Sign Off

from Flotsam and Jetsam on Vimeo.

Seven years on from starting this blog and I’m finally writing the sign off. Working on this film was easily the happiest I’ve ever been at work and the proudest I’ve ever been about a final outcome.

The film has been screened all over the world, on television and at festivals and we've been featured on blogs magazines as well as gallery. If you've got a minute I'd say these are my highlights from the blog. I hope you enjoy the film.

Thank you Darling.

The worst message in a bottle of all time

In 2016 the Metro dubbed this the worst message in a bottle of all time! Having read a few I’d agree it has to be up there.

That said, I’ve still got massive love for the sesh.

You can find more info here.

Cor Ellen

On the 6th of May 2012 Cornelius Ellen passed away at the age of 85. There's so much you can say about a man who escaped the Nazis, had a bust of his own head in his living room and girlfriends all over the world, but I’m a bit lost for words. He really lit up our film and I feel incredibly lucky to have met him.

On the 23rd of September 2012 his ashes were scattered in the Wadden Sea with the wind blowing from the east.

How lovely's this?

Since we've made the film we haven't had allot of luck with festivals so the fact that somebody who saw Flotsam and wanted to write about means loads to me.

So thank you helloyoucreatives.com

Flotasm's going to be in a ID Magazine screening at The Red Gallery, London Tomorrow 7th Sep, the doors 6:30pm and the films start 7pm. From what I can gather It's an exhibition of past covers and a retrospective of the Magazine with some similar content to the magazine its self, so its a great honor. This is thanks to Short and Sweet.

HELL YEAH - We are getting shown at the Rushes Soho Short film festival. POW

As an update to this the Documentary Screenings will be at the ICA at 6 on Saturday the 23rd. There's more info here

Some more pictures from the final edit...

Holler...We've finally got together a few images from the final stages of production. Check it out....

An update and 'Float'
So...we've finished the edit just the sound to do and few tweaks and we've got a film. It's been ages since my last post for 2 reasons 1, I wanted to finish the film and 2, I've not really seen anything worth bloging about until today.

'Float' is a documentary about the competitive world of rubber band propelled planes and the trailer completely fucks off.

Float Documentary Trailer from Phil Kibbe on Vimeo.

As if it didn't have me by 2:30 but there's string a version of 'Do You Realize' by the Flaming Lips, now I've spent my life trying to avoid string versions of Beatles songs but I thought this was a good choice.

Happy Christmas


If the novelty of looking at things covered in snow hasn't worn off yet I've uploaded this Jpeg of some flotsam with snow on. I was going to write 'Happy Christmas' on it in a san serif font but what's the point?

It's been over a year now since we started working on the film including treatments and just under a year for the blog. Every hit, comment and piece of feedback has been really appreciated (Nell this means you).

I've also attached my favorite Christmas song 'Just like Christmas' by Low, if you haven't heard it this year you should bang it on.



We're nearly finished hopefully in January well have a film to show you.
Merry Christmas

A Terrible Mix Up
We've just finished the second edit of Flotsam & Jetsam although there's still allot of work I think its shaping up. We got some feedback from Vision+Media many positive stuff although there was one grey area.
The confusion follows as thus;

Will, (Vision+Media)
Subject: clarification

hi both,

when i said in my last email 'please try and animate the brother and sister' i didn't mean literally animate them, just get them excited!

Sam's responses was;
Too late!!

We've spent the last of our money at Pixar
expect an oscar


I just hope this one pans out.

I just watch the BBC's 'The Weird Adventures of Eadweard Muybridge' part of the Imagine - Winter 2010 seriese. If you already know about photographic gnarl bag Edward Muybridge you should really enjoy this, if you don't know much about him your in for such a treat.

the Documentary Blog Podcasts
The Documentary Blog has been great since we started production and there pod-casts are turning into my favourite thing about Mondays. The Bradley Beesley and Ben Steinbauer remains my Favourite but Malcolm Ingram and the Ondi Timoner is really inspiring and if you spend long periods of time on your own its always nice to hear other human voice.

You can stream them of there site of downloaded them of iTUNES.

Recent Shoot





I've just noticed how mono tone this blog has got so I thought Id post some screen grabs of last weeks shoot. I love all these shots and hope we do them justice in the edit.

Message in a bottle of the week


Modest Stefan's English is pretty good, way better than my Swedish which is normally the case. As a triumph of ignorance and the Empire we made too and from Holland last week with out a word of any other language.

We are currently in Texel getting a few shots to finish the edit and thanks to Jaap Eelman a local camera man / editor we've found this super 8 footage dating back to 1920.

Message in a bottle of the week



What's this kids deal? Occasionally I write a letter about how ace I am and throw it into the sea.

Message in the Bottle of the week
(a couple of weeks late)


Not much to say about this one it's written in Dutch and when we got it translated most of it dose make sense. It starts of with "I'm your big bear man" the rest of is an address and incoherent sex noises!

The funny thing about the address is the message was found very close to where it was sent. Where's the dignity?

So me and Sam have started the edit this week, were currently sorting out the rushes. It's becoming increasing obvious how much the camera loves this guy.

This isn't very maritime, but its visually brilliant so i thought it was worth a post. This is a Japanese short that I first saw in University. I had a little bit of trouble finding it, so this version has a weird soundtrack, but it looks amazing. Check it.