Press Release  -  London  -   30/11/04

Gurning goes Global 

“It’s a 700 year old tradition and this is the first documentary on the subject”.  Said aspiring gurner Tony Hickson, who has just picture-locked ShashMedia’s forthcoming documentary, The Gurning. 

The Gurning is an ironic insight into old English traditions, such as the pipe smoking competition, the climbing of the greasy pole and gurning, the art of contorting ones face.   

Gurning has fascinated people around the world for hundreds of years.  It is now bigger than ever, with corporate sponsorship deals, celebrity status and its own “gurning glitteratti” which includes ex Avon Lady and 25 times World Gurning Champion, Ann Woods. 

In 1998 Tony Hickson entered the “World Famous Gurning Contest”, which attracts media interest from as far as Europe, America and Japan.  Tony went on to win the UK South Coast Gurning heats and “fell in love with gurning and all that surrounds it”.

The Gurning follows Tony as he visits the Lake District, to enter the competition for his second time.  He also goes in search of the hidden meaning of gurning, whilst gathering advice from champion gurner’s, about how to pull a winning gurn’ on the “big night of destiny”.  The results are truly hilarious and very ugly indeed.

Current World Gurning Champion Tommy Mattison explains in The Gurning that, “although fun, gurning does require an element of training”.  The training seems to have paid off though, as Tommy’s amazing “Alien” face has gained world-wide interest, with his “ugly mug” appearing on TV shows such as Jay Leno, Ruby Wax and This Morning.

The documentary is the latest venture for cult independent producer ShashMedia, who’s previous works have included SpiderBabe, Fear Panic & Censorship and Slay Misty For Me.  In recent years ShashMedia projects have been broadcast on Channel 4, Bravo, BSkyB, HBO, Showtime and Cinemax.

Forthcoming projects from ShashMedia include Headpress TV, a six part series about “strange cinema, pop culture and forteana” and a Grimm’s fairy tale inspired gothic drama, Go Forth with Fear, which is slated to start shooting January 2005.