Of Shark and Man - Final Update... Mission Accomplished!

It's been 7 years since I first started this blog and in the last couple of those, I've just not been able to keep up with it. Work, family, travel, all has taken up my time to the extent that any spare time I have, I want to spend away from a computer, so this my friends is almost certainly the last post I will make here and it's only fitting that it is one to announce that, after all that hard work... I did it.

In April of this year I signed an international distribution deal for Of Shark and Man and the film has started making its way out into the big wide world where it will have to survive on its own, make its own choices and learn how to overcome life's challenges as a big grown up film in a massively saturated market.

From the website:

I am very proud to finally be able to announce news I have been sitting on for months now, Of Shark and Man is finally available on international release for you to own or rent as of today!

It’s been a long road, I signed the deal back in April, one of the reasons it’s taken so long to happen is there have been numerous offers and contracts on the table, all with different details, different financial offers and different geographic territories so it’s been quite hectic and time consuming to make the final decision, a decision which the last seven years has been leading up to.

A statistic I read a few months back took me by surprise, only 2% of independent films are ever picked up for international distribution and with documentary, the percentage is even lower so this is no mean feat. I must thank Ed Brochin with Shami Media Group, who, since we first met in May last year at the Nice International Film Festival has been persistently and enthusiastically chasing the film to release, his energy and commitment to releasing Of Shark and Man as been immensely flattering and validating to me. Big thanks as well to his sister, my friend Deanna Brochin, who insisted she introduce us, which got the ball rolling in the first place.

You will have noticed by now the film has new artwork. In order to stand out in an increasingly saturated market, the distributors felt the artwork needed to be more sharky so to speak. Don’t worry though, the original artwork you are all so familiar with, created by the awesome people at EDNA interactive (thank you Ed, Anna and Sue!) will still be very visible as, like you all, I absolutely love it. It also means that all of you with the posters now have limited number collectors items!

As of today, Thursday July 29th 2017,  Amazon Prime is the first platform on which to buy or rent the film with the United Kingdom, United States & North America, Germany and Japan the first territories where the film is available, however, these will be added to over the coming days and weeks, alongside more platforms, DVD retailers and hopefully cable T.V. too.

There is going to be a page on the site as soon as possible with up to date information that will be regularly updated with all the info and links you need to get your own copy of the film.
Thank you to everyone who has emailed and messaged over the years asking to view the film, the wait is now over and you can finally get your own copy so go ahead, I hope you enjoy the film and let me know what you think on the Facebook page!

It’s been a long old ride but we got there in the end! Now it’s time to start work on part 2…

The website is the place to go for all the info you need to buy your own copy as it will be regularly updated with all new territories and platforms and if you need any further convincing to get yourself a copy of the film, check out this review from UK Film Review which coincidentally, also dropped today;

"When the sole reason of watching a film is to write a review, you often take mental (or physical) notes to refer back to. Whilst watching David Diley’s Of Shark and Man, there were many moments where those thoughts were erased. Not only is it a remarkable film, showcasing a side to sharks we’ve never seen, it’s an entertaining, grounded and informative experience. We hear from divers, biologists and shark experts. It’s ambitious, but it’s also ambiguous.

David Diley is living a normal, tiresome life in London. He longs for something more, so resigns and heads out on an adventure to achieve one of his childhood dreams; to swim with sharks. Firstly, if you didn’t love sharks before, you will now. There’s some valuable knowledge presented here, looking at their behaviour towards humans and how we can help them survive. When under the sea, we look in awe of these magnificent creatures. When above water, we see the people that are working hard to protect them. Sharks are misunderstood and to be respected. We learn this almost instantly. What’s truly unique about Of Shark and Man is that we see many sides to the story. It’s never bigger than itself and this is something I greatly admired.

The visual approach is spectacular. We get as close to the sharks as possible, experiencing almost exactly as David does. We see them in all their ferocious beauty. A huge majority of the film is captured through David’s camera, which sparks up a personal connection which is absolutely essential. Though no great amount of planning was made, the feature feels under control and wonderfully progressive.

Swimming graciously beside this, is the brilliantly compiled soundtrack featuring many fantastic pieces of music written by a vast array of adventurous composers. Each track feels vital to the picture, emotions seen in the film are reflected in the music, though never overstaying its welcome. For instance; the moments underwater during the shark feedings. The visuals do a lot of the work, but having a forceful yet carefully performed layer of percussion underneath as the sharks circulate the camera, can lend a hand in the overall impact. Curating a diverse and effective soundtrack is of great importance, especially when planning such an ambitious project.

By the end of the film we see a transformed and evolved David. It’s a touching reward. Of Shark and Man’s personal direction provides an intimate and exciting viewing experience that I’ll truly never forget. It’s very informative and clean. You’ll never feel outsmarted due to convoluted discussion, it’s smartly handled and thoughtfully cut together. The work has been done, now we can only hope that more people will take notice.

Leaving nothing to be desired, Of Shark and Man is the captain of its own ship as pieces fall naturally into place, creating an exuberant and tasty treat to feed on."

Thank you to everyone who has read, shared and commented on my blogs over the years, who knows, maybe I'll be back one day but rest assured, the journey is only just beginning and work now starts on Of Shark and Man Part II!

Thanks again for everything.

I am very proud to finally be able to announce news I have been sitting on for months now, Of Shark and Man is finally available on international release for you to own or rent as of today!
It’s been a long road, I signed the deal back in April, one of the reasons it’s taken so long to happen is there have been numerous offers and contracts on the table, all with different details, different financial offers and different geographic territories so it’s been quite hectic and time consuming to make the final decision, a decision which the last seven years has been leading up to.
A statistic I read a few months back took me by surprise, only 2% of independent films are ever picked up for international distribution and with documentary, the percentage is even lower so this is no mean feat. I must thank Ed Brochin with Shami Media Group, who, since we first met in May last year at the Nice International Film Festival has been persistently and enthusiastically chasing the film to release, his energy and commitment to releasing Of Shark and Man as been immensely flattering and validating to me. Big thanks as well to his sister, my friend Deanna Brochin, who insisted she introduce us, which got the ball rolling in the first place.
You will have noticed by now the film has new artwork. In order to stand out in an increasingly saturated market, the distributors felt the artwork needed to be more sharky so to speak. Don’t worry though, the original artwork you are all so familiar with, created by the awesome people at EDNA interactive (thank you Ed, Anna and Sue!) will still be very visible as, like you all, I absolutely love it. It also means that all of you with the posters now have limited number collectors items!
As of today, Thursday July 29th 2017,  Amazon Prime is the first platform on which to buy or rent the film with the United Kingdom, United States & North America, Germany and Japan the first territories where the film is available, however, these will be added to over the coming days and weeks, alongside more platforms, DVD retailers and hopefully cable T.V. too.
There is going to be a page on the site as soon as possible with up to date information that will be regularly updated with all the info and links you need to get your own copy of the film.
Thank you to everyone who has emailed and messaged over the years asking to view the film, the wait is now over and you can finally get your own copy so go ahead, I hope you enjoy the film and let me know what you think on the Facebook page!
It’s been a long old ride but we got there in the end! Now it’s time to start work on part 2…