“Ever since I was young I’ve been fascinated by two things, music & images.” - Glenn Hanstock
About
Ever since being scared to death by Jaws at the cinema and loving the music of the late Ennio Morricone and other iconic film composers, I’ve been hooked on music and images. During the 1990s I played in several indie bands, most notably the Jain Faith, Solo 70, and Polanski which featured ex-Charlatan guitarist Jon Baker. During this period my love of films grew but my creative output was completely music.
After relocating to Liverpool and going back to university in the early 2000s I was commissioned to produce a series of short youth dramas focusing on mental health issues and met the late Liverpool writer Arthur Ellison (Brookside, Hollyoaks, and Moving On) which led to a short spell at LA Productions and directing a number of his teen-focused dramas.
In 2014, I produced and directed a short documentary ‘Small is Beautiful’ after falling in love with Dafna’s Cheesecake Factory and its tiny but feisty owner Anne Lev. The film intertwines two stories, the origins of one of Liverpool’s oldest and best-loved independent shops, while the second focuses on the enduring love story between Anne and her husband Jacov, spanning 50 years.
Small is Beautiful
Small is Beautiful received attention from Oscar-nominated Screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce:
“You have a nice quietly hypnotic cinema documentary on your hands, really!”
Frank Cottrell Boyce (Doctor Who 2014, 24 Hour Party People, and Brookside)
And multi-BAFTA winning documentary director Nicholas Kent
“It’s a beautiful piece of work, filmed with flair and sensitivity, and Anne is a deeply engaging character, a real treasure. Congratulations on what you have made” .
Nicolas Kent – Creative Director, Oxford Film and Television
Tickle the Ivories
In 2015 I made another documentary this time with a music theme titled Tickle the Ivories. It went on to win the Best Documentary at the Lift-Off Film Festival as well as screening internationally, at Pinewood Studios and Sheffield DocFest.
Embrace the New
Following the festival success of Tickle the Ivories, I’ve worked as a producer, director, and self-shooter working with artists on music videos and at festivals including Kasabian, The Courteeners, Richard Ashcroft, Primal Scream, Inhaler, and James.
In 2017 I directed a feature-length music documentary Embrace the New featuring Manchester music legends Johnny Marr, Shaun Ryder, Clint Boon, Peter Hook, Rowetta, and DJ Graeme Park who also produced the film.
To the Edge
In 2019 I directed the 30-minute teen drama To the Edge; a hard-hitting tale of the dangers young people face when they become involved with underworld drug gangs. Written by Leon Lopez (Coronation Street and Emmerdale Farm). Further scenes from To the Edge can is viewed in the directing drama section on my Work Page.
Launching this website has given me the opportunity to look back at some of the projects I’ve worked on and, while writing this about page I’m feeling an immense sense of gratitude for these opportunities and for the exceptionally talented people that feature in them, sharing their life, talent, and experiences through my lens.
Contact
electrobankmedia@gmail.com
+44 7746 279742