Stephen Follows is a writer and producer, with projects spanning features, shorts and the web.  2010 sees the launch of FreerunningTV.com, Stephen’s web project starring Freerunning-founder Sebastien Foucan, and the release of Baseline a feature film starring Jamie Foreman and Dexter Fletcher.

What kind of projects attract you?

Powerful and emotional stories well told.  It seems really simple to say but it’s amazing how few scripts do any of these things!  A great story needs to grab you from the moment you first hear the premise right until the end.    When you hear the pitch of a truly great story you need to know what happens.

You can produce the film of your dreams.  What would that entail?

An intelligent British action movie.  Part ‘Die Hard’, part ‘The Transporter’ and part ‘Shaun of The Dead’.  It’s so easy to make a sub-par B-movie but to produce a genuine action classic along the lines of ‘Die Hard’ is a tall order.  And doing so whilst keeping it culturally British makes it all the harder!

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

‘It’s all about the team’.  You’re only as strong as the team of people you can bring together.  Everyone needs to look around the set and feel lucky to be working with people of such talent.  Then people work hard not from duty but not wanting the let ‘the team’ down.

I always used to wonder how you break into other people’s professional circles.  Now I realise you don’t break into someone’s circle; you make your own.

Most significant moment in your career so far?

The most significant moments have all been negative experiences that I’ve learnt from.  In one case I was working with a writer a number of years ago who wrote what I thought was a brilliant short film.  We didn’t get funding and I lost touch with him.  He’s now doing very well (Sundance, industry recognition, etc).  I knew he was talented but didn’t put enough energy into working with him.

I’ve also had to deal with some pretty unscrupulous people and it wasn’t until I stood up for myself and refused to back down that things got resolved.  That taught me to better protect myself from the nasty elements of our business.

I’ll die happy when…

I’m doing well enough to take weekends off!

www.stephenfollows.com

Margarita Jimeno is an emerging director and writer of documentaries, short films, music videos and feature films.  Her latest documentary, Gogol Bordello Non-Stop, recently had its UK premier at the Raindance Film Festival.

What training have you received?

I started out studying history. The history of cinema class was at 7 in the morning, so I slept through the most important first films ever made, but thanks to that I spent more time studying those films.  I was already into photography and writing short stories, so I had a short stop in Art school, but alas I had been bitten by the film bug. So I took a 50/50 chance and I applied to only one film school in New York City, The School of Visual Arts, and soon I received my eject ticket out of the Andes. My emphasis at the film program was in directing and editing.

Does your budget limit what you can explore in your films?

I’ve gone out without any budget to film what I need, because I couldn’t wait around for grants or investors to make a film. Working with a budget is the best way to go, but it shouldn’t stop you from being creative. I also do “sketch films” to vent ideas. For me making films is a necessity, and budget limitations can make you very resourceful, which can be a good practice.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a low-budget filmmaker?

It’s to do with filming on your own, and doing sound. Set channel 1 at a higher level, so it picks up low sounds. And set Channel 2 at a lower level, so the levels won’t peak if there is a high sound. Then in post you can add twice the same channel to audio 1 and 2 in the timeline.

Most significant moment in your career so far

It is great when you don’t expect much because then everything that happens is an authentic ecstatic moment. Being invited to amazing film festivals around the world has so far been my highlight. This past year I became very good at interviews, Q & As, and I even won 3 prizes.  So I’m very satisfied with the film Gogol Bordello Non-Stop because it has been playing around the world from Northern Finland to South Africa, to a corner in Mexico, Israel or Kosovo… I find it beautiful that all these people share a film in common and get the same kick out of it.

You’ll die happy when…

When I make a couple of projects I have in the oven.

www.guespa.com

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

Lisa Gornick wrote, directed and acted in two features: Do I Love You? (2003) and Tick Tock Lullaby (2007).

What training have you received?

I feel I learn all the time, more by doing and being with other people. It’s also good to watch film and television and either not like it and wonder why – or love it and unpick why. I have done some formal training too – I went to Bristol University’s Film and Television Postgraduate Diploma Course where I got a grounding in all sides of film production. I find the more I know about the filmmaking process the more intrigued I am to write for the screen. So far I’ve tended to write, knowing that I will direct the script. I think this makes me less formal in my screenwriting format and style – I have to say I like that – experimenting with how a screenplay looks and how it gets onto the page.

What themes do you like to explore in your work?

My immediate response to this is: opening up to one’s truth, exploring that truth and ultimately, not being scared to express it. My urge to write is to try and find out what we hide. My first two features are about relationships – and the mire and doubt we can get into. I tend towards the wry tone – as I can’t take things that seriously but now with some added sage to my life perhaps I would like to go for pure drama. Women have always been my protagonists; now I’m intrigued by men.

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

I’m always on the look out for good advice. However, I’ve begun to trust myself more, which I like. The advice that I keep returning to is – write, keep writing, finish it, allow yourself to fail, don’t get hurt by rejection or bitter criticism, try not to read bitter criticism, play a lot.

Most significant moment in your career so far

The first huge laugh from the audience when Do I Love You? premiered at the BFI Southbank in London. I was sitting next to a woman who slept through the film, but the rest of the audience was fantastic. At the Q and A afterwards the cast and crew just made me love the experience we had all gone through.

You’ll die happy when…

A film I make inspires at least one person to stop using violence as a means of finding their inner truth.

www.Valiantdoll.co.uk