5 lessons I learned directing my first feature film
By Patrick Makin
Last year, my romcom Happy Birthday, Toby Simpson came out on Amazon in the USA. Given that I had never produced or directed anything before, I decided to write about the five main things I learned from the experience of making my first feature.
Anyone can direct a film
This is one of those secrets that established directors will usually only admit to in hushed tones. I first heard it in an interview with Quentin Tarantino in which he talked about going to the Sundance Institute with his script for Reservoir Dogs. He wanted to direct the script himself but was worried because he’d never directed before, so he asked the director Terry Gilliam how he got his unique vision across. Terry replied: “You don’t have to conjure up your vision. You just have to know what your vision is, and then you have to hire really talented people to create it.” And that’s it. Surround yourself with really talented (and patient) people, and you’re on your way…
2. You have to aim as high as you can
Nobody wants to watch a film just because it cost nothing to make. They want to watch it because it’s good, and the chances of it being good are vastly increased by your hiring the best and most experienced cast and crew you can afford. With cast this doesn’t just mean the most talented, it also means the most famous, as sales agents are – sadly – mainly interested in how famous your cast are. But remember, even if you’re just starting out, if you have a good script then you can punch well above your weight in terms of the talent you can attract.
The other thing to bear in mind is that your lack of experience can sometimes play to your advantage. There are lots of talented heads of department who will happily come on board because you are offering them something they can’t get from more experienced directors: the chance to have some creative input and not just do what they’re told.
3. Some people are poison
There are two kinds of people on a film set: the good people and the poison. The good people turn filmmaking into an absolute joy. They do everything in their power to overcome obstacles, they work as a team, they’re professional, they’re indefatigable, and they boost morale. As a director, you owe them everything. The problem is the poison. The people who bitch about other members of the cast and crew, who are negative, and ruin the team dynamics. Make sure you don’t hire anyone who doesn’t come with a recommendation for being great at their job and for being a decent human being. Filmmaking is difficult enough without having to deal with negativity.
If I didn’t find £50,000 that day then no one would be paid, the film would go bust, and all my friends and family would lose the money they invested.
4. When you’re the producer, the buck stops with you
On Happy Birthday, Toby Simpson, we were halfway through filming when someone in charge of the budgets – not my co-producer – told me that they had already spent 100% of the total budget… plus 50% more on top. If I didn’t find £50,000 that day then no one would be paid, the film would go bust, and all my friends and family would lose the money they invested. So I drained our savings (as you can imagine, my wife was delighted), but it still wasn’t enough to finish the film. That still took another couple of years. In the meantime, I can’t tell you the number of times I woke up at night, standing in the middle of the bedroom, dreaming that I was directing the film, but sure that I’d run out of money all over again. As you can imagine, my wife loved that, too.
Yes, it almost broke me, but it was also a great adventure with some wonderful people.
5. It’s worth it
In the end, I wrote, produced, and directed a feature film – which is no mean feat, and something I’m immensely proud of. Happy Birthday, Toby Simpson won the awards for Best Film, Best Actor and Best Music at the British Independent Film Festival; was screened at film festivals in China, Hawaii, California, Bulgaria, and Egypt; was shown on Sky and HBO; and is now available on Amazon in the USA. Yes, it almost broke me, but it was also a great adventure with some wonderful people, and produced something truly original that people around the world have really loved. And one day I might even make my money back.
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