Unconventional

Marillion Unconventional.

Three thousand fans from fifty two countries. Three shows. One band.

The story of the 2015 Marillion Weekend at Port Zélande, The Netherlands and a snapshot of a band 17 Albums and 35 years into an extraordinary career.

  • Tim Sidwell
    Director
  • Jeremy Mason
    Producer
  • Tim Sidwell
    Producer
  • Jeremy Mason
    DP
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 15, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands, United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Tim Sidwell

Working as an independent producer, director and editor for the last 17 years, Tim has taken Toward Infinity to many of the staple venues of the UK music scene and beyond. From the Royal Albert Hall to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, from the legendary Astoria to the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton.

He is the go-to director for Marillion and has produced approaching 20 concert films as well as EPKs and Making Of documentaries for the rock legends, filming them across the UK as well as in Holland and Canada. His treatment for Unconventional was brought to the screen in collaboration with filmmaking partner Jeremy Mason.

Working together since 2014 Tim and Jeremy have enjoyed critical and commercial success with a range of other artists including the number one releases 'Celebrating Jon Lord' at the Royal Albert Hall (concert film and documentary) and 'Bring Me The Horizon Live at Wembley' (concert film). Concert films for Lisa Stansfield and Incognito have also knocked on the door of the top ten.

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Director Statement

Unconventional was a satisfyingly collaborative project with Marillion. Having worked with them for a decade they were able to put a great deal of trust in myself and my filmmaking partner Jeremy Mason.

What started as a brief to tell the story of one of the most unique events in the music industry soon became an opportunity to dig deeper, to discover what makes a band tick after 35 years together and to uncover how they keep going creatively and financially.

And it was also a chance to shine a light on the Marillion 'family' - the die hard community that travel to the event not just to see the band play live but to also catch up with friends made from all over the globe.

Shooting primarilly on C300s with Cine Prime lenses we captured reality, edge of action interviews and behind the scenes footage in the period of preparation and rehearsals. In Holland we spent the week leading up to the shows and the weekend itself filming location, construction of the arena, load ins, sunrises in the Dutch mist, arrivals of band and fans and the general, incredible atmosphere.

Following the event the master interviews were shot with a two camera set up over a day in the splendid and surreal environs of Aynhoe Park.

Oh yes, and we also filmed all three shows of the Weekend with a 14 camera set up, parts of which are within Unconventional and all of which will be released as concert films in their own right later in 2016.

It was exhausting, it was exhillerating, it was everything working with one of your favourite bands should be.