ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

7 years, 6 months ago - Ben Wilkinson

Hello, I have plenty of questions - obviously. But I thought it would be a great time to utilise an industry contact for my dissertation. I'm looking into the rise in awkward and nerdy characters in western sitcoms and wanted to know your thoughts? I appreciate it's a bit irrelevant but nonetheless would love to hear what yoyu think.

My question is: Why has there been a recent rise in awkward and nerdy characters in western sitcoms?

Please also feel free to disprove this statement, both sides of the coin are relevant.

Thanks,
Ben

7 years, 6 months ago - Sylvia Love Johnson

Hello,
I hope I'm not too late.
I've only just seen this.
I have 3 questions:
1: As a successful feature film producer what do you look for in a project to want to attach your name to it?
2: What is your process when selecting projects? Do you wait for projects to be offered to you or do you search for projects?
3: What is the key element; the single most important element to successfully produce a feature, in your opinion?

7 years, 6 months ago - Kate Lush

Hi, We’ve shot a feature that’s currently in post production and it’s unusual in as much as I’m the only person in it. It’s based on Sara Maitland’s book, The Book of Silence, and was shot on the West Coast of Scotland. It’a not ‘slow cinema’, but it’s not massively quick, and we’re not expecting it to be a box office smash as it’s pretty niche.. but we would like to enter it into festivals and sell it/move it on... my question is: what is the right order to progress? Should we try and get it in festivals first and see if someone might want to buy it from us/move it on, or should we try and get someone to take it off our hands/work with us now and let them distribute as they think is best. We don’t want to make a rookie mistake at the beginning that’ll mean the film’s life is cut short before it’s even been given a chance to thrive. Thanks in advance. Kate

7 years, 6 months ago - SP Team

How did you find collaborators such Francis Lee and what was it about that partnership that made it work for you? Why did you want to work with this director in particular? Was it the film’s subject? The financial potential? A good merging of personalities? What are the key elements to a production and harmonious working relationship between director and producer? :-)

7 years, 6 months ago - Annabelle Amato

What would you say are some essentials in an independent Producer’s toolkit? Things such as contract templates, tax calculators, software...any kind of resources that you would recommend for someone starting out?

7 years, 6 months ago - Susan Edwards

What should a producer on a feature film be taking, fee-wise? Often producers are so far down the pecking order when it comes to payment, despite our role in finding the money in the first place! Do you have a hierarchy of needs in terms of who gets paid first?

7 years, 6 months ago - cath test

Hi Manon,

How did you come to collaborate with the writer/director Francis Lee? What stage was the project at when you came on board as a producer?

I have a feature film that I would like to take into production, however I don't know how to reach out to independent producers or production companies.

Thanks,
Cath

7 years, 6 months ago - Katie Lang

Hello Manon,

I'm curious about the casting process for God's Own Country.

Did Francis Lee's background in acting alter how he managed the castings/working with the actors?

How did you find the lead actors Johnny Saxby and Gheorghe Ionesco?

Best,
Katie

7 years, 6 months ago - Stuart Fig

What routes did you go down to get God's Own Country funded? How long was the project in development for? How long did you spend in production? What steps did you take to get the film distributed? What advice could you give to film producers who are working on short films and would like to move into features?

7 years, 6 months ago - Chloe White

I struggle with sticking with a project sometimes, particularly after some knockbacks. Any advice on picking yourself up again after a rejection?

Thanks!

7 years, 6 months ago - Trevor Williams

Hi Manon,

I enjoyed your talk at the SP party. You said met Francis Lee on what was effectively a speed dating event organized by screen Yorkshire. What would you say is the best way of finding a good producer? I've now written and directed 3 shorts and am currently finishing a feature script but I've yet to find a producer I'd want to collaborate with and move on to the next stage. Any advice? Failing that would you consider producing or even having a look at the feature script? I know it's a long shot but I like you went to UCL (English) so there is a tenuous connection.

Trevor

7 years, 5 months ago - Helen Jack

Hello Shooters - thanks to all of you who posted in your questions for Manon. You can now find her answers to your questions over on the blog http://bit.ly/2sI2ISi