August 2026
No. 2 of the ‘We’ll Fix It Before Post’ series published:
‘The Interview Setting’
Hugo and Clay Productions are pleased to announce that No.2 of the Blog Series - ‘We’ll Fix It Before Post’ is now available for reading on the website.
The series will be helpful for anyone involved in interviews for content creation or documentary filmmaking. ‘The Interview Setting’ focuses on the interview environment, with some do’s and don’t’s.
I’d also like to ask anyone what their own interview tips are, and maybe we will see a follow-up.
No.3 will be out in September and will focus on the use of ‘B-Roll’ material - the use of photographs and re-enactments.
You can read the blog series here.
July 2026
Trailer for My First Punk Gig - Ilene’s Tale just ‘dropped’!
No, none of us are sure if saying ‘dropped’ is just a thing for a new release. But what the hell, it’s a great phrase.
The trailer for My First Punk Gig - Ilene’s Tale is now out. The film has been submitted to festivals, and any successful submissions will be posted on our website.
The film follows Ilene Hynds, a woman based in Glasgow, who reflects back on her experiences on Glasgow’s punk scene, overcoming extreme reactions from her family members and public as she discovers her passion for the music she loves.
Keep everything crossed that the film is selected!
July 2026
‘We’ll Fix It Before Post’ - a monthly blog series on filmmaking and content creation started!
I’m always getting asked for questions about interviewing. How to interview for documentary. The interview environment. B-Roll finding. And so, I’ve now started ‘We’ll Fix It Before Post’.
Like any other business owner, I’ve made a good few mistakes and once I’d stopped swearing, I realised that there were learning opportunities to be had. Very expensive learning opportunities but let’s not focus on that.
While recently undertaking editing commissions, I came across footage showing the same mistakes. And so, the ‘We’ll Fix It Before Post’ blog has now been started!
Rather than wait until the post-production stage to deal with issues (and give your poor editor a heart attack in the process), I’m creating a series of monthly blogs to help anyone involved in content creation or documentary filmmaking and not really sure where to start. The first one focuses on the interviewing process and can be read here.
Look out for more blogs each month that will give information and advice on giving interviews!
July 2026
NEW FILM ANNOUNCEMENT
My First Punk Gig - Ilene’s Tale
After a quiet start to 2026, Hugo and Clay Productions are proud to announce the release of My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale.
My First Punk Gig - Ilene’s Tale will focus on Ilene Hynds, a music fan who discovered punk in 1977. She describes how she dared to dress in the fashion, going to the concerts to meet her tribe, and - in hilarious detail - how her brother made her lie down in the back seat of his car while giving her a lift. Challenging moments, such as an incident in Glasgow Central Station, are also described.
Through re-enactments where Ilene visit her younger self, we learn how Ilene learned how to acquire the punk fashion plus overcome fear when using public transport!
Ilene’s Tale is in it’s final stages and will be submitted to key film festivals in the next two weeks. Look out for the trailer!
December 2025
As we approach the end of 2025, Hugo and Clay Productions would like to say a huge thank-you to those industry professionals, film festival organisers and supporters for accompanying Hugo and Clay productions along this crazy year.
The short end-of-year review video will show the achievements gained this year - and a hint of what still has to come!
Happy holidays everyone! See you in 2026 for some even more amazing films!
What did Hugo and Clay Productions do in 2025? End of Year Review!
December 2025
‘A Tight 5 Hours’ achieves ‘Honourable Mention’ Status at the Lie Feed Festival in Wolverhampton
More film festival successes have been acquired for A Tight Five Hours, focusing on Ewan McPherson’s experiences as a queer stammering comic, as it now has been awarded an ‘Honourable Mention’ at the Lie Feed Festival in Wolverhampton!
The Lie Feed Festival features selected short films that explore truth, illusion, social media, mental health and identity. ‘A Tight Five Hours’ was submitted to the festival on the basis that there are myths associated with stammering, mainly that it is a condition that needs ‘fixed’.
’Tight 5’ has managed to raise awareness of the challenges that those that stammer faced, and an article was published by Ewan on the support organisation STAMMA’s website.
Hugo and Clay Productions would like to thank the Lie Feed Festival Team for helping to raise awareness of the challenges those that stammering face.
Image - a laurel with the words ‘Honourable Mention - the Lie Feed Festival - United Kingdom 2025’ in the centre.
October 2025
My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale has won it’s third award, bringing the total amount of festival selections to fourteen!
The Echoes Film Festival, held annually in Corfu, has a major focus on music documentaries. Derek’s Tale, which documented the performer Derek McLuckie’s experiences as a gay man on the Glasgow punk scene, was successful in winning ‘Best Student Film’ award 2025.
The producer/director Ewan McPherson stated “This third award, from the wonderful Echoes Film Festival, proves that there is a definite interest in the experiences of punks in Glasgow. There is a rich source of stories waiting to be told, including accounts from some famous Glaswegians too’.
As it’s now reached the end of it’s festival run, My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale is now available for public viewing in YouTube. Episode 3 is currently in production and will be out in the New Year.
For more information on My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale, please contact Hugo and Clay Productions.
‘My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale’ wins yet ANOTHER award!
September2025
‘A Tight 5 Hours’ selected for the Nottingham Film Festival 2025
The Hugo and Clay Production A Tight Five Hours, focusing on Ewan McPherson’s experiences as a queer stammering comic, has now been selected for the Nottingham Film Festival 2025!
The short documentary, which was partly funded by SQIFF (the Scottish Queer International Film Festival), has already been a finalist in the West Lothian Film Festival 2025 plus was nominated for the Atlantis Awards 2025. This is now the sixth festival that the film has been selected to be shown at.
’Tight 5’ has managed to raise awareness of the challenges that those that stammer faced, and an article was published by Ewan on the support organisation STAMMA’s website.
The Nottingham Film Festival runs from 3rd November - 9th November. Full details of the screening will be released by the organisers in due course.
Image - a laurel with the words ‘Nottingham Film Festival’ and a sunrise in the middle.
September 2025
Just as My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale gets nominated for the Echoes Film Festival…My First Punk Gig 3 goes into production!
Proving that punk is indeed not dead - Hugo and Clay Productions are proud to say that not only has ‘Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale’, got into the Echoes Film Festival 2025, but 'Punk Gig 3’ is now well into production!
Now in it’s fourth year, the Echoes Film Festival is held in Corfu and has a major focus on music documentaries. Derek’s Tale has been nominated for the Best Student Film. Derek himself is absolutely honoured as it’s been two years since the account of overcoming homophobia to find his tribe amongst Glasgow’s punks in the seventies has been released.
On top of that - Punk Gig 3 is well in production. More on the contributor later!
To arrange a viewing of Derek’s Tale, please contact Hugo and Clay Productions.
July 2025
A Tight 5 Hours reaches ‘Honourable Mention’ status at the West Lothian Film Festival!
The Hugo and Clay Production A Tight Five Hours, focusing on Ewan McPherson’s experiences as a queer stammering comic, has now not only been selected by the wonderful people at the West Lothian Film Festival - but has reached ‘Honourable Mention’ Status!
It will be shown on Saturday 20th July at the Mercure Hotels and tickets can be brought via the website link above.
The West Lothian Film Festival is in it’s second year and this is the second H & C film to have been selected by the film festival. The festival, which aims to highlight filmmaking and provide networking opportunities in and around West Lothian, is run by Christopher McPhillips. The film is in the category “Best Short Film” sponsored by Condor Entertainment and the charity partner this year is Breast Friends and Family.
May 2025
New Documentary Production Showreel!
Hugo and Clay Productions’ Ewan McPherson has updated his documentary showreel.
Featuring clips from the festival selected and award-winning A Tight Five Hours, My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale, and A Mix of Performance of Truth, it shows the unique style of how fascinating stories are captured through documentary filmmaking.
To get in touch to arrange showings or to discuss future collaborations, please contact Hugo and Clay Productions.
April 2025
A Tight 5 Hours selected for Vermont’s Neurovisions Festival!
The Hugo and Clay Production A Tight Five Hours, focusing on Ewan McPherson’s experiences as a queer stammering comic, has been selected for the inaugural Neurovisions Festival in Vermont, USA.
This special festival is dedicated to filmmakers who are neurodiverse or films including neurodiversity as a subject matter. Hugo and Clay Productions are extremely honoured that this short documentary has been selected, not only to raise awareness of stammering but also of ADHD, which Ewan McPherson is diagnosed with.
January 2025
The success continues - who said punk was dead?
The success of our short film, My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale, continues with the fantastic news that it reached Finalist Status in the London Director Awards 2025!
Although it did not reach the nomination status, everyone who worked on this film is absolutely flattered that the contributor, Derek McLuckie, has had his story recognised by this particular IMDB qualifying festival. The film did extremely well in the competition to reach Finalist Status and we are very grateful to the London Director Awards Team for the accolade. We are also in with a chance to win $500 in the competition!
Find out more information about the London Director Awards 2025!
My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale reaches Finalist Status in the London Director Awards 2025!
October 2024
Ewan McPherson wins place on Glasgow Film Festival’s New Talent Mentorship Scheme 2024
Ewan McPherson, filmmaker and owner of Hugo and Clay Productions, is honoured to announce his placement on the Glasgow Film Festival New Talent Mentorship Scheme.
The scheme involves six sessions with an industry professional, which will give Ewan invaluable insight and knowledge into film production that will help not only his own filmmaking journey but aid Hugo and Clay's Productions films that are in development.
We are very thankful to the Glasgow Film Festival New Talent Mentorship Scheme for this wonderful opportunity.
October 2024
A Tight Five Hours shown at SQIFF 2024’s Opening Night and selected for two more festivals!
Hugo and Clay Productions are excited to announce that the short documentary, A Tight Five Hours, based on my own experiences as a queer stammering comic, is not just been selected for the SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival) opening night at the GFT (eek!) on October 2024, but also was selected for the Minority Film Festival in New York 2024 and now the Wine Dark Festival in October 2024!
Tight Five was partly funded through winning £250 SQIFF pitching competition funded by the National Lottery, and created with SQIFF network members kindly donating their time. Features collaborations from fellow performers living with conditions and who are also queer allies, plus live footage of my - er -brain, the film documents the journey that performers can face when they have barriers due to disability and diversity.
The short fifteen minute film has now been submitted to fourteen more festivals. Keep your fingers crossed!
October 2024
Ewan McPherson wins place on Glasgow Film Festival’s New Talent Mentorship Scheme 2024
Ewan McPherson, filmmaker and owner of Hugo and Clay Productions, is honoured to announce his placement on the Glasgow Film Festival New Talent Mentorship Scheme.
The scheme involves six sessions with an industry professional, which will give Ewan invaluable insight and knowledge into film production that will help not only his own filmmaking journey but aid Hugo and Clay's Productions films that are in development.
We are very thankful to the Glasgow Film Festival New Talent Mentorship Scheme for this wonderful opportunity.
September 2024
My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale selected for more festivals
Hugo and Clay Productions are delighted to announce that My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale continues success at film festivals around the world!
The film, focusing on queer performer Derek McLuckie’s reflections on his coming-of-age experiences in Glasgow’s punk scene in the seventies, has now been accepted for ten film festivals. Not only has it been shown on screens, but it also has been broadcast on three community TV stations as part of Brighton’s FilmPride TV Festival.
And it has not only won Best Short Film at Berlin’s 2023 ‘Too Drunk to Watch’ Punkfilmfest, but also received an honorary mention at the Texas-based Reel Rhythm Music and Film festival, a nomination from the West Lothian Film Festival, and is nominated for this year’s Rewind International Film Festival in Glasgow!
The first episode of My First Punk Gig, in which guests reflected on their key experience on their punk journey - their first punk gig - was a resounding success with hundreds of punk fans tuning in to watch the YouTube Channel.
And investigations are still under way to see if a third episode can be made…hold onto your mohawks!
September 2024
My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale selected for more festivals
Hugo and Clay Productions are delighted to announce that My First Punk Gig - Derek’s Tale continues success at film festivals around the world!
The film, focusing on queer performer Derek McLuckie’s reflections on his coming-of-age experiences in Glasgow’s punk scene in the seventies, has now been accepted for ten film festivals. Not only has it been shown on screens, but it also has been broadcast on three community TV stations as part of Brighton’s FilmPride TV Festival.
And it has not only won Best Short Film at Berlin’s 2023 ‘Too Drunk to Watch’ Punkfilmfest, but also received an honorary mention at the Texas-based Reel Rhythm Music and Film festival, a nomination from the West Lothian Film Festival, and is nominated for this year’s Rewind International Film Festival in Glasgow!
The first episode of My First Punk Gig, in which guests reflected on their key experience on their punk journey - their first punk gig - was a resounding success with hundreds of punk fans tuning in to watch the YouTube Channel.
And investigations are still under way to see if a third episode can be made…hold onto your mohawks!
New Updated Showreel!
Check out the new Hugo and Clay Productions Showreel for an example of what we can achieve!
A Mix of Performance And Truth
A fascinating documentary about three queer comics reflecting on their journey in the Glasgow Comedy Scene, now entered into film festivals.
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