The Oswestry Project today had the chance to ask the recently announced director of Run For Your Life, George McCluskey, some questions. That interview, featuring some fantastic answers from George, is below: The Oswestry Project: This is your first director role for a feature film but what other experience from behind the camera have you got to bring to your new position as the man at the helm? George: Well, firstly hello Adam and thank you for taking the time to interview me. I have acted in over a hundred films and am a technical actor for film, even though I was trained for theatre I only really know film now. I have also designed an “Acting for Camera Workshop” which will be ready to launch very soon once we have a venue in place. The workshop is geared purely towards film and I will be holding a least one, if not more, workshop for the actors involved with “Run for your Life”. I’m using the workshop to initiate, and build, trust with the actors from a very early stage in the project. I definitely have the ability to get the best out of people where camera is concerned, my method and acting technique is Meisner and I think it works very well. I know I have the ability to help people dig deep to find that place they need to be to deliver the performance they are after and, equally as importantly, deliver it to camera. I have been producer on three short films (Having directed two of them) and one feature which will be due for release very soon. I wrote, produced, and acted in a short film entitled “Sidekick”, we were nothing more than a two man team but we achieved a startling 48 minutes of footage in just one and a half hours of shooting. It was shot and directed by Matt Routlege who will be the DOP for “Run for your Life”. Please feel free to take a look at the link below: vimeo/7590368 I have also designed and choreographed four on screen fights for film. I am very much looking forward to directing “Run for your Life” and am looking forward to making what will hopefully be a very good film and a great experience for all involved. The Oswestry Project: As Chairman of The Oswestry Project some outsiders, at least on a local level, have on occasion mistaken Gareth Thomas as director due to his level of involvement, until he quite quickly corrects them. How do you see your roles being different and is it a partnership you envisage working well? George: Well our roles are very different. Gareth has worked, as producer, incredibly hard to achieve what he has thus far in fact his work rate has pretty much astounded me. Gareth has been instrumental in raising interest for the film from local media and other parties. He has been heavily involved in the casting process, and has worked tirelessly doing fund raisers and such like for the film. He absolutely believes in the project and if there’s one thing we definitely have in common it’s our vision for the film. My job as director will be to ensure the dynamics in front of camera are met, and met well, and that the actors give as accurate a portrayal of their characters as humanly possible... Lets not overlook something here, when an actor gives what most people might deem to be an under par performance some of the responsibility for that has to lie at the directors door. I‘m not going to be a “that’ll do” type of director it has to right, otherwise it’s not fair to the actors or the project, and if I was to think that way I would be wrong in taking the job. Don’t get me wrong I’m not Hitler but at the same time I do expect and I will lead by example. The Oswestry Project: Is directing and acting on the same films something you would look to combine again in the future? George: Unfortunately (Kidding) yes, I have a film project currently in the early stages of development called “Charlie”, and I will be playing Charlie. It’s about a man who on getting released after a life term in prison finds himself looking after a young autistic boy. In some ways its themes are very close to those of “Run for your Life”, (Hope, relationship building and rebuilding, learning to feel and trust again) and it’s a real tearjerker. We’re currently in the process of raising funds for it. Even though I have the lead role and am directing this wasn’t really my choice, the very talented Daniel Alexander, who will working as our DOP and who was actually my first choice for director will be shooting the film and I know he’ll have my back when looking after my characters scenes. The Oswestry Project: What aspects of the new position are you most looking forward to enjoying? Well obviously being given the chance to express my creativity. I think communication is extremely important, as is how you communicate. I just want to be able to stand back watch the whole project unfold along with the performances of the cast and just feel proud of, and for, everyone. The Oswestry Project: As director of Run For Your Life, you are taking on the responsibility of leading a team of budding film-makers. Weve asked you before about directors who have inspired you, but which directors will you turn to when it comes to Run For Your Life? George: I feel that “Run for your Life” really has that 1960’s British film feel, the sort of movie you would see Tom Courtenay in such as “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” (1962) directed by the Tony Richardson, or “A Kind of Loving” (1962) starring Alan Bates and directed by John Schlesinger, or even “To Sir with Love” (1967) starring Sydney Poitier and directed by James Clavell. These are the directors who would most definitely influence me for this movie and the type of feel I want for it. The Oswestry Project: Which films would you compare Run To Your Life with, and would you consider taking some ideas from them when it comes to directing? George: Well, definitely the above, I wouldn’t say I would take ideas but I would most certainly be influenced by things that I thought would work for the movie. Everyone is inspired and influenced in some way by what has gone before, that’s often what sparks our passion for things, so yes I will definitely be researching looking for ways to get what I want for the movie. The Oswestry Project: What will you be asking of your cast and crew, in terms of preparation for the film-making process? Well given the time period we have to shoot the film in which isn’t very long, that said no different to many other British Independent films being made at the moment, I want particularly the cast to stay focused as much as they possibly can and line run in their spare time. One of my biggest bug bears on any set, but especially feature films, is watching actors ”mess around” in between takes or as soon as the director has called cut. Every film is an opportunity for actors to show their worth, and I believe for the majority of actors the ethos should be, yes have fun and enjoy it but don’t forget why you are there, to give the best performance you can possibly give and be part of an amazing experience that will hopefully show you off and the film in a great light and the only way to do this is to remain focused. If a theatre project goes bad, the reviews will always be there to read but in time the play will be long gone and just a memory... Film, unfortunately, isn’t like that. If a film goes bad it’s never going away it’s always there for people to see, so with that in mind we should all always be working towards the best we can possibly achieve. The crew are people that never sleep, and people I have immense respect for, often on set two hours before anyone else and still working two hours after while everyone else is resting. The crew will need to work as one unit so the level of trust employed within the actors will also need to be employed within the crew as, as already stated with time constraints, we need everything to run as smoothly as possible. In short what we need on set is one big happy family who want to get up every morning and give the best they can possibly give whilst also working for each other on set because this industry is all about giving and working for each other, that’s how things get done. The Oswestry Project: How do you intend to bring them together as a unit? George: Well this is a two way street, it’s down to us all to work together and to be willing to work together. I know we have a great cast and crew and the most important thing for us all is to get along and work together as a family or a unit. There are going to be days when we are fatigued, and there are going to be days when we feel like we are going to drop, but the main thing is to keep the energies high. Energy is the key word and to keep our focus we have to keep our energy, and as well as working with everyone as a group I will accommodate individual needs to help everybody get through what will be a tough but very enjoyable shoot A huge thank you to George for putting so much time and effort into his answers. A showreel of George in action will be posted soon.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 14:53:23 +0000
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