous years Teri and Mike have made animated films but this year they decided to show their versatility and make a live-action film.

When creating the film, Teri and Mike worked with fellow filmmaker Mike Smith from Blackpool and casted actors Laura Rosana Yates and Christopher Everett who they had worked with previously.

(From left to right)
Christopher Everette, Laura Rosana, Mike Smith, Teri Moran-Dawson and Mike Moran-Dawson

Teri and Mike specifically support Northern actors to level the playing field as many talented actors in the North face challenges in creating strong show reels – often due to fewer initial opportunities.

Teri said: “It’s chicken and egg situation, if you’ve never been in anything, you don’t have the footage so you don’t get in the [audition] room. So we reverse engineer the process.

Their film was about a couple in their 40s, on an awkward first date then all of a sudden a broadcast comes on the TV that announces that there’s an asteroid headed towards earth and the world’s going to end in seven days.

Image of two actors in 'what if we lived' film

Teri expressed her and her husband Mike’s excitement when they found out they won. She said: “We couldn’t believe it, it’s like we were living double lives.”

“The prizes are insane. We’ve won a camera and lighting, lots of subscriptions and a $15,000 cash grant as well.

“We’re just completely over the moon. We’re going to reinvest all of that into our business and into the next film. We’re just so excited.”

The couple shared the judges feedback with Blog Preston.

“This film establishes a premise—the impending end of the world—and then maximises it emotionally.” – director at Hungry Man Iqbal Ahmed

“Love the deeper meaning of this story and the different emotions that the characters experience throughout the film.” – music supervisor at Format Entertainment Christian Zabala

“Really great emotion, tension, and suspense. Even in the happy moments, you get a sense of a ticking time bomb.

“The acting was good and the cinematography was beautiful.” – SVP, DoP at Rise & Run Brian Gonsar.

Teri gave advice on future filmmakers who want to get into the industry and take part in competitions such as MusicBed.

She said: “Just learn, just get on YouTube, figure out lighting, figure out editing, figure out as much as possible so that nobody can tell you no.”

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