Make Your Mark in Film
TOP TIPS
Select an expert from the list below:Lord David Puttnam, Film producer
Claire Geddie, Stellar Network
Philip Ilson, Co-founder Halloween Short Film Festival
Jake Maskall, Actor
Jesse Malone, Casting Director
Claire Spencer Cook, Senior Content Producer, BBC Film Network
Hannah Patterson, Film journalist
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Film producer
"Making your mark in film is all about working as a team. When it all comes together and the credits start to roll I know of no better experience. The actors might be people with their name in lights but it really is a collaboration of minds which makes a film a success."
Lord Puttnam's successes as a producer include Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, The Duellists, Chariots of Fire and Memphis Belle. He was Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Pictures from 1986 to 1988. He was knighted in 1995 and created a life peer in 1997, as Baron Puttnam. He also founded SkillSet, which trains young people to become members of the film and television industries and in February 2006, he was awarded the Orange BAFTA Fellow of the Academy.
Stellar Network
1) Do your homework. If you intend to make films it's essential that you give yourself some good frames of reference - quite literally.
2) Get talking. You never know where you'll find the person who will help you finance/edit/shoot/score your current or next film. Networking is not a dirty word.
3) Tell a good story. Every film has one, even if the story is told with one shot and one take.
4) Be realistic. Always push yourself and your boundaries, but don't try to make Ben-Hur with a tenner and some good will. If you bite off much more than you can chew you can antagonise the people you work with which leads me to my final point:
5) Don't antagonise the people you work with. Long hours and sometimes little money make a good crew worth their weight in gold. Some nice food, a healthy set dynamic, and respect for their crafts will increase the likelihood that they'll think of you for upcoming projects.
Claire Geddie has held a variety of roles in both film and television production. She runs the UK arm of the Stellar Network connecting and energising a community of creative talent. The network boasts a membership base of over 400 industry professionals and has spawned a number of thriving collaborations.
Philip Ilson
Co-founder Halloween Short Film Festival
1. Be passionate
2. Be honest
3. Have belief in yourself
Philip Ilson co-founded the Halloween Society Short Film Club in 1994 as a showcase space for new film talent, alongside multi-media events mixing music, cabaret and club events. He co-founded the Halloween Short Film Festival in 2004 (now re-named the London Short Film Festival for the fifth 2008 edition) taking place in Central London at the Curzon Soho and ICA venues. He continues to work as a freelance short film programmer, specifically recently for Curzon Soho, the Times BFI London Film Festival and the animate! scheme.
www.shortfilms.org.uk www.myspace.com/halloweenshortfilmfestival3
Actor
Jake Maskall is an actor whose recent parts included Danny Moon in EastEnders and the starring role in Christopher Marlowe's Mephistopheles.
How old were you when you became an actor?
I was 28 when I graduated from Drama Centre London. That was a few years ago now and I had left it late to go to Acting School, but I'm pleased I did.
How did you get your break in the industry?
I guess my big break came when I got the role of Danny Moon, a regular in EastEnders.
What gave you the idea and the inspiration to become an actor?
I always knew that I wanted to be an actor from a very young age.
I guess I had a very active imagination and used to play out all sorts of characters in games I made up.
What has been the highlight of your career to date and what do you want to accomplish in the future?
I think theatre is my real love as there is something very special and magical about the whole experience. I recently have performed in two Christopher Marlowe plays and to have had the opportunity and experience of his beautiful writing is certainly a highlight. I definitely want to make more films and one day to direct.
What qualities do you think you need to succeed in the world of acting and the film industry?
I believe the first quality to have, but it is more of a requisite, is a very thick skin. One has to accept rejection often and it is difficult to not take it personally. You need focus, discipline, passion and talent.
Casting Director
Jesse Malone works as a specialist Casting Director across the UK. She works on 'drama with a message, movies with a message' - dark, edgy, compelling, tender, tragic, funny, ironic and above all something real. She is a keen supporter of graduate film-makers and young directors.
How old were you when you decided to be a casting director?
Well, I think I knew from an early age, say 21/22 but didn't know how to translate my skills into a specific job description.
How did you get your break in the film industry?
I got a part-time post in research for Granada after calling over 90 production companies. I turned up at their offices and stayed until the Head of Development would see me - 3 hours later! Technology keeps moving forward at a pace but the same cliché is still true of breaking into this industry - timing, who you know, luck and a quiet but adamant self-belief. Network, network and network and don't be frightened of 5 little priceless words 'can you help me please?'. At the worst, you'll get a no but you'd be surprised how many people say yes.
What gave you the idea and the inspiration to get involved in the film industry?
Above all creative mediums, I have an unwavering commitment to film. I see film as a vital tool in distributing a social message, movies with a message that are capable of a social impact. It's thrilling, the atmosphere around cameras and crew, is priceless for me. It's home. I love to see people shine, not just the Actors but to see a script come to life and be a part of its development is an honour and we need more of it - more 'spiritual cinema'.
What has been the highlight of your career to date and what do you want to accomplish in the future?
I've had a few highlights of my career so far. Paul McGann, my Associate and friend has been an inspiration and I'm extremely proud to have him support me.
When the BBC came to me last year with 'Galapagos', I took the measured risk of casting Tilda Swinton as the voiceover - women are not known for meaty narratives to natural history programmes so the Directors had to trust my vision. It took a little convincing! When the phone call came through from Scotland where they'd been recording, it was a lovely moment to hear 'you did good kiddo, fantastic choice, thank you so much'.
As for the future, a big project is underway. Asides maintaining a high profile in casting, I'm very keen to see more actors outside the mainstream gain access to their skill and to support that skill. I already run workshops for actors and people in marginalised areas, to increase their confidence at auditions. I would also like to see Drama Schools expand their training for actors to camera. Too often, I see wonderful actors made for the stage, but the camera is so much more subtle and they need the training to adjust to that.
As for the bigger project, that'll be announced shortly on a national level. It's been 7 years in the making and now it's becoming a reality. Not a new concept in film-making but certainly one we haven't seen in a very long time.
What qualities do you think you need to succeed in the world of film-making?
Hmm, well, I've learnt some tough lessons and I'm grateful for them. I'd say two things.
Ego. Fine to put ego into your pocket - that's a good thing but leave the personal ego elsewhere. Just be yourself.
Determination and self-belief. Remain absolutely rooted in your own convictions and ignore the competition. Maybe you don't know yet what you want to be. Today it's a camera man, tomorrow, it's a film director. That's natural. Allow some exploration. Try and find out who the top people in your skill used to be, who are now retired and get wisdom from them. That way, you can avoid some of the pitfalls and maybe earn a mentor at the same time.
Senior Content Producer, BBC Film Network
1. How old were you when you decided to follow a career in the film industry and what inspired you?
My dad got me into old Hollywood films, Sci-Fi and Ealing British comedies from a very early age, so that got me started. However, it took me until my last year at University to realise that I could try and make a career in the film industry!
2. How did you get your break in the industry?
My first real job was as a film sales executive for atomfilms, which was a fantastic chance to get to know upcoming new filmmakers and their work, attend festivals and generally work out how a career can take many different forms on different platforms, including online. It was advertised at my university careers centre.
3. As a short film maker what would be your advice to get a foot on the ladder?
Have a play around and make lots of short films, test shoots etc. Find some great people to work with, a musician, maybe a sound designer or composer, collaborate and bring new people in to help create the film you want and more. And don't be put off by people saying no or not getting your idea - someone else will. Festivals - enter them, meet other filmmakers, and big yourself up a bit.
4. What has been the highlight of your career to date and what do you want to accomplish in the future?
Erm a hard one this. I really like what I am doing right now at the BBC to be honest! The fact that 7 years ago nobody really knew what a short film was, to it becoming a mini industry in itself is exciting and I like to think I had a small part to play in that. For the future - I would like to be able to commission a lot more, whether short form series or one off mini features, which would be suitable in a multi platform way (not just TV but online, in cinemas, at music festivals etc).
5. What qualities do you think you need to succeed in the film industry world?
Tenacity, patience and to be a bit niggly - remind people you still exist and are marvellous and they will give you the chance to prove it (so you better be actually marvellous as well). Be a bit tough - if someone gives you feedback on a script or idea and you don't like it, take it on board, get more feedback from other, honest people, then move on.
At the BBC Film Network, Claire is one of a team of four who work together to showcase the best of UK filmmaking talent. She recently joined BBC Film Network from onedotzero, where for four years she was one of three programmers/producers for the onedotzero festival of digital moving image, its international tour and shorts distribution / DVD label.
Film journalist
1) Watch films. All sorts of films. You can learn as much from the bad ones as the good ones.
2) Read the work of other film reviewers and critics.
3) Take advantage of opportunities to do work experience.
Hannah Patterson works as a freelance film journalist for publications including The Guardian, Time Out Guides, Sight & Sound, DOX and Vertigo Magazine, and has written and edited books on cinema including Contemporary British and Irish Film Directors, Contemporary North American Film Directors and The Cinema of Terrence Malick.
Hannah is the commissioning editor of Kamera Books, a series of books about cinema, and Creative Essentials, a range of practical filmmaking guides. She is currently producing her first documentary.
