The Highs and Lows of a Freelance Filmmaker
Article published: Monday, November 22nd 2010
Film and commercial director Phil Hawkins, gave an intimate talk about the film and creative industry at the Cornerhouse as part of Exposures Festival, alongside a panel consisting of several colleagues working in the industry from Producer to Arts Director. They were on hand at the student film festival to impart valuable advice and ruminations to the audience.
The Annexe, a rustic room with wooden beams and bricked walls, is teeming with students and professionals alike from across the film industry. Talking animatedly with one another in anticipation of the coming event, Phil Hawkins gets the event rolling with an introduction of the panel: Paul Kondras, a Production Designer with an illustrious background in theatre; Producer Mercedes Crescenti, who headed production for Current Affairs at the BBC before leaving and starting her own production company; Richard Bodgers, who has composed music for films and advertisements for global companies such as Bentley and Mercedes; and finally Assistant Director Olly Pillon, recently graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University.
A Showreel of Phil’s work is shown to the audience, illustrating clips from his various commercials and films with elaborate background orchestral and choral music bringing the montage to an impressive crescendo that is littered with quotes about his work from venerated peers such as Steven Spielberg – “one of the best new and upcoming directors”. After the show-reel ends, Phil speaks about his first foray into amateur film-making at 13 and subsequently becoming a runner after college. Before that his only professional experience was writing and directing a short film for BBC Manchester. Having worked his way up from runner to director in the commercial industry, he received a Roses Advertising Award for his first commercial in 2004. Since then he has directed films to wide acclaim and is two times winner of Best Director for a Feature at the New York Independent Film Festival. He intimates that the greatest high is not knowing where you are going to be next week”, while the lows of a freelance film-maker include more mundane concerns such as perpetually chasing invoices and waiting for projects.
Phil and the panel are keen to stress the importance of publicizing yourself for work and that there is no substitute for enthusiasm and hard work for breaking into the industry. This is especially echoed by Mercedes, who herself started with the BBC doing work experience. As a recent arrival into the world of directing, Ollie repeats this essential advice, while Richard is eager to emphasize that starting as a runner is one of the best ways to break into the industry as it gives an invaluable opportunity to familiarize yourself with all aspects of filming – from the unseen work of a production company or the more detailed elements of directing.
The conclusion of the evening is a satisfied audience that leaves with well-received advice and cogitations about the film and creative industry – and how they can make their break in Manchester.
Mohsin Iqbal
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