CEO Today - May 2023

www.ceotodaymagazine.com Can you tell us about your background and how you got into the film industry? I knew from the age of twelve that I wanted to sit behind a film camera and tell stories. I was caught between that and wanting to work in travel as a pilot. Film won out. Halfway through my A-Levels, I was offered an unconditional place at a TV & Theatre school up in York. At the time, I had been studying Physics, Maths, and Business Studies. I pretty much gave up on my studies, spending my time daydreaming and coming up with film stories. What advice would you give to budding filmmakers and directors? For producers - don’t go cheap. Savings in the short term can cost a fortune down the line. Choosing crew based on price over experience will come back and bite you on the… For directors - character and script is key to a good film, and visual flair is a great skill to have, but without engaging characters and a well-plotted story, it’s all for naught. What inspired you to become a film director and writer, and what do you enjoy most about the creative process? Batman (1989) I was twelve years old and blown away. I went to the cinema three times to see it. I love the script process and edit process. Those are when the creative juices flow strongest. Filming is actually more mechanical; time is against you, so you have to stick to the blueprint. Where do you draw your inspiration from when writing a new script? Inspiration finds you. An idea may come to you while walking, sunbathing, sitting in a bar, and watching two random people interacting; while driving your car, while watching the news, the moments are endless. That idea then germinates into a plot line, and if interesting, it rolls around your head like a marble. Alternatively, of course, you might hear a true story or read a book and want to retell it on the big screen. What are the challenges of directing different people on each new project, for example, the actors – how do you build a rapport? It’s important to recognise when someone does a great job, whatever it is, and verbally appreciating it to them goes a long way. The hierarchy in department position doesn’t mean any one person is more important than the other. Keeping egos in check on the set is vital. Actors – I’m not a fan of. This may come back to haunt me, but if Mark Murphy CEO of Solar Productions 34 www.ceotodaymagazine.com

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