Many people enter the film industry through a family member or friend. In your case, how did you enter the film industry?

I entered it through my involvement in music. I was an authenticity advisor on the film Breaking Glass they used my flat as a model for the squat in the film and if you look carefully you will see a poster for The Opposition – my band  - on the wall!, Following this I have been involved in many music videos and worked with many record labels.

 

Why did you decide to make movies?

I have a passion for storytelling, a desire to express myself creatively both through music and visually.

 

Tell us about your project, why did you start it and how did it come about?

The song My Wounded Heart was originally written as a piano piece. One night at a gig, after my own performance, I heard a young woman perform her version of ‘Quizas Quizas Quizas’ the popular Cuban song from 1947. I was touched by its beauty and simplicity. That night, around 3am, in a dream, I wrote a Spanish lyric for my own tune inspired by the feeling in the performance I had witnessed.”  ‘MY WOUNDEDHEART’ is a deeply personal reflection on the resilience of love even after the end of a relationship. Once the song was recorded this had to be translated into a visual concept – the duality of love and the end of love, though the relationship never ends
 

Had you previously been in another project? How was your experience?

The “Make America Love Again” project in 2021 WON MORE THAN ONE DOZEN FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS. It was a huge challenge – combining the personal and the political into a simple visual narrative.

 

The best and the worst of this project is…

We had to make some difficult casting and editing decisions, some of these only became apparent after filming. IT is hard but essential to be willing to let go of aspects of a work to which you are personally attached but which do not fit the story or the flow.

 

If you could go back in time, would you change anything about filming or pre-production?

Hindsight often reveals areas for improvement. If given the chance, filmmakers might adjust aspects of filming or pre-production to enhance the final product or streamline the process.

 

What do you expect from festivals for your project?

We typically hope for recognition, exposure, and networking opportunities from film festivals. Selection in prestigious festivals can elevate a project's profile and open doors for distribution and future projects.
 

Do you have experience in film festivals, how has your experience been?

Our last project “Make America Love Again” won many Film Festival awards. Participating in film festivals can provide valuable exposure and feedback for filmmakers. Each festival experience is unique, offering opportunities to connect with industry professionals and fellow filmmakers.
 

Many of the projects we receive are self-financed, without any producer behind them, which makes all the processes very difficult. Can you tell us what the pre-production process was? Did you do it, did they help you?

The pre-production process involves various tasks, including script development, casting, securing locations, and planning logistics. It was important to settle as much of this as possible prior to shooting.

 

And your film preferences? What do you look at in a movie? Acting, direction, production, cinematography, soundtrack etc…

I look for simplicity, emotional content, a clear message and humanity. Big budgets can get in the way of all these. I regret films that squander the talent of good actors and waste money that could have been used for better things.
 

Your three favorite movies?

Drive My Car, Scenes From a Marriage, Past Lives
 

And your directors?

Kubrick
 

Can you recommend us an independent movie that you wouldn't recommend to everyone?

Drive My Car, Return to Seoul, Andrew Scott in Uncle Vanya
 

And the reason for this choice?

DMC is taken from a Murakami story in which the main protagonist lives his life – and tragedy – in parallel to directing Uncle Vanya using a multi-lingual cast. It offers every aspect of humanity, truth and feeling without cliché. 
Past Lives – the characters face conflict and difficulty with kindness and gentleness, their feelings are expressed without cliché, no need for a magnifying glass or strident music to tell us what to feel.
Return to Seoul – a film which again shows the universality of our human experience no matter which culture we find ourselves in.
Uncle Vanya – Andrew Scott’s one man version – played with power, humility, authenticity and compassion
 

And to finish, tell us three movies that you hate but that most people like.

NAPOLEON- a tasteless squandering of the talent of Joaquim Phoenix and of directorial talent. The script is weak and cliched, the key relationships do not convince., not much short of a cartoon version – I’ll stick to Abel Gance. 
TOP GUN 2 – painful cliched script, wooden acting and nothing new in the aerial combat scenes. Stopped watching after 25 mins!