(re)search my Trash

<body> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="800" cellpadding="0" height="100%"> <tr> <td width="100" rowspan="3" background="../stylepix/square.gif" valign="top">  </td> <td width="4" rowspan="3"></td> <td width="592" height="1%" valign="top">  </td> <td width="4" rowspan="3"></td> <td width="100" rowspan="3" background="../stylepix/squareright.gif" valign="top">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="592" valign="top" height="99%">  <table align="right" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="205"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="right"><img border="0" src="../stills/neiljones-reverend1.jpg" width="200" height="300"></td> </tr> </table> <p><b>Your upcoming film <i>The Reverend</i> - in a few words, what is it about?</b> <p>  <p>In two words: Vigilante Vampire! I like to think of it as <b> Death Wish</b> with bites.<p> <p><b>The film is based on a graphic novel, which you have also written, right? A few words about the graphic novel, and in what respect does the film differ from it, where are the similarities? And how does making a movie differ from writing a graphic novel?</b><p>  <p>I always planned on doing both so I approached it as a screenplay and then started working with Concept Artist Jaeson Finn and excellent graphics company Graphica FX, headed by Daniel Rollings, they really helped shape the graphic Novel side. The big difference with the novel is your imagination is your only limit, you don’t have to worry about budget, stunts, CGI etc.<p> <p><b>What were your inspirations for <i>The Reverend</i> - and since this seems to be somehow connected, is it true you at one point studied to be a preacher?</b><p>  <table align="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="205"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img border="0" src="../stills/reverend-graphic.jpg" width="200" height="306"></td> </tr> </table> <p>I have a background in Theology yes. It’s a subject which fascinates me and the concept of a righteous man given this terrible affliction yet still using it for good I thought was really interesting. The concept I got from the Biblical book of Job.<p> <p><b>How do you approach your story in terms of atmosphere, suspense, violence and gore?</b><p> <p>I’m not a horror guy, I like the genre but I’m by no means a horror nut. I have always seen myself as a drama director, my last picture <b>Risen</b> was a true story biopic so to come and do <b> The Reverend</b>, I knew instantly that it would have strong story points and emotional performances. It’s not a jumpy film, it’s got excellent violence and gore, but it’s very realistic, we had Paul Hyett and Stuart Conrad handling the prosthetic side, these guys have a ton of experience. Let’s go big and bold but please let’s make it be believable I asked them! I then brought in Jude Poyer for the stunts and fight choreography - Jude is at the top of his game and is so creative on the spot that we had a lot of fun making <b> The Reverend</b> really an action packed horror. In terms of atmosphere I think it’s got a bit of <b> Pale Rider</b> about it. The preacher walks into town to take on the baddies, it’s got that old fashioned good vs evil vibe.<p>  <table align="right" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="205"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="right"><img border="0" src="../stills/neiljones-rutger.jpg" width="200" height="177"></td> </tr> </table> <p><b>The cast of your film is pretty star-studded. Would you mind doing a bit of namedropping, and why and how did you get all these people?</b><p> <p>Been so lucky attaching the talent. Look we didn’t have a Hollywood size budget, but everyone who read the script loved it! That was a great first step, honestly I didn’t expect to get the amount of people we got, but they went for it and obviously as a film-maker it makes my job so much easier when you have the exact cast you want. We have Stuart Brennan (also my co-producer and long time business partner), Tamer Hassan, Rutger Hauer, Doug Bradley, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Emily Booth, Marcia Do Vales, Simon Philips, Shane Richie, Edmond Kingsley, Mads Koudol, Helen Griffin. Seriously writing that list down I realise how very lucky I am to have these people in the film.<p> <p><b>As far as I know, the film was shot in South Wales. To what extent did the specific locations influence not only the look but also the atmosphere and maybe even narrative aspects of <i>The Reverend</i>?</b><p> <p>I’m now based in London, but Wales is where I’m from, I wrote <b>The Reverend</b> with Wales in mind, it is full of beautiful little villages. <b> The Reverend</b> is set in a non-specific place but I wanted that green countryside look.<p>  <table align="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="155"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img border="0" src="../stills/neiljones-horror.jpg" width="150" height="120"></td> </tr> </table> <p><b>With <i>The Reverend</i> being a horror movie, is this a genre you are at all fond of, and your genre favourites?</b><p> <p>As already said I’m not really a horror guy only. My favourite genre is probably the Western, I’m currently working with best selling Western author Jack Martin and we’re adapting his novel <i> The Tarnished Star</i> for the big screen, it’s still early days but keep an eye out for <b>LawMaster </b> (adapted title).<p>  <p><b>The $64-question of course, when and where will the film be out, tentatively? And what about the graphic novel?</b><p> <p>We open theatrically in the UK on October 14<sup>th</sup>, our big launch will be at the <i> British Horror Film Festiva</i>l at the Empire in Leicester Square, I’m really excited for the release date, I really believe <b> The Reverend</b> brings something fresh to the genre and I believe the novel will be released at a similar time. We’re working on a US release date now as soon as we have that I’ll let you know! For tickets for horror festival please visit <a href="http://www.filmfestivalguild.com" target="_blank"><b>www.filmfestivalguild.com</b></a>.<p>  <table align="left" border="0" cellspacing="0" width="255"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <img border="0" src="../stills/neiljones-risen.jpg" width="250" height="166"></td> </tr> </table> <p><b>While you're still working on <i>The Reverend</i>, your boxing bio-pic <i>Risen</i> hits the theatres and DVD shelves. A few words about that one?</b> <p>  <p><b>Risen</b> was always the film I wanted to make, it’s about the life of boxer Howard Winstone, he comes from my home town of Merthyr Tydfil, the man is a hero so bringing his story to the big screen has been my proudest moment to date. Being a fil-maker can be a hard process and sometimes it’s easy to become disillusioned, but then hear about what Winstone overcame to achieve his goal and it’s such an inspiration. Honestly check out what he had to overcome, he lost the tops of his fingers in an accident and still became the best boxer in the world! Practically one handed! We’ve just finished a seven week theatrical run in the UK and we heard this week that we’re going theatrical in the US too. All info can found at <a href="http://www.howardwinstone.com" target="_blank"><b>www.howardwinstone.com</b></a>.<p> <p><b>What drew you to the story of <i>Risen</i>, and are you into boxing, personally?</b><p> <p>Like most kids from my town, I did some boxing, my favourite film was <b>Rocky</b>! So add that together and that it’s based on a hero from my town, I had to make this film!<p> <p><b>The star, co-writer and co-producer of <i> Risen</i> is your long-time partner-in-crime, Stuart Brennan. What can you tell us about him and the production company <i>Burn Hand Film Productions</i> you run together?</b><p> <p>I’m very lucky, me and Stuart have been working together now for a long time, we’re also very good friends and have gone through a lot together. He’s one of the best writers in the business full stop, he really understands story and like me is in this business to make story-driven films. As an actor he’s a worker, he spent five years dieting and boxing to play Winstone that’s serious dedication, he recently won the prestigious <i> BAFTA Cymru</i> award for his portrayal of Winstone, and in <b> The Reverend</b> (he plays the title role) he really smashes it! Our whole philosophy with <i> Burn Hand Film Productions</i> is to make films that are driven in story yet also reach out to a wide audience, we’re learning every day but so far I think we’re on the right road and I’m very proud of our achievements. More info is at <a href="http://www.burnhandfilms.com" target="_blank"><b>www.burnhandfilms.com</b></a><p>  <p><b>What made you go into filmmaking in the first place, and did you have any formal training on the subject?</b><p>   <p>No training at all, I kind of fell into it really. While at university studying Theology I wrote a screenplay, it was something I always wanted to have to go at. I showed it to a few people and they liked it so I wrote another one, <b>The Bond</b>. I then met Stuart who liked it and he said let’s make it. We sourced like crazy and managed to get it made! I got very lucky.<p>  <p><b>A few words about your debut feature <i>The Bond</i>?</b> <p>  <p>We had no money to make this, we made it in the days before HD was accessible so it wasn’t easy, but bar some technical issues and no budget I really think <b>The Bond</b> sums up what our company is all about: Films with story and strong performances. While by no means a perfect film it has a bag of heart and I loved making it. We shot over four weeks, I had classes and had a job and had to juggle the three and it was so much fun! It was my film-school, I fell in love with the process of making a film. I one day want to do a sequel!<p>   <p><b>Your second feature <i>The Lost</i> features a performance by horror favourite Peter Cushing, who had already been dead for 12 years when the film was released in 2006. Explain, and what else can you tell us about the film?</b> <p>  <p>Honestly, the film isn’t good enough. It’s hard for me to say that but <b>The Lost</b> didn’t work. It was an experimental film, we had a twenty page script, no money, and we shot it all in 48 hours! The result: A poorly made film. I don’t regret making it, I learnt so much and I’m happy for people to watch it to see where we went wrong. We moved away from our philosophy on that film, we didn’t work hard enough on developing a strong story, it was a missed opportunity but a valuable lesson. <p> The Peter Cushing link was we had a voice recording of him reading a brilliant little anti-war poem by Peter Kayne which fitted with the tone of the film. I love Cushing’s work and I’m sorry we didn’t do him justice with <b>The Lost</b>.<p> <p><b>You have also made quite a number of shorts during you career. A few words about those?</b><p> <p>I’m not the biggest fan of short films, I think these days you should go out and shoot a feature even if you have no money. I made a few really as time fillers. I made a short film about Howard Winstone called <b> The Fifteenth</b> and that certainly helped to raise the finance for <b>Risen</b>.<p> <p><b>Any other films you were involved in you want to talk about?</b><p> <p>I’m actually writing this from a hotel room in Madrid where I’ve been for the past four weeks directing the feature film <b>Deranged</b>, it’s a great little horror/thriller. I’m not producing just directing so it’s been a new experience for me, have an amazing crew and cast and the film is being produced by Marcia Do Vales (also starring and in <b> The Reverend</b>) and Kevin Kane. It’s a <i> Templeheart Films</i> movie, they backed me on <b>Risen</b> and <b> The Reverend</b> so when they asked me to direct I was happy to do it.<p> <p><b>Any future projects?</b><p> <p>I have the Western <b> LawMaster</b> I’m also working on a cool little genre film in the spirit of <b>Mad Max</b>, Stuart is putting together a heist-film so we have a busy and exciting time ahead.<p> <p><b>You have pretty much done it all when it comes to moviemaking, writing, directing, producing, even editing. What do you enjoy the most, what could you do without?</b><p> <p>I don’t think I enjoy one thing more than another really. My favourite part though is the actual film-making process, on set shooting! It’s where it all starts to become real!<p> <p><b>Directors who inspire you?</b><p>   <p>My biggest inspirations are Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese, I also love Sylvester Stallone as a director, Richard Donner and Brian De Palma too! Awesome film-makers!<p> <p><b>Your favourite movies?</b><p>  <p>All time Favourite: <b>Rocky</b>. Then in no particular order: <b><a href="../movies/birds(1963).shtml">Birds</a></b>, <b> Lethal Weapon 1</b> and <b>2</b>, <b><i> Star Wars</i></b> original trilogy, <b><i> Indiana Jones</i></b> except the 4<sup>th</sup>, <b> The Untouchables</b>, <b>Rope</b>, <b> The Godfather</b>, <b> Raging Bull</b>, <b>Casino</b>, <b>Vertigo</b>, <b> In the Name of the Father</b>...<p> <p><b>... and of course, films you really deplore?</b><p> <p>There are some really bad films out there but you have to respect they got it made, so I don’t want to name anything.<p> <p><b>Your/your film's website, Facebook, whatever else?</b><p> <p>Jumped the gun on this already, but <a href="http://www.burnhandfilms.com" target="_blank"><b>www.burnhandfilms.com</b></a> - we have a Facebook and Twitter link on there. <p> Also film websites:<p><b>Risen</b>: <a href="http://www.howardwinstone.com" target="_blank"><b>www.howardwinstone.com</b></a> <p><b> The Reverend</b>: <a href="http://www.thereverendfilm.com" target="_blank"><b>www.thereverendfilm.com</b></a> <p><b>Deranged</b>: <a href="http://www.derangedthemovie.com" target="_blank"><b>www.derangedthemovie.com</b></a><p> <p><b>Anything else you are dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?</b><p> <p>That’s everything covered.<p> <p><b>Thanks for the interview!</b> <p>   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="592" valign="top" height="1%">  <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> currentyear = "2010"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT language="JavaScript" src="../scripts/endcreditsart.js"></SCRIPT> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> dosworsdonn(); </SCRIPT> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </body>