After winning seven Oscars, you’d think that there was nothing left for Gravity to win. But you’d be wrong.
Because director Miguel Vestibulo, better known in Croydon as Michael Hall, has managed to be nominated – again – with his specially truncated version of the space blockbuster, shot in 2-D, for the Empire Magazine Done in 60 Seconds competition.
It is the fifth year in succession that Hall, a leading light in local am-dram, has made it into the final 20 in this competition, which is sponsored by Jameson Irish Whiskey, although in any acceptance speech Hall might make he is just as likely to thank Coca-Cola and Pringles for the parts that their cans and tins played in the making of his mini-movie.
Gravity’s 2-D version director Michael Hall, centre, with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney aka Sarah Block and Paul Grace
Shot exclusively on location in Hall’s South Croydon flat, his Ford Fiesta (made to look uncannily like a space ship with the use of some black back cloths and gaffer tape) and Heathfield Park, this unremittingly thrilling, Croydonesque take on the nail-biting space survival thriller Gravity stars Sarah Block as Sandra Bullock and Paul Grace as George Clooney.
To progress through to the next round, Hall’s version of Gravity needs your votes at http://www.empireonline.com/awards2014/diss/ . Voting closes on March 12.
Last year, Hall’s spoof version of Robocop made it through to the top five UK entries. “We got to meet such notable figures as Tom ‘Loki’ Hiddleston and Joanne Froggatt (Anna the maid from Downton Abbey), as well as Edith Bowman and Alex Zane, in a rather whiskey-fuelled global final,” Hall said.
“I would be kicking myself if this year we didn’t manage to get as far as last year. This year’s global DISS final is at the end of March, and if we make it to the top five international entries, we’ll be off to the Empire Awards – and, who knows, maybe take home the prize.”
Coming to Croydon
- Meet Boris Johnson, Selsdon Halls, Mar 11
- March of the Mods at Oval Tavern for Teenage Cancer Trust, Mar 16
- St Patrick’s Night celebration, Ruskin House, Mar 17
- Upper Norwood Library Book Club, Mar 15
- Norwood Society talk, Upper Norwood Library, Mar 20
- South Norwood Lakes Playground group workshop, Mar 25
- David Lean Cinema: Basically Johnny Moped, Mar 27-28
- Croydon Half-marathon, Mar 30
- David Lean Cinema: 12 Years a Slave, Apr 3
- David Lean Cinema: The Great Beauty, Apr 10
- David Lean Cinema: Inside Llewyn Davis, Apr 17
- Opening of Marlpit Lane bowling and putting greens, Apr 17
- Arts and Crafts Market, Exchange Square, Apr 19
- David Lean Cinema: Short Term, Apr 24
- Crystal Palace Overground Festival, June 26-29
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Brilliant! I’ll go vote.
Thanks to everyone who voted and supported. We made it through, not only to the final five UK entries, but (for the first time) to the final five international entries. We made it to the Empire Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel last Sunday, attended by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman and many many more, but were pipped to the post by a version of There Will Be Blood from Somerset. But a great time was had by this director and his “Sandra Bullock”.