I'm a sucker for motion pictures, and If those pictures tell a story even better. I'm not even sure when my real interest began. Was it my parents dragging the whole family to the pictures to watch Disney movies? Or maybe the BBC2 matinee on a rainy Saturday afternoon. It might even have been the late Friday night European movies, subtitled of course. But I know it was Star Wars and the making-of books that set me off in wanting to make films. Fast-forward a few years and I've written and directed a few short movies. Directing is no joke! Having to handle four actors and a small film crew over two weekends while making The Best Policy (watch below) I realised how really really stressful it can be. Writing, on the other hand is a different kettle of fish. A writer is restricted only by their imagination.Transforming thoughts to words and then words to pictures or physical objects is incredibly powerful. While writing can sometimes be a solitary pursuit, the transmutation is usually collaborative and the outcome is more than worth it. |
The Best PolicyI wrote the script in one sitting on a Friday afternoon. The finished film has only two minor dialogue changes and one location alteration. The film cost about £300 to make and was filmed over two weekends. The last day's exterior shot was scuppered by the weather, so exactly one year later we filmed the opening sequence with a skeleton crew. The script and the rushes was given to an editor with instruction to do whatever he though best. I was surprised when it came back in black and white! |
DeadlineFilm making at its rawest! A script with no dialogue, two actors who work as crew when they're not in shot. Shot on Super-8 and edited with a splicer and tape. This was shot over three consecutive Sundays. The cost of film was about £17 per roll. Each roll lasting approx. three minutes. Unlike video you get one shot at getting it right and I had to wait a week to see the results. Fortunately none of the film came back under or overexposed. |