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Your new movie Dead
Before They Wake - in a few words, what's it about?
It's a story about a man who gets paid to save a girl from traffickers
and ends up going down a rabbit hole he might not return from.
How did you get involved with the project in the first place? Having
worked with co-director Nathan Shepka [Nathan
Shepka interview - click here] since 2014, firstly on shorts then as DOP on one of his
first features, When Darkness
Falls. He always keeps me in mind for future
projects. A few words about your directorial approach to your story at hand? I
think the approach was to keep it as real as possible, avoid any clichés
that go with the genre. You've
directed Dead Before
They Wake together with Nathan Shepka - so what can you tell us
about him, and what was your collaboration like?
As I said our relationship goes back to 2014, and I think since the get-go
we've always been on the same wavelength. We collaborate well together and
trust each other's opinions. As Nathan had quite a big role in the film, it
felt like taking some of the pressure off him in a directorial sense so he
could concentrate on the acting was good move. You
have worked on a few of Nathan Shepka's recent films as a cinematographer
- so do talk about your previous collaborations for a bit, and how did the
two of you first meet even?
We first met on one of
Nathan's short films, I was at uni studying film and TV, and one of the
actors for our uni project said Nathan was looking for stunt actors for
some fight scenes, so I saw it as an opportunity to chat to people making
films! After some questionable stunt acting from myself, I got the ear of
Nathan which led to me doing some post work on Nine Iron, then for his next
short he was looking for a cam op and I jumped at the chance. Which leads
us to today - 5 features done and one on the way! You of course also have to
talk about the stuntwork in your movie for a bit! The stunts in this film honestly felt low key compared to other
films we have done, especially compared to Lock and
Load. The only really choreographed fight in the film is the knife fight between Nathan and
David, and even that we tried to keep basic but brutal. Then blowing up a
car is just another day on a Shepka set, haha. What
can you tell us about Dead
Before They Wake's cast, and why exactly these people?
Although not having a huge part in the casting
itself I felt that everyone playing their part was spot on. Was an honour
to work with them all. I must admit, being my directorial debut I was a
tad nervous on the days Patrick Bergin and Sylvester McCoy were on set, having been fans
of their work long before I'd even imagined I'd ever make a film let alone
one with them in it! A few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
It was a relatively smooth shoot apart from maybe slightly over blowing up an
old Jaguar, haha! (Cue intervention by the fire brigade.) The mood on this
film was pretty mixed, I think that came down to the subject matter. We are making a
film about one of the darkest realities the world faces, so naturally while
you are creating these scenes you can't help but think about the real horror of it. Anything
you can tell us about audience and critical reception of Dead
Before They Wake yet? The reviews that I've read so far have all been
really positive and fair. The film doesn't really take the foot of the gas
in terms of its grim nature which might not be received well but it was
fully our intention. Any future projects you'd
like to share?
We are currently halfway
through a project, again with Shepka. Not sure what I'm allowed to divulge
so will keep it at that! As far as I know, you've entered the
filmworld as a cinematographer - so do talk about that aspect of your
career, and did you receive any formal training on the subject? I did go to college and
university to study the subject but I think the most valuable education
you can get as a cinematographer is getting behind the camera and shoot
and then don't stop shooting. I was fortunate enough to get in early doors
with the journey Nathan has gone on and grown with it. I would certainly
say I'm probably lucky that I've gotten to miss a few steps that people
usually take, cam assistant and so on, but while that might be a negative
as I would say I'm not a technical savvy DOP but a creative one. I know
what I think looks good and tend to go with my gut. Could I tell you
what's the best codec to shoot in or how to set up remote monitoring for a
focus puller? Probably not, haha. What
made you want to move into the directing chair for Dead
Before They Wake, and how does it compare to being a
cinematographer? I think in
my heart I've always wanted to direct film more so than being a
cinematographer. I think both go hand in hand though and are easily
transferable. I think the most daunting part about directing was telling
people who have vastly more experience than you what to do!
Do talk about your filmwork before Dead
Before They Wake, in whatever position! I did do a bit of editing and colour grading early in
my film career but mostly for my own projects and purely out of not having
the money to pay someone else to do it! How
would you describe yourself as a director? Tough question, I'm
still figuring that out I guess! When directing a scene I'm always looking
for what's driving it and how do we sell it. My approach to directing an
actor is definitely more about what I want to achieve in the scene and me
trusting that they have the rest, they were cast in the role for a reason.
I think I need to work on giving actors feedback but generally if I'm not
saying anything to them after a scene it's because they have nailed it. I'm
not trying to be a Kubrick, haha. Filmmakers who inspire you?
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I think I'm pretty vanilla in this sense, haha, Spielberg, Richard Donner and Rob Reiner, they've all made film
I grew up with and made me want to be part of the filmmaking world. Your favourite movies?
Well given my last answer it's no surprise
that The Goonies, Stand by Me and Jaws are amongst my favourites!
... and of course, films you really deplore? Generally I don't diss
on any film as I know how hard it is to make one! That being said Open
Water still owes me 1hr 20 minutes back. Your/your
movie's website, social media, whatever else? I think I'm
showing my age here but I tend to not go near social media, haha. Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Not that I can think of. I am really excited that I got to answer
these questions for a couple hours and avoided the redecorating of my
lounge for a brief moment. Back to it I suppose! Thanks for the interview
and go watch our film everyone! Thanks
for the interview!
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