Mercatura Productions

Arran is represented by ICM (International Creative Management) in London. Any further information on Arran, please contact: Josh Varney (Agent) on (+44) 207 636 6565.

Arran lives and is based in London. He graduated in Fine Art from London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in 1996. Following graduation, he developed as a freelance storyboard artist, conceptual illustrator and developed into VFX. Whilst in the States, Arran was introduced to a leading California based Director of Photography whom became his mentor encouraging Arran to move to California where he independently wrote, shot and directed a series of Nike test spots that immediately introduced him into the commercials industry. Arran is currently represented for commercials through Gang Films (Paris) and BRW & Partners (Milan) and Bare Films in London.

Still in the early stages of his career, Arran has shot several commercials for prestigious brands such as BMW, Nike, World Industries and an Aids Awareness government campaign. Arran has been short listed twice for the CFPE New Directors Award at Cannes (NIKE ‘Stallion’ –Test spot in 2001 and BMW ‘Serenity’ in 2002 for BDDP & Fils-Paris), to which the Nike spot was scored by friend and mentor Michael Kamen, to whom also kindly arranged Arran’s score for his short film titled ‘CUPID’ which was profiled in the 2003 Cannes Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase. In 2003 Arran’s spot titled ‘Roulette’ for Aids Awareness (TBWA Paris) was showcased in the 2003 Gold Lions at Cannes. Arran’s highly controversial music promo for artist Robert Miles titled ‘Paths’ was selected as ‘the promo of the month’ (Promo Magazine 2001-Editor Dave Knight) for its unique manipulation of VFX, direction and production design.

Arran gained national recognition with his emotive short film titled ‘The Study of Luma’ in 2005, which was launched through the BBC Film Network as well as having this film selected in festivals such as the Portobello Film Festival, Super Shorts Film Festival and one of the largest independent British festivals the Raindance Film Festival, from which Arran’s film received a B.I.F.A nomination and was showcased in the top 10 short film compilation DVD. Arran’s 2nd short film was written by David Soul and Arran and is titled ‘Old Dog’. The film stars close friend and budding actor Sean Brosnan alongside 70’s Starsky & Hutch icon, David Soul. Although it is still in its early days, ‘Old Dog’ is currently being well received on the international festival circuit (Refer to biography listing).

Although drama and action based scripts are his preference, he thrives to explore black comedy and would relish directing this within narrative and performance. Arran really enjoys the combination of VFX within film. Being over analytical of his work is possibly his weakness as a filmmaker and he admits and strongly feels that his show-reel so far lacks in narrative and performance based films. It is this area that Arran is most interested in developing further through commercials and promos.

January 2007, Arran has just shot a 60’’ cinema & TV commercial for London’s Advertising Agency, famous for the producing all the Guinness Commercials, Abbot Mead Vickers BBDO (Winner Grand Prix Prize Cannes 2006). The agency’s client is called Focus 12, an anti-drug Charity.

To view Arran’s commercial work:

SHORT FILM / COMMERCIALS & PROMOS

2/2007	‘MULES’	Pre-Production
1/2007	‘OLD JUNKIES‘	CLIENT: FOCUS 12 60’(AMV London) – CURRENTLY IN POST
4/2006	‘OLD DOG’	SHORT FILM (DAVID SOUL / SEAN BROSNAN)

OFFICIAL SELECTION:	TO DATE:
CLEMANT FERRAND FESTIVAL	2007
RUSHES SOHO SHORT FILM FESTIVAL	2006 (In Competition)
EDINBURGH FILM FESTIVAL	2006
HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL	2006 (In Competition)
TORONTO REBEL-FEST FESTIVAL (CANADA)	2006
14TH RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL	2006 (In Competition)
STASH MEDIA (NEW YORK)	2006
EDMONTON FILM FESTIVAL (CANADA)	2006
UK SIGNAL SHORTS FESTIVAL	2006
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE FILM FESTIVAL	2006
CARDIFF FILM FESTIVAL	2006

2005	‘STUDY OF LUMA’	(LEWIS GROLLE / LUMA)
NOMINATION – British Independent Film Awards 2005

OFFICIAL SELECTION:

BBC FILM NETWORK	2005
13TH RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL	2005 (Winner Best under 5 minute)
THE PORTOBELLO FILM FESTIVAL	2006
UK SUPER SHOTS	2005

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION THROUGH FUTURE SHORTS

COMMERCIALS & PROMOS

2007	‘OLD DOG’ OFFICIAL SELECTION @ RAINDANCE FESTIVAL
2006	‘OLD DOG’ OFFICIAL SELECTION RUSHES SOHO SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
2003	‘CUPID’ SAATCHI & SAATCHI NEW DIRECTOR’S SHOWCASE - CANNES
2003	‘ROULETTE’ AIDS AWARENESS (TBWA/PARIS)-CANNES GOLD LION SHOWCASE
2002	BMW ‘SERENITY’ (BDDP) CANNES CFP-E Young Directors Award - SHORT-LIST
2002	ROBERT MILES ‘PATHS’ - PROMO MAGAZINE (Promo of the Month)
2001	NIKE ‘STALLION’ (Test) - CANNES CFP-E Young Directors Award - SHORT-LIST