FAQs
The Actors
What is it like working with actors?
It’s great working with actors, some you gel with quicker than others but as a director it’s your job to give them the energy, inspiration and direction.
If that’s not happening on set, then it’s down to me as the director to look inside myself and find something different. The set comes alive when you’ve nailed it.
Do you give your actors much freedom with the script and their performances?
Absolutely once they have studied the character and if the characters starts talking back, why not listen. It’s that interaction that turns a film into a great movie.
Film-making &
Filmmakers
What do you think about the current state of British low budget film making?
Good question, in truth I’m just a baby in this industry but I’m wise enough to see that it’s nearly impossible to raise finance for your project unless you’ve got a dear old uncle or aunt or you have a track record to call on (for example the director of…..).
So having no money does not help you get a start but what does help, is the favours you have done for people in the past. If you’ve been an all round good egg, people tend to help you on a shoot, help with equipment, recommend you to others and so on. One day your break will come.
As for support from within the industry, well there is very little. I would like to see and I actively encourage young film makers to come forward. I’ll happily work with unknown actors, film crews, lighting, make up, foley etc. because it all adds to their and my experience, ultimately helping us make it in this industry.
Any Advice
What advice would you give to any aspiring film makers out there?
Just do it! Haven’t we heard that one before? Hmmm!
It’s all about practise ‘by doing’ and expanding your ideas, then more practise ‘by doing’ and more ideas, then there is the script, reworking the script, oh and don’t forget rewrite the script. Round and round we go, it’s a long process!
I’ve been on the courses, I’ve read the books, I’ve burnt the midnight oil, but the best experience I ever had, is ‘by doing‘. You only learn how important the microphone is by messing up the sound, the same goes for lighting, camera angles, special effects, foley and so on.
So in short regardless of the pennies in the film project pot, just get out there and make a film, a short, a commercial, a dance video, just make something, as these are the stepping stones to your calling card.
It’s like putting pennies in your piggy bank, one day they’ll add up to something worth while. In my case that’s £7.50, the average price of a cinema ticket. Poetic justice perhaps! 
