At the beginning of September the Sound + Vision 35/45 music video competition was launched by
'Northern Film+Media' in partnership with 'Generator'.

The challenge for the North East film makers was to produce a music video from a choice of three songs recorded by up and coming bands in the region. The makers of the video judged to be the best would have the opportunity to produce a music video for Domino Records' solo artist Bill Ryder-Jones, formerly the ex-lead guitarist of The Coral.

The film makers were given just two weeks to make the music videos from the date that the music tracks were made available.

Flashlight films entry for Middlesbrough band Toyger with their song Karl's Diary was selected as one of the finalists shown at an event at the Cluny in Newcastle on 29th September.

It wasn't a smooth process for Flashlight Films as the original plan put together by Matthew Brown was set in outside locations and unfortunately the filming days coincided with the arrival of hurricane weather and at the last minute a new indoor set was hastily found and a new plan put into action.

Haltwhistle based Flashlight Films have had two music videos selected to be screened as part of the BBC National Music Video Festival which is taking place all over the country later this month.

The two videos selected are 'Painting Stations' by Wylam based Vinyl Jacket and 'A Girl Who Reads' by new North East band So What Robot.

The two videos are very different but are both are equally entertaining and amusing.

Flashlight Films have completed the last of three music videos that they have been working on over the past three months.

They are a three piece band comprising of frontman Rob Howe on vocals and guitar, Mickey Smith on bass and vocals, and James Rudd on drums and vocals.

The single "Morning" is being released as a 7inch vinyl with New York record label Neon Gold and as a digital download with Moda. It is hoped that this will lead to another big step forward for the band.

Things are certainly hotting up in the region and the current crop of musicians look set to rise to the top and put the North East fairly and squarely on the music talent map.

At the end of April this year Flashlight films spent two days shooting footage for a music video for a new Tyneside based band called 'So What Robot'.

What was to make this video special was the incorporation of some very detailed special effects.

The video was directed by Matthew Brown of Flashlight Films and it was also his editing skills that have resulted in another spectacular music video that is guaranteed to bring a smile to all who watch it.

The song is titled ' A Girl Who Reads' and the video centres around a young woman trying to relax in her flat by reading a book.

However, when she opens the first book animated cut outs of the band appear in the pages, the fun continues from there.

Photos shared by members of our Northumberland group on the Flickr photo-sharing website. Click on a photo to see the caption and to view it in a larger size.

You can join the Flickr group to share your own local photos, or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk.

Gordon Tinsley sent in these pictures of the St George's Day events in Hexham on Saturday.

You can share your own photos by sending them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk

The talented young Tynedale band 'Vinyl Jacket' are a young five piece that hail from the small village of Wylam in Northumberland. When they decided to have a music video produced prior to the release of their debut single Painting Stations they approached Haltwhistle based Flashlight Films who also did a music video for up and coming Newcastle based band Little Comets.

Filmed in October on locations in Wylam and Haltwhistle in West Northumberland this long awaited music video is now available on Youtube:

Krzysztof Barankiewicz sent in these beautiful winter scenes taken around Chollerford and Brunton Bank.

Anne Lawson added this photo of a farmer hard at work near Hexham to our Northumberland Communities Flickr group. You can see more of Anne's snow photos on the main group page.

Join the Flickr group to share your photos or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk

Ray Purvis shared this photo on our Northumberland Communities Flickr group.

Join the group to share your photos or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk