Jessica Blake stars in feature film The Butterfly Tattoo.  Loosely based on Romeo & Juliet, the film is the latest novel by acclaimed author Philip Pullman to be adapted for the big screen.

What training have you received?

I didn’t really have a formal drama school training.  I’d been persuaded to study something sensible at university and so started on an Italian degree.  I promptly switched to drama as this was what really interested me.  During my course I began acting for student films and then shorts.  I probably learnt more through doing that than on my course.  But the best education I’ve had by far has been The Butterfly Tattoo.  I’m a big believer in learning through practice.

What kind of roles attract you?

I like to play characters that are quite different to myself.  I like the element of escapism and of showing a side of yourself that you normally keep quite hidden.  I’m drawn to characters that are a bit quirky and have plenty of contrast within them.  My character in The Butterfly Tattoo, for example, is very bubbly and outgoing at first glance, with an offbeat sense of humour.  But when you delve deeper you discover that she’s battling some pretty big demons.  And I like characters that have an intelligence to them.

What’s the best advice that you’ve been given as an actor?

Persevere.  And be a bit of a chancer – don’t be afraid to take risks.  I also think that actors should look out for each other.  It’s a highly competitive industry, but you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people.

Most significant moment in your career so far

Watching The Butterfly Tattoo on the big screen with a public audience for the first time at the Film by the Sea Film Festival.  It proved to me that this is something that I could do, and make a future of.  It also helps to get good, honest feedback from people that have nothing to do with the film itself.  I think, as cringe-worthy as it may be- and I don’t particularly like watching myself act- that you learn a lot from doing so and it’s how you develop.  But for me the best part of my job is being on set – I love it.  I love waking up and REALLY, really looking forward to going to work.  And the fantastic cast and crew that I’ve been lucky enough to work with.

You’ll die happy when…

I’ve made my mark in the film industry.  And got married, had some babies, seen the world…

www.jessicablake.net

Jamie Harding’s National Theatre credits include Henry V and His Girl Friday. Most notably he played Pan in the sell-out production of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. Jamie’s film credits include Paul Greengrass’ UNITED 93, O JERUSALEM, and ESPION(S). Television includes Dalziel & Pascoe, Silent Witness, 24Seven and Band of Brothers.

What training have you received?

I went to Drama school at Drama Studio London. I also have taken the course in the Meisner technique led by Tom Radcliffe at The Actors Temple.

What kind of roles attract you?

It varies. I like to be as versatile an actor as possible, even though it is sometimes hard to be permitted that freedom by the industry. I like roles that will stretch me, that challenge me. If the character’s story is meaningful in some way to me and/or says something significant about the times we live in, then that would also attract me to play it. But I’d also like to do a nice action movie or something with stunts and stuff, like the BOURNE films. They’d be great fun!

What’s the best advice that you’ve been given as an actor?

I’ve been given three great pieces of advice: never settle for less than your best, ever. If you go to an audition and give the best of yourself, even if you are totally wrong for the part, they will never forget you. Also, to realise—especially in film—that the actor is only a small component of the whole process of the filmmaking experience—and to that end actors must have the same respect and mindfulness for the other crew members that they are given in return. Thirdly, never show up for work unprepared. Ever. In an industry that is over saturated anyway, you can never afford not to be at the top of your game.

Most significant moment in your career so far?

On film I feel immensely privileged to have played a leading role in Universal’s UNITED 93, directed by Paul Greengrass. It was the working experience of my career so far, and a story that affects every person in the world today. It will also be a defining moment in my career. In the theatre my most significant experience was playing Pantalaimon, Lyra’s Daemon, in the National Theatre’s production of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, directed by Nicholas Hytner.

You’ll die happy when…

Tough question. I don’t really want to consider my death—I’ve still got too much living to do! I guess I’ll die happy when I’ve lived fully.

www.jamieharding.com ■

Sally El Hosaini is an Egyptian-Welsh writer/director. After making award-winning documentaries in Belgium, Yemen, and post-Saddam Iraq.

Sally has worked as a production coordinator on features, and as a script editor at BBC Drama.  She won a regional BAFTA 2008 for her short THE FIFTH BOWL. Her latest short, HENNA NIGHT, will hit the festival circuit 2009-10. Sally is working on her debut feature MY BROTHER THE DEVIL. The script was selected for The Script Factory’s SCENE Insiders, RAWI Sundance Middle East Screenwriters Lab (Oct. 2008), Sundance International Screenwriters Lab (Jan. 2009), and BABYLON European Development Initiative (Jan. 2009).

What training have you received?

I’ve had no formal training in screenwriting but I’ve been a storyteller all my life. I’ve learned about screenwriting by reading a lot of screenplays, watching films and just being curious about people and the world around me. The labs I’ve attended were also a steep learning curve but apart from that, I’ve largely taught myself by just doing it. This has given me lots of self-discipline and focus, which are the most important skills a writer needs. Oh, and patience. It’s not an overnight process.

What themes do you like to explore in your work?

Challenging themes that raise questions I haven’t found answers to. These excite me because they take me somewhere new. It’s not about trying to find the answers but about exploring the questions from different angles. I’m drawn to things that scare me, confuse me, challenge me, and delight me. I never start writing from a theme but themes seem to emerge from character early on in the process. Also, I’m a sucker for the underdog, the misunderstood, and those at the margins of society. My feature, MY BROTHER THE DEVIL, is an urban drama. It’s the story of two teenage brothers living on a Hackney council estate and it explores themes of identity and prejudice.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a writer?

“Work well. Be happy.” Hal Hartley.

Most significant moment in your career so far…

My involvement with Sundance.

You’ll die happy when…

I’ve saved the world through my films. No, seriously, when I’ve made some special films that outlive me. Filmmaking is the closest I know to immortality.

www.sallyelhosaini.com ■

Phil Campbell most recently featured in THE HIDE, directed by Marek Losey. He has also appeared on British television in Casualty and Merseybeat.

What training have you received?

Life! I never went the conventional route of drama school. Most of my training was learnt working. From the age of fourteen I was a member of the Everyman Youth Theatre in Liverpool. We would take part in plays and musicals that would show on the Everyman main stage or would do small North West tours. Also, I was in the West End for nearly ten years in different shows and I suspect I learnt most of what you need to know to be a good performer there, whether it be acting or singing.

What kind of roles attract you?

Definitely dark and complex roles. Parts where the character has lots of unseen, inner turmoil. I think what is unsaid can say far more than what is scripted sometimes. I like to get into a character’s psyche; what makes him tick, why he moves in a certain way. I think once you can inhabit a character’s inner thoughts, everything else should come naturally. I would also love to play the conventional action hero.

What’s the best advice that you’ve been given as an actor?

Hit your marks! When you’re on set with a crew for eighteen hours a day, seven days a week, people are getting tired and there is nothing worse for the crew, as well as the other actors, if someone can’t find their marks. This other piece of advice I picked up third hand in a magazine but it is good advice for film work: “Talk low and slow.” This was something that John Wayne said many years ago and I have always liked that.

Most significant moment in your career so far?

Being cast in my first lead role in THE HIDE was a pretty incredible experience for me. I had not worked for four years prior to getting that role so to be suddenly on the lot of Pinewood in a two-hander was scarily exciting. I will always be very grateful to Marek Losey, the director of THE HIDE, for giving me the opportunity in this movie. Also to go to the Dinard British Film Festival with said film and have Philip French, the Observer film critic who is a hero of mine, come over with his wife and gush over a film I am in? Surreal!

You’ll die happy when…

I will never die happy. I want to live forever… ■