BFI London Film Festival is a time to celebrate productions from across the globe and during the festival season, journalists have the chance to speak with some of the directors. As part of the 69th BFI London Festival, they held their Filmmaker Afternoon Tea. With a range of directors in attendance, it’s a great opportunity to spend time with the creators of the productions and get an insight into the project, as well as finding out more about their time at the BFI London Film Festival.
Ted Evans is the writer and director of ‘Retreat’, which is a sign language film and the plot focuses on a newcomer who arrives at an isolated Deaf community and a member begins to question whether it is as idyllic as it seems. An enthralling thriller, the cast includes actors Anne Zander, James Boyle and Sophie Stone. The film had its UK premiere at The Prince Charles Cinema and when asked about the premiere, he said: ‘It was really, really special. I mean, it was a bit like a homecoming, so we had a world premiere in Toronto, we’ve just come back from Switzerland, in Zurich. And so all our family and friends and colleagues were all there, so it was real nice, we had a nice party afterwards’.
In the next question of the interview with Ted, House of Solo asked what inspired him to create the project: ‘Well, I made a short film 13 years ago, and that was really quick, quick off the bat, from conception to shooting the film was something like three months. So, it’s a very kind of a rush, shoestring budget, short film, and I left it feeling quite dissatisfied, in a way. I felt like there was an itch to find more in this story, and the more I kind of wrote around these characters, I really saw an opportunity to dissect that identity within the structures of a cult.’
When asked about what inspired him to get into films and directing, he said, ‘I don’t know, apparently I used to draw storyboards when I was a kid, I went to cinema club. Films have always been an escape for me and a means to express yourself.’
He later continues: ‘I never went to film school, I didn’t even go to university, but I’ve always done stuff around film, whether it’s music, writing or acting and yeah, this is what I love and I’m so lucky to have made a film’.
In response to being asked about what advice he’d give to aspiring directors that really want to get their foot in the door, he said: ‘I mean, it’s the obvious right, just make films, no matter what, use your phone. And I would just say this, if you ever feel like you don’t belong in the industry or the industry’s only for some certain types of people, that’s just bull****.’ He continues: ‘If you have a story that only you can tell, that’s the key, you know, just find the story that’s within you, or a story that only can come from you, and that’s the most precious thing and yeah, just go for it.’
Following a similar theme to the previous question, in the final question, we asked what advice he would give to a younger version of himself and he ended the interview by saying: ‘I would say stop worrying, you will be fine, have the confidence and start making films a little bit earlier, don’t wait’.
In the second interview of the Filmmaker Afternoon Tea, we spoke with Oscar Hudson, who directed the film ‘Straight Circle’. The film is about the tensions between two opposing soldiers manning an outpost and it is set in a deserted location, starring Neil Maskell, Elliott Tittensor and Luke Tittensor.
Discussing the inspiration behind ‘Straight Circle’, he explains: ‘The film was, in the first instance, inspired by the conflict in Ukraine, actually.’ He continues and says: ‘it’s a story about borders and the absurdity of borders and the absurdity of nationalist division. And whilst it’s not about, it’s not in any specific sense, about Ukraine at all, it provided a kind of jumping off point for thinking about those kind of themes of nationalism and militarism, and what is left when you start stripping away all of the specific meanings and you know we find out who people are underneath all of this kind of the theatrics of nationalism.’
When asked about his standout memories of making the project, he talks about filming in quite treacherous conditions.‘Well, we shot in the desert in South Africa for seven weeks, in the flattest piece of land we could possibly find, completely featureless, flat 360 environment. So, I have a lot of quite vivid memories of being out in the baking sun, in heavy winds and even freezing cold, with a lot of amazing people, doing some extremely strange things.’ He also says, ‘all my memories are quite, sort of, dusty and extreme’.
Speaking to him on the day of his screening, the film ‘Straight Circle’ is his feature debut and he discussed his experience at the Film Festival. ‘Well yeah, it’s been lovely, you know, I’m from London, so I’ve grown up coming to the festival, be that with my shorts, or just as a punter, and so it’s really nice to be presenting my debut film here. It’s a privilege, and I’m super excited. He also says: ‘our screening is happening in a few hours’ time, so I’ve got all my family and friends are coming, it’s going to be great’.
The conversation moved onto his directing and what inspired him to get into directing and he explains: ‘Well, I grew up making skate videos, and so it feels very natural for me to have a camera in my hands and be editing. It’s part of my expression since I was 12 years old, so that was the beginning of the journey, and that has just gradually become more and more of a professional pursuit. I made a lot of music videos and short docs, short films, commercials and you know, within the short film space I’ve been developing my craft for a long time and in the background, in the last few years, working towards making a film, so I guess that’s been the trajectory.’
Creating a solid foundation for himself, House of Solo asks for the advice he would give to aspiring directors and he explains: ‘I think anyone who wants to get into film, the most important thing to do is to find your voice and that is the biggest cliché possible, but it is true. You need to find what is authentically yours and you’ll cultivate a perspective that matters to you and feels important enough that you have to tell stories about it, and from that particular perspective.’
