Please tell us about the projects you worked on before making ‘Unconditional’
Most of my work is commercials and branded documentaries. Notable pieces include The Spirit Of Don Julio, a cinematic short form documentary I directed for Don Julio Tequila. We shot for 10 days on location in Jalisco, Mexico and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Mexicans are so wonderfully hard working, positive, funny and helpful. I’d go back in a heartbeat. Another short documentary I made was The Science Of Spirits, this time an original for streaming channel Spirits Network. I was inspired by Chef’s Table and wanted to apply that same in depth, cinematic kind of storytelling to the making of spirits, which is a craft as complex and fascinating as winemaking. The most recent branded documentary I made is a 30 minute piece for a tech company. It’s called ‘Your Web Reimagined’ and looks at the future of the internet.
How did you start, and how did you learn to make films?
I did a short, hands on film course in London back in the day and then worked for free on short film sets to cover most roles and get a deep understanding of how a film is put together. I then worked for an Oscar winning documentarian and film historian, Kevin Brownlow, who taught me so much about both film history and storytelling. I then started directing in earnest, mostly on commercial projects and fast forward a decade or so, here I am today.
Tell us about ‘Unconditional’. How do you describe it?
It was the end of 2020 and I felt compelled to make a personal piece to process the complexity of what the pandemic had meant for so many of us. I was fortunate not to lose anyone and to be safe during it, yet the sense of isolation was something we all deeply felt across the globe. It’s loosely inspired by the myth of The Little Mermaid and is based on parts of a poem by Jennifer Wellwood called Unconditonal - hence the name. It truly means a lot to see it resonate with audiences around the world, as it captures the feeling of transformation that is intrinsic in our personal evolution journeys.
Please tell us about your favorite filmmakers.
There are so many! I love Jane Campion, Chantal Akermann, Andrea Arnold, Francis Ford Coppola, Stanley Kubrick, Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini… the list goes on and on.
If you were given a good budget, what would be your ideal project?
An experimental science fiction feature narrative.
Describe how you would ensure that production is on schedule. What steps would you take?
I would hire a great producer who could ensure that we stayed on time and on budget.
What was the hardest part of making ‘Unconditional’.
I am grateful to the amazing creatives who donated their time and resources to make it happen. It wasn’t hard per se, but having to be sure we followed COVID protocols to keep everyone safe was prime on my mind.
If possible, tell us about your next work. What plans do you have for your future work?
I have a few things brewing that I can’t talk about just yet, but stay tuned!
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