Featured FM – The Filmmakers Podcast

Ep 48 HOW TO MAKE A MICRO BUDGET INDIE FILM, WIN AWARDS & GET A CINEMA RELEASE with the team behind ‘Guardians’

April 24, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Director Mark AC Brown and actor David Whitney talk about how they made their new quite brilliant indie film Guardians.

How Mark made a film for his degree but it was a great experiment and not to be seen again. How he wrote a feature script for Nu Image but the ‘Expendables’ ruined it and how it is best to write something to make yourself for free or on a micro budget. What do have available to you ?

How when making an indie film, continuity is not as important as the story. How the establishing scene of a character is so important. But don’t waste time on drone shots. Then get the most amount of permissions you can get. And if not shoot anyway

Suzanne Smith – their DoP was a runner on a Brainehound (their production company) short and worked her way up. Made short film Beard with David and Mark and proved herself as a brilliant DoP and How having great all rounders like Fred Fournier and Joe Starrs as editor and 1st AD respectively is vital as is keeping your ‘team’ from your shorts/music videos and bringing them with you.

With low budget you have to juggle and Workaround people schedules and how ‘Withnails’ – Richard E Grant’s marvelous book was an inspiration (and The Wah Wah Diaries)

When you are supposed to be doing he scene in 4 shots but end up doing it in one but it’s one of the best moments in the film so don’t have to stick to your shot lists.

Tried to plan it but played the moment when it came to it.

Why post can take so long when you are asking for favours on a micro budget film

How they learned from other filmmakers and how they distributed their films – Ben Cookson, Fizz and Ginger’s Two Down and James Rumsey’s Drunk on love.

Mark wanted to have a cinema run so choose Our Screen to have a theatrical release. Then the release got extended as it sold out for the second night.

And how they opened a festival in a double bill with recent horror film IT.

Links

The Film: http://www.guardiansfilm.co.uk/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq25LXWmsps&t=10s
Twitter https://twitter.com/guardiansbhf
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/guardiansfilm/
Mark AC Brown http://www.markacbrown.com/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/Brainehowndfilm
David Whitney http://www.davidwhitney.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DWhitney

Ep 47 HOW TO MAKE AN INDIE FILM AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH THE TEAM BEHIND ACCESS ALL AREAS

April 17, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Oliver Veysey (The Railway Man) and Bryn Higgins (Black Mirror / Electricity) join host Giles Alderson (The Dare) to chat about their latest film Access All Areas which was shot at Bestival music festival and stars Ella Purnell, Jordan Stephens, Georgie Henley, Jason Flemying and Phil Daniels.

For one of his first jobs in film we learn how Oliver, while working as Robert de Niro’s assistant on Starfish had to make the best Martini or risk being fired. How he got a assistant job at Working Title after cold calling every film company he could.

Bryn talks about his background in documentaries and how they are a great way into feature films. How and why he made Unconditional – an LGBTQ movie and from there made the brilliant Electricity starring Anges Deyn
His process of working with actors “The camera photographs thoughts so if you think it right, you are there”. And how he would rather have a floor plan rather than story board.
Making sure to block the scenes with the DOP in the room.

Oliver’s experience producing The Railway man and how having a great mentor (in his case, Andy Patterson) is the best training a producer can have. How it took 14 years to get it made. Even with Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman on board there was still no guarantee the film would go ahead.

Filming at a music festival. Noise levels, crowds, performing live to track on the real stage and other issues of filming at a festival full of mud, blood and kids
How learning from making the Bourne Ultimatum helped shoot the crowd scenes in AAA and trying not to pick a toilet where people are having sex in, also helps.

Links

Access All Areas Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqHGryajEgQ

Buy the film https://www.amazon.co.uk/Access-All-Areas-Ella-Purnell/dp/B076JJ675W

Follow the team @AAAthefilm www.aaathefilm.com @olivervesey

Recorded at JustVoicesAgency.com

Ep 46 Part 2 HOW TO MAKE INDIE HORROR FILMS with Dark Beacon’s Coz Greenop, Lee Apsey and Nick Sadler

April 13, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Part 2 of our chat with the Dark Beacon film team on How to Make Indie Horror Films and Get Investors & Distributors on board. Coz Greenop, Lee Apsey and The Film Label’s Nick Sadler join host Giles Alderson (The Dare) to talk about their latest indie films Dark Beacon and House Red. Part 1 is available here: https://goo.gl/q4UYjL

On this episode we chat working with kids, are storyboards useful, finding creative moments in a small space, getting coverage and how learning to edit is very useful as a director.

As a Producer it is sometimes a good thing to just do the ground work and let the director get on with it.

We chat distribution and Sales with Nick who talks Film Label and First Flights and how getting press and print promotion is difficult these days but if you fly/bring out a journalist for an on set visit they will likely do you a piece.
How Coz got Kubrik’s DoP Doug Milsome on board his latest feature and how amazing it is to see your film on set when it came from an idea you had one day.

Dark Beacon Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHlgEcGl6I4

Buy Dark Beacon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Beacon-April-Pearson/dp/B079VXRJLD

First Flights https://www.goldfinchstudios.co.uk/other-companies/first-flights/

Follow the boys on twitter here: @cozgreenop @leeapsey @green13 @thefilmlabel @MikeFury

Recorded at www.justvoicesagency.com

Ep 45 Part1. HOW TO MAKE INDIE HORROR FILMS & GET INVESTORS INTERESTED IN YOU with Dark Beacon’s Coz Greenop, Lee Apsey and Nick Sadler with host Giles Alderson

April 10, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Part 1 of How to Make Indie Horror Films and Get Investors & Distributors on Board Your Film with Coz Greenop, Lee Apsey and The Film Label’s Nick Sadler who join Giles Alderson (The Dare) to talk about their latest indie film Dark Beacon starring April Pearson, Jon Campling and Toby Osmond. Part 2 is out on Friday.

They talk about how finding out your debut feature film is renamed from Wandering Rose to Demon Baby by the distributors with neither a Demon or a Baby in it.

How they went to Cannes with 50 DVD’s in a rucksack. Sleeping on floors and trying to sell you film
and finding the indie community is vital but attending events, listening to podcasts and actually going out and making a film is the best advice you can get.

How they threw a party in Cannes and got investors to come along. Gave away caps and t-shirts with their logo Green13 and becoming one of the top 3 villa parties in Cannes which created a buzz and made the film Dark Beacon actually happen as they could also show investors their last project and how it earned money.
Getting locations and filming in Jersey. Casting – April Pearson, Lynne Anne Rodgers , Toby Osmond and Jon Campling

Screenwriting. Working well as a team and how they gender flipped between drafts to female leads. Having to re-write on set at low budget level by thinking on your feet.
And how filming is like an event company. All prepped for one day. Over and over again.

Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHlgEcGl6I4

Buy Dark Beacon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Beacon-April-Pearson/dp/B079VXRJLD

Follow the boys on twitter here: @cozgreenop @leeapsey @green13 @thefilmlabel @MikeFury

Recorded at www.justvoicesagency.com

Ep42 MAKING AN INDIE HEIST MOVIE with The Pineville Heist director Lee Chambers

March 20, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Producer, Director and screenwriter, Lee Chambers joins Giles Alderson (The Dare) and Christian James (Fanged Up) to talk about his new indie movie The Pineville Heist.
Made for under 100k and with a lot of help from local crew, students and nearby locations in Thunder Bay, Cananda, Lee set out to make his debut feature film and came across a whole heap of film-making problems.

We chat about his award winning short film Hugh Jackman Saves the World, His time helping out on a movie LVJ, which was Giles’ first ever feature film and then how the same DoP, Dave Le-May, worked on both films. Casting a named talent (BooBoo Stewart) and having to re-cast due to time. restraints
Questioning yourself on set and working creatively with your cinematographer and how sometimes as the director it’s actually ok to tell people to f… off.

Links:

THE PINEVILLE HEIST, stars PRESLEY MASSARA, PRISCILLA-ANNE FORDER, CARL BAILEY, DARRYL DOUGHERTY, JACOB BROWN and BASIL HOFFMAN Produced & Directed by Lee Chambers Co-Written by Todd Gordon & Lee Chambers Co-Produced by Tara Dixon, Cinematographer David Le May. WATCH Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z81JGqHrMFQ

BUY the Pineville Heist https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pineville-Heist-Mr-Lee-Chambers/dp/0986494313

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pinevilleheist LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pi…

About Lee Chambers:

Lee Chambers is a graphic design graduate from Sault College in Canada and a film graduate from Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK. Chambers spent ten years working professionally in England and Los Angeles writing and directing drama shorts, music videos and commercials. He has attended and screened his short film productions at top festivals, such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival, with critical acclaim coming from Total Film Magazine and Fox Television. Chambers currently teaches in the Film Production Program at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. He created the award-winning Make It Short Film Project in 2005, which has attracted executive support from Academy Award winners, Paul Haggis, Denys Arcand and Roger Corman. In 2012, Lee won the NOMFA Screenwriter of the Year Award for his Australian short film, ‘Hugh Jackman Saves The World’.

www.leechambers.com
www.pinevilleheist.com

Twitter @filmmakerspod, @gilesalderson @cjamesdirect @leechambers @thedaremovie

www.directedbygiles.com, www.cjamesdirector.com

EP 41 HOW TO GO FROM SHORTS TO FEATURES with Deborah Haywood, Giles Alderson & Julian Kostov

March 13, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Filmmaker Deborah Haywood joins Giles Alderson (The Dare) and guest host Julian Kostov (Another Mothers Son) to chat about her brilliant debut feature film Pin Cushion and how making shorts was the best way to prep for the mammoth task of making a feature.
We chat about the new Martson’s Beer Town Film Festival in Burton and we talk in-depth about going from shorts to feature films and how it can really be a calling card. From making her first short Lady Margaret with Michael Sorcha to winning awards and getting noticed for her short film Sis and ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ for Rankin presents. Being involved with i-features and the BFI and how important it is to stick to your gut when writing your feature films.

We also chat about her screenwriting process, being strong on set and bold with casting, being bullied and feeling vulnerable, leading on set but being scared, and building relationships on set with the crew.

And importantly, Directing with love and having the right collaborative team and producer is so key.

Oh and actor Robert Maaser makes a surprise appearance.

Links:

Pin Cushion Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHLQkO_BvsI

Sis (short film): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XejVV2VA_h8

Get you film into Marston’s Beer Town Film Festival before 31st March

Home

Beer Town Film Festival

https://filmfreeway.com/festivals

Twitter: @blytheface @pincushionfilm @juliankostov @gilesalderson @thedaremovie @marstonsbrewery

Insta: @gilesalderson @juliankostov @themindisthemagic

Song: Atomic Son

Ep 40 HOW TO GET FREE DISTRIBUTION FOR YOUR FEATURE, SHORT FILM OR WEBSERIES with Klaus Badelt from Filmhub & Giles Alderson

March 6, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Klaus Badelt, composer of Gladiator & Pirates of the Caribbean and CEO of distribution platform Filmhub joins Giles Alderson to chat indie film, getting his first job, making ‘movie-movies’ and how to distribute your short film, web-series or feature film for FREE. .
They talk about how Klaus went from a low budget first movie to a $100m second movie.
From making coffee to working and composing with Hans Zimmer.
How he learned as a creative to play to an audience.
And when working on a giant film like Gladiator you still have to keep that indie spirit.
How in lower budget movies you have to be creative and make your movie for your audience. “Take them on a ride and take them out of the world for a few hours”
This year, 14,000 films were submitted to Sundance and 97 films got accepted. Which makes your odds very low.
Filmhub gives you Multi national distribution where your film can get worldwide distribution as there were 53 new streaming service in states last year all looking for films like yours.
With Filmhub, your film goes into the market place, software based algorithms send it to the right distributor for you. 13,000 projects on film hub. They promote it and get it on watch lists for the buyers to buy. Get your films on the platform now. It’s FREE and a great way to get your film seen.
A wonderful in-depth chat about how to distribute your short films, feature films or series and cut out the middle man.

Head to www.filmhub.com
Follow Klaus @Kbadelt
Follow us @filmmakerspod @gilesalderson @thedaremovie
www.thefilmmakerspodcast.com

Ep 39 RUPERT GRAVES & HOW TO MAKE AN INDIE SCI-FI with director Daniel Fitzsimmons, Giles Alderson & Dan Richardson

February 27, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Joining us this week is actor Rupert Graves and director Daniel Fitzsimmons to chat about their latest film, the indie sci-fi ‘Native’
We talk about both their starts in film and TV to getting roles and films made. Rupert chats about how Directors should work with actors and Daniel tells us how actors should work with directors.
Both insightful, frank and informative about the film-making business and how finding stories first then find the genre can help you make any film let alone a sci fi.

Hosts Giles Alderson (the Dare) and Dan Richardson (Retribution)

Get info on how to WATCH the film here: www.nativemovie.co.uk

Ep 38 DIRECTING ‘THE CROWN’ SPECIAL WITH ON SET TIPS FROM DIRECTOR Ben Caron

February 23, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

Part two of our podcast with director Ben Caron chatting in-depth all things The Crown, from casting to being on set and directing the TV show. Creating a great atmosphere and getting stuck in working with actors Claire Foy, Vanessa Kirby, Matthew Goode and Stephen Dillane. How large sets are no different to indies, just more mouths to feed. Some great and essential tips for when you are on set and his wonderful technique when ‘auditioning’ for the directors chair.

Directors Giles Alderson (The Dare) and Christian James (Stalled) host.

Follow Ben on Instagram @benjamincaron Or see his work at www.benjamincaron.co.uk/

Watch The Crown sizzle reel: https://vimeo.com/182783018

@gilesalderson @cjamesdirect @thedaremovie @FangedUpMovie

Recorded at Just Voices Studio www.justvoicesagency.com

Ep 37 HOW TO GO FROM DIRECTING WEBSERIES TO DIRECTING SHERLOCK, WALLANDER & SKINS with director Ben Caron

February 20, 2018 thefilmmakerspodcast Leave a comment

We sit down with Bafta nominated The Crown director Ben Caron to discuss his film-making journey. Starting out making Music videos for Jay Z, then onto directing Sam King with Giles in it; and The Heist for Darren Brown before moving into TV dramas with Skins, Scott & Bailey. Working with the legend sir Kenneth Branagh and directing the last three episodes of Wallander before making the final episode of Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman and Rupert Graves. And most recently The bafta and emmy winning The Crown which he is now working on Series Three. So much insights and filmmaking knowledge it had to be a two parter. Part two is OUT on Friday.
Directors Giles Alderson (The Dare) and Christian James (Stalled) host.

Follow Ben on Instagram @benjamincaron www.benjamincaron.co.uk/

Watch Jay-Z video here: https://vimeo.com/11053196

Watch Darren Brown’s The Heist teaser https://vimeo.com/11063373

Watch Sherlock Season 4 Teaser https://vimeo.com/182783935

Watch Wallander finale teaser https://vimeo.com/182785066

Watch The Crown sizzle reel: https://vimeo.com/182783018

@gilesalderson @cjamesdirect @thedaremovie @FangedUpMovie