#17: Heather Elise Nelson - The Actor’s Life & The Heavy Pencil

#17: Heather Elise Nelson - The Actor’s Life & The Heavy Pencil

For this episode, I caught up with actor, writer and director Heather Elise Nelson. Heather talks about her journey into acting, her experiences working across short films and features, and the opportunities and challenges that come with building a career in the film industry. We also chat about working together on ‘Blurred Lines’, where Heather played Olivia, an unprepared and argumentative actor, opening up a wider discussion about the relationship between actors and directors and what crosses the line of acceptable behaviour for a performer. The conversation then turns to Heather writing and directing her own work - from collaborating with actors and cinematographers, to the challenges of creating films within the constraints of micro-budget filmmaking. Finally, Heather discusses her short film ‘The Heavy Pencil’ - a drama inspired by her experiences pursuing acting and navigating the film industry. The short has played at a number of festivals, including the BIFA-qualifying ‘Women X’. youtube.com/@heatherelisenelson3262 [https://www.youtube.com/@heatherelisenelson3262]

#16: Miranda Benjamin II - Whiplash, Backlash & Perseverance

Part two of a two-part conversation with actor and producer Miranda Benjamin. The episode begins with a newly recorded segment about a promotional video shoot that left Miranda with whiplash after she was asked to undertake multiple takes of a dangerous stunt - one that should have been carried out by a professional stunt performer - prompting a wider discussion about on-set safety and standing up for yourself as an actor. The episode then returns to the second half of last week’s recording, as Miranda discusses her perspective on the cancellation of ‘Notion’ in 2022, the decision to pull ‘Blurred Lines’ out of its ashes and her disappointment that the film’s online release was overshadowed by criticism aimed at its director rather than being allowed to find its audience organically. An honest conversation about creative perseverance, difficult shoots, learning lines, review bombing and the unpredictable nature of independent filmmaking. NOTE: This podcast reflects my personal experiences as an independent filmmaker. Any views expressed are either my own or those of my guests.

#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.