In each episode, filmmakers Will Liney and Ieuan Coombs focus on finding answers to the big questions in short filmmaking.
They do so by discussing filmmaking with inspirational film industry insiders, and dissecting the process themselves. They're all about giving their audience specific, actionable advice that they can take with them on their filmmaking journeys.
You can find out more about them and the amazing guests they have on via their instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/shortfilmsbigquestions/?hl=en).
How to Distribute your Short Film with Director's Notes' Marbelle
MarBelle co-founded the platform Directors Notes in 2006 as a way to make filmmaking more accessible by sharing useful knowledge on how to make films. Sixteen years later, Directors Notes has become the home for thousands of short films looking to premiere online, featuring filmmakers like Mark Jenkin, Rob Savage & Ben Wheatley. As a bit of recent news, DN has just partnered with BIFA’s The Douglas Hickox Award sponsored by BBC Film. (https://www.bifa.film/#:~:text=18%20October%3A%20Debut%20Director%2C)
MarBelle is also a programmer and advisory board member at Aesthetica Short Film Festival (https://www.asff.co.uk/), a voter for the British Independent Film Awards (https://www.bifa.film/), and jury member and panelist for events such as The Shark Awards (https://www.kinsalesharks.com/), Bolton Film Festival (https://www.boltonfilmfestival.com/), Berlin Commercial (https://www.berlincommercial.com/), The Shiny Awards (https://www.shinyawards.com/)and Paris International Film Festival (https://www.parisintlfest.com/).
In this episode, as always, we cover a lot of ground. MarBelle talks about how important it is to build an audience from the ground up, not only through festivals but online outlets and your own social media channels. He tells us about the creation of Directors Notes, how they started and how they have continued to this day. We get into the weeds of what DN are looking for with their features as well as what it is like being an entrepreneur in this niche space.
Directors Notes - Website (https://directorsnotes.com/)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Directors Notes: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/directorsnotes/?hl=en)
Ieuan: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ieuancoombs/?hl=en)
Will: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/will.liney/?hl=en)
9 Aug 2024
Amit Shah: How I Break Down a Script as an Actor
In this episode, we speak with actor Amit Shah, well known for his outstanding performances in TV, film, and theatre.
Amit's TV credits include Happy Valley (for which he was nominated for the BAFTA Best Supporting Actor award), Crashing, Mr Bates vs the Post Office and The Witcher. His feature film work includes roles in The Infidel, Final Score, and The Courier. On stage, Amit has appeared in productions at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, and the Donmar Warehouse.
Amit has acted in many short films, including a trilogy of shorts from director Sam Baron, who we recently had on the podcast.
We focus on his performances in the short films A Quiet Carriage and Tall, Dark and Handsome, as well as his dynamic with Sam Baron. We also talk more generally about his acting process, as well as how he specifically approached Happy Valley and Mr Bates vs. the Post Office. All of this, and as always, much more.
LINKS TO AMIT’S WORK:
SHORT FILMS:
A Quiet Carriage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3YmFkNuDMo)
Tall, Dark and Handsome (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_BAI3K2NWM)
Big Ears (https://vimeo.com/579058802)
The Orgy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-9w6jHZD0Q)
TV:
Happy Valley Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBaaeeETR9o)
Watch via BBCiPlayer
Mr Bates vs. The Post Office Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPkvYXufpAY)
Watch via ITVX
Amit's IMDB Page (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1904716/)
Sam Baron's episode (where he discusses his and Amit’s collaboration): (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1PuOJnGIwKiM3nFbfEAKlr?si=8db62b50eb3444d7)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Amit: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amitshahactor/?hl=en)
Ieuan: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ieuancoombs/?hl=en)
Will: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/will.liney/?hl=en)
30 Jul 2024
How to Break Into Screenwriting with the Channel 4 Script Writing Course’s Philip Shelley
Philip Shelley is a script editor, producer, and the head of several screenwriting courses, including the Channel 4 Scriptwriting course.
Philip began his career as a freelance script reader/consultant, working for numerous companies including the BBC, Granada TV, Thames TV, the First Film Foundation, Channel 4 Film, Paramount Pictures, and Paines Plough Theatre Company. He later transitioned to a development script editor role at Granada TV Drama and then at LWT Drama.
This is the first time we've had a script editor on the show, and it was fascinating to learn more about this crucial role in film and TV. We also explore Philip's process with writers on the Channel 4 writing course, dive into topics such as structure, writing characters, what to write to get your foot in the door, and why you should write what you want to write rather than what you think the market wants.
You can find out more about Phillip's work via these links:
https://script-consultant.co.uk/
https://careers.channel4.com/4skills/talent-schemes/4screenwriting
Phillip - Twitter (https://twitter.com/PhilipShelley1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)
Ieuan - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ieuancoombs/)
Will - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/will.liney/?ig_rid=3eda4be9-c9aa-4965-ac6f-d2f0a8bcb35c&utm_source=ig_embed)
Short Films Big Questions - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/shortfilmsbigquestions/)
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