All that trudging through cow pats at 4am really seems worth it now. The Moo Man, a wonderfully entertaining and challenging documentary about a humane and charismatic farmer from the Pevensey Levels, is being screened at the LA Film Festival.
I'm delighted to be credited as stills photographer, and it's a joy to work with Andy Heathcote and Heike Bachelier of Trufflepig Films, even if it does mean crawling out of bed when most good folk are snoring.
Its just an average start for farmer Steve Hook, a man of incredible dedication and infectious, gentle charisma. He seems to have become a champion for the resourceful modern British Farmer and his heart-winning love for his animals glows through the tears-and-laughter tales that unfold in the film. The pride of his small herd is Ida, who rather steals the show. Steve seems to know all of the cows in his herd by name.
Moo Man Director Andy Heathcote in action
Film stills are a line of work that I'm reviving and it's a joy to work on set or on location. I especially loved working alongside Andy, who is a very inspiring director and brilliant cameraman himself. It seems right somehow that this little movie has been featured in at so many American and European Film Festivals this year, after being a surprise nomination for the Sundance Festival. See it if you can. There's a lot of Moo-ing in it...a lot.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Moo-Man/190153218058?fref=ts
Steve and his Cows ©James McDonald 2013