P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

#15: Miranda Benjamin - From Worsley Woods to the House of Mouse

This is part one of a two-part conversation with actor and producer Miranda Benjamin. In Part One, Miranda talks about her introduction to acting, studying at the University of Salford, joining a touring theatre company and transitioning into screen acting via independent filmmaking. Miranda discusses a variety of on-set experiences - including student shorts, a disastrous production in Worsley Woods, working with Chris Stone and acting in the One Day Films feature Cleft Lip (streaming on Disney Plus) - before the conversation turns to some of the personal struggles connected to the pursuit of acting. A loose, honest conversation about performance, independent film and Miranda’s perspective on “the actor’s life”.

#14: Guillermo del Toro - Curiosity, Disobedience and The Shape of Personal Cinema

Last weekend I travelled to London for a series of screenings and Q&As with Guillermo del Toro at the BFI Southbank (Crimson Peak, The Shape of Water, Tales of Arcadia and Pan’s Labyrinth). This episode reflects on the ideas del Toro frequently returned to throughout the weekend: curiosity, disobedience, emotional truth, autobiography and “eye protein”. The filmmaker’s comments on monsters, melodrama, scriptwriting, directing actors, online culture, collaboration and visual storytelling become the starting point for a wider discussion about modern film culture, film education and the tension between personal expression and formula. I also connect many of his ideas to my own experiences making low-budget personal and independent films. Featuring selected voice note recordings captured during the BFI events with Guillermo del Toro.

#13: Actor Johnny Byrom - From Mike Leigh to Motion Capture

Recorded in the Bright Building café at Manchester Science Park, actor Johnny Byrom discusses training at RADA and the Manchester School of Theatre, working with Mike Leigh on ‘Peterloo’, independent filmmaking with One Day Films (‘Cleft Lip’) and myself (‘X’, ‘Blurred Lines’ & ‘Notion’), motion capture at Epic Games, and the realities of sustaining a creative career.

#12: Will Herbert - From Shorts to Soaps

In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker Will Herbert - someone I met when I was a film student at the University of Salford back in 2006. Recorded outside a bar in Manchester city centre, this is a loose, honest conversation about Will’s work as a director and how his approach to filmmaking has evolved over time. From award-winning short films to commercials, comedy sketches with Joke TV and directing on Hollyoaks, Will’s built a career across very different corners of the industry. 20 years on, he’s still doing it. www.willthedirector.com

#11: Empire of Lies - The Truth About Indie Film Distribution

In this episode, I'm joined by filmmaker Matthew Hope and film marketing & distribution expert Jonathan Sadler (Magus Films). The pair talk about the self-financed feature film ‘Empire of Lies' and use it to break down the reality of getting an independent film seen - from development through to release. * 'Empire of Lies': https://amzn.to/4cYQXLs * 'Film Marketing and Distribution: An Independent Filmmaker's Guide': https://amzn.to/4tsYFmL