Tell us about yourself What jobs have you done? What are your dreams and aspirations?
I work as an assistant director in the film industry and also write and direct my own films. I have worked on a number of films as an AD including three of the Harry Potter series, Captain America, Gambit, Jack the Giant Killer and most recently Snow White and the Huntsman. In terms of my own projects I have written and directed one short entitled Curiosity. Ive written one full-length feature and am just starting to write my second.
My aspirations are to make a career of directing features and to hopefully crack America.
What inspired you to go into filmmaking and what challenges have you faced whilst pursuing this art?
Ive always been massively into film even from a very early age. My mum loves her films and introduced me to things like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. I was never much for sports as a kid so watching films became my thing. I loved the escapism and excitement you felt whilst watching a good movie and I think thats what inspired me to follow this path. I feel quite lucky as Ive always known that I wanted to work in this industry but it hasnt always been easy. Its very difficult to get your first break if you dont know someone who works in the industry so it took me a while to get where I am. Luckily after three years of working in post-production and entertainment TV I finally got my break through a friend I grew up with.
What drives your creativity and what does creativity mean to you?
My creativity is driven by my mind not switching off throughout the day. If Im working on a script or idea then Ill find myself thinking about it at every opportunity I can. Ill also be inspired by all sorts of different things, whether its watching a good film, going somewhere that you could picture a scene taking place or having a conversation that makes you think. It sounds clichéd but inspiration is all around you, its just how you see it. Creativity is important to me, as I need to have something to work towards and that is making my own films.
Tell us about Curiosity. How did you go about making it?
Curiosity was a labor of love really as there were times I never thought Id get it made. I wrote it a couple of years before it was shot when I was on holiday in France. I had some 16mm short ends that I was given when I was on a TV drama and I wrote a short that I could make on a tiny budget and shoot using this limited amount of film. The plan was to shoot the film whilst I was on the drama but unfortunately I had to pull the plug a couple of weeks before filming due to crew availability. This was a bit of a blow but I always planned on coming back to it. About a year and a half later I was working as an AD on The Wolfman and I decided it was time to give it another shot. I looked at possible dates for the shoot, working around days off from The Wolfman and confirmed Tom Riley as the male lead for those dates. A week or so later, a chance conversation with Emily Blunt lead to her coming on board to play the lead role, Emma. From this point on, the whole production process became a little easier and with a lot of favors I was able to secure a top-notch production team and we were shooting on 35mm a few short weeks later.
Did you face any challenges during production? How did you overcome these difficulties?
We faced a number of challenges during the production. For a start were going to be shooting at weekends on days off from The Wolfman and until a couple of days before we were due to film we couldnt be sure if we would already be working as the odd Saturday would be added to the schedule at the last minute. The first day was fine as we were shooting on a Sunday and we had the whole weekend off but the second day was taking place on a one-day weekend. Luckily for me a dedicated crew worked on their only day off to get the film made.
Another challenge took place on the first day of filming. Wed been lucky enough to borrow a 35mm camera but after the first two takes it broke and couldnt be fixed. I had all the cast there and a full crew and I really thought that was the end of my film. However, miracles can happen and the camera department were able to source another camera we could use for free. Three hours later we were up and running again. Needless to say I have some good friends that Ill always be indebted to!
How important is technology to you when making a film?
Technology is extremely important when youre making a film as you are constantly relying on it every step of the way. There are the obvious basic things like the camera, sound recorder and monitors that you use during the shoot, but when you get into post-production its all about the technology. We shot Curiosity on 35mm then had it developed and transferred to an HD Cam. From this point on everything was digital so there was lots of transferring data between the editor, composer, online editor and the sound mixer.
What filmmakers do you admire?
There are so many filmmakers I admire for different reasons. They couldve only made one film but if it makes me think and I connect with it then theyve done a good job in my eyes. There are various directors I admire whose work I would always watch. A few of these are the Coen Brothers, James Gray, Sophia Coppola, Paul Thomas Anderson, Darren Aronofsky and Noah Baumbach. There are also films by classic directors like Hitchcock, Frank Capra and Billy Wilder that I love to revisit.
I also have a lot of respect for low budget filmmakers. Anyone who can get their films made and released on miniscule budgets inspire me. Thankfully digital technology has helped in a huge way, creating loads of possibilities for new filmmakers.
Have you entered film festivals before? How useful do you think the festival circuit is?
Curiosity screened at a few film festivals and I think there are varying degrees of how useful they are. Some of the festivals are fairly small and so they can be limited in the amount of people that see your film and the attendees they attract. If you are selected for a bigger, more established festival then there are greater possibilities for networking and publicising. Curiosity was selected for the LA International Short Film Festival and apart from it being seen by a large audience, I met numerous producers, actors and filmmakers who I may be able to collaborate with in the future. Festivals are also what you make of them, you have to go out meet people and attend any parties and social events, as you never know whom youll end up talking to.
What are your plans for the future?
Apart from continuing to work as an assistant director, I have three feature films in the pipeline that I would like to make over the next few years. The first is a thriller called Dark was the Night which I have written and am currently trying to get funding for. I also have another thriller that Im just starting to write, and a romantic drama which takes place between LA and London.
And finally
Do you have any advice for any aspiring filmmakers?
My advice would be to just get out there and make something, anything. If you have access to a camera then go and shoot some test footage, even shoot something on your mobile phone, its all practice and you might make something amazing. If you ever have any spare time then try and write because that doesnt cost you anything and at the end of it youll have something to show. Also dont be afraid to let your friends read your work, most of the time theyll be truthful and give you some useful notes. Most importantly, dont give up. If you want it then keep persevering, thats what keeps me going.
