Tom Hobden & Eliot James 'Housman's Theme' by George Daniell

George Daniell's video for Tom Hobden & Eliot James's Housman's Theme (on Blink Productions' label offshoot Village Green Recordings) is a portrait of a man who works in one of the most striking landscapes in England. And it's just great filmmaking.

David Kennard is a shepherd on the North coast of Devon, where he grazes his sheep on an unique piece of land - the clifftops of Morte Point. And if you thought the life of a shepherd was quiet, peaceful and unhurried - think again. Daniell, and his DoP Eoin Mcloughlin, have captured Kennard's working life as an intense, blood-pumping, visceral experience.

The animals, the relentlessness of the job, the brutal beauty of the place are almost palpable here - never more so than when Kennard, his dogs and the sheep head onto the clifftops. That is the breathtaking climax to a beautiful and moving film. Tremendous stuff.

 

GEORGE DANIELL:

"It was filmed over two days, one pre-lambing season in February and one post-lambing in April. All shot in North Devon, near a place called Mortehoe. I actually grew up in Devon and spend a lot of time on the North coast, it's one of my favourite places in the world!

"I heard a bit about David Kennard the shepherd and the unique piece of land he grazes his sheep on - Morte Point (the clifftops). I love documentary filmmaking so wanted to combine documentary style with a music video, so got hold of David and persuaded him to let me and DOP Eoin Mcloughlin spend a couple of days with him, getting an insight into his life and work. I pitched the idea to Blink and Village Green Recordings and they liked the idea!"