Dark Energy Sets Sail with New Signing George Messa
George Messa has signed to Dark Energy for UK representation. George cut his teeth directing at Rock Hound before turning freelance. He also worked with Rattling Stick to get The Last Stand off the ground, alongside social entrepreneur Gundeep Anand.
Messa loves a challenge and his latest project for Helly Hansen is no exception. The three part docu-series for the outdoor brand, titled ‘Heroes of the Unpredictable’, follows three individuals who often face off against some of the harshest conditions the planet has to offer but whether it’s on sea, up a mountain or shooting out of a Helicopter, Messa is never happier than when up to his eyeballs in challenging conditions.
"Shooting on Thomas Coville’s multi-million pound Trimaran for Grey London, you obviously have to take precautions. Many people would have chosen to shoot using a go-pro and DSLR in those conditions, but we were there to make a cinematic film that would stand out against the rest. Shaun Atherton, my DoP had previously shot on the Volvo Ocean Race with a RED, so we knew it was possible and pushed to make it work, which it did. What people may not realise is the choreography involved, and we didn’t have a mega budget on this by any means. You’ve got the Trimaran, the tracking boat, the support boat, the weather, the drone and all of the other boats in the bay. It definitely gets the heart pumping!
When I was a kid growing up in rural Hampshire, I’d tell people that I wanted to be a director and I might as well have said ‘astronaut’. It was only when I grew up and moved to a city that I realised that you can be whoever you want. Projects like Helly Hansen, M&S ‘The Arctic Fishermen’ and Talisker ‘Wild Spirits’ are reflective of the kind of director I desire to be. The conditions are challenging but great care goes into ensuring that the cinematography and production values on the screen are of the highest quality possible."
