Short Films, Big Questions

MarBelle co-founded the platform Directors Notes in 2006 as a way to make filmmaking more accessible by sharing useful knowledge on how to make films. Sixteen years later, Directors Notes has become the home for thousands of short films looking to premiere online, featuring filmmakers like Mark Jenkin, Rob Savage & Ben Wheatley. As a bit of recent news, DN has just partnered with BIFA’s The Douglas Hickox Award sponsored by BBC Film.
MarBelle is also a programmer and advisory board member at Aesthetica Short Film Festival, a voter for the British Independent Film Awards, and jury member and panelist for events such as The Shark Awards, Bolton Film Festival, Berlin Commercial, The Shiny Awards and Paris International Film Festival.
In this episode, as always, we cover a lot of ground. MarBelle talks about how important it is to build an audience from the ground up, not only through festivals but online outlets and your own social media channels. He tells us about the creation of Directors Notes, how they started and how they have continued to this day. We get into the weeds of what DN are looking for with their features as well as what it is like being an entrepreneur in this niche space. 
Directors Notes - Website
SOCIAL MEDIA 
Directors Notes: Instagram
Ieuan: Instagram
Will: Instagram

In this episode, we speak with actor Amit Shah, well known for his outstanding performances in TV, film, and theatre.
Amit's TV credits include Happy Valley (for which he was nominated for the BAFTA Best Supporting Actor award), Crashing, Mr Bates vs the Post Office and The Witcher. His feature film work includes roles in The Infidel, Final Score, and The Courier. On stage, Amit has appeared in productions at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, and the Donmar Warehouse.
Amit has acted in many short films, including a trilogy of shorts from director Sam Baron, who we recently had on the podcast.
We focus on his performances in the short films A Quiet Carriage and Tall, Dark and Handsome, as well as his dynamic with Sam Baron. We also talk more generally about his acting process, as well as how he specifically approached Happy Valley and Mr Bates vs. the Post Office. All of this, and as always, much more. 

LINKS TO AMIT’S WORK: 

SHORT FILMS: 
A Quiet Carriage
Tall, Dark and Handsome
Big Ears
The Orgy

TV: 
Happy Valley Trailer
Watch via BBCiPlayer
Mr Bates vs. The Post Office Trailer
Watch via ITVX

Amit's IMDB Page
Sam Baron's episode (where he discusses his and Amit’s collaboration):

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Amit: Instagram
Ieuan: Instagram
Will: Instagram

Philip Shelley is a script editor, producer, and the head of several screenwriting courses, including the Channel 4 Scriptwriting course.
Philip began his career as a freelance script reader/consultant, working for numerous companies including the BBC, Granada TV, Thames TV, the First Film Foundation, Channel 4 Film, Paramount Pictures, and Paines Plough Theatre Company. He later transitioned to a development script editor role at Granada TV Drama and then at LWT Drama.
This is the first time we've had a script editor on the show, and it was fascinating to learn more about this crucial role in film and TV. We also explore Philip's process with writers on the Channel 4 writing course, dive into topics such as structure, writing characters, what to write to get your foot in the door, and why you should write what you want to write rather than what you think the market wants.
You can find out more about Phillip's work via these links:
https://script-consultant.co.uk/
https://careers.channel4.com/4skills/talent-schemes/4screenwriting

Phillip - Twitter
Ieuan - Instagram
Will - Instagram
Short Films Big Questions - Instagram

Cinematographer Stuart Harris has shot over 4000 commercials, several feature films and loads of renowned Pink Floyd music videos with director Storm Thorgerson. Stuart now heads up the Directing Commercials course at the NFTS and co-heads its Cinematography course. He is an Honorary Full Member of the British Society of Cinematographers (only the third person to ever receive this!)
Stuart started his career in the camera department on Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. We go into detail about his experience on this legendary production and what it was like to work on a Kubrick film. We delve into the weeds of the commercial 'The Deficit Trials' which Stuart shot for Ridley Scott as well as Pink Floyd's music video for 'High Hopes' which Stuart shot for Storm Thorgerson.
We highly recommend you watch both of these (linked below) before listening to the episode.
More generally we speak about self confidence as a director, being persistent and the importance of shooting as much as you can. Stuart has such an inspiring take on the industry and the filmmaking process. We can't wait for you to give it a listen!
You can find 'The Deficit Trials' and 'High Hopes' alongside some of Stuart's other cinematography work on his website, linked below.
The Deficit Trials
High Hopes
http://stuartharris.co.uk/
Will - Instagram
Ieuan - Instagram
Short Films Big Questions - Instagram

Grant is a writer and director with a passion for telling upbeat stories about disability and care. 
His award-winning shorts have screened at BAFTA, BFI and festivals worldwide. He’s directed LGBTQ+ series ‘Flatshare’, web series #Reality, award-winning short ‘Emigrant’ and his latest film ‘Ecstasy’ is a heartfelt adventure about a disabled father and son’s attempt to buy drugs so the Dad can dance with his wife... one last time.
It is this short ‘Ecstasy’ which we specifically focus on in this episode. We dig deep into every aspect of Grant’s process from the two kickstarter campaigns he and his team ran in order to get the project off the ground, working with production designer Elena Muntoni and his DOP Hamish Anderson, his in depth shot lists to get the crew all on the same page, his choice of music and working with the actors to do his Dad justice and create an authentic portrayal of Parkinsons. 
We have linked Ecstasy below. In order to get the most out of this episode we highly recommend you watch the short first before tuning in. 
Watch the short film Ecstasy here:
https://directorsnotes.com/2023/05/16/grant-taylor-ecstasy/
Shot List:
https://vimeo.com/439519137/c49657403a
Crowdfunding Campaign:
https://vimeo.com/granttaylor27/download/371501358/50a04e4840

Social Media:
Grant: Instagram
Short Films, Big Questions: Instagram
Will: Instagram
Ieuan: Instagram