Want A Role In A £1.4 Million British Feature Film? (The Director Told Me This)

It might be raining. I might be hobbling through Media City because I broke my leg and I can barely walk, but we don't care, do we, Petch? Because the vlog is [music] back, baby. - [music] - Ah, here we are, back in the old haunts, in Media City. Petch, we need to fill everybody in on what is going down. Um, right, everybody, this is quite exciting. Six years ago, Petch and I used to do a vlog behind the scenes of Acts On This, behind the scenes of our acting career. Also, I mean, we used to do crazy stuff. We were building other businesses. Basically, just taking people behind the scenes of the good, the bad, [laughter] and the ugly within our lives. And No, and if - [laughter] - you're not the ugly, Petch. Um, no, we had some we had some amazing times. You can still watch that, youtube.com/watchus if you want to, but we're bringing the vlogs back, basically. What happened was we hung our vlogging shoes up all those years ago because we got so busy on Acts On This. If you are seeing this vlog for the first time, you're seeing us for the first time, um, Acts On This is is the number one membership platform in the UK for TV actors. If you're a TV actor, you want to land more auditions on TV, uh, well, you want to land more roles on TV, but you want to land more auditions, you want to earn more money from your career, and you want to hang out every single week with the biggest casting directors, agents, actors, writers, directors, and producers in the game, get your membership. I will leave a, um, a link in the description. Um, but yeah, we got so busy building that, Petch, over the last six years that we just haven't had time to vlog. We've been putting YouTube videos out for the past year that have been talking head videos, diving deep into a topic every single week, whether that's landing agents, headshots, getting on casting directors' radars. Um, we even did, uh, like, microphone reviews for self-tape kit reviews, just helping you push your acting career forward faster. We've done about 30 of those, and we're not going to stop doing those, but we thought we want to get out and about again into the industry and take people behind the scenes of our careers and just show you that we practice what we preach. That was the whole point of the first vlog, um, you know, back in the day, to show people that, you know, we're not just saying do this and it help you have a more successful acting career. We're showing you us doing it and having more successful careers. So, we're taking you behind the scenes, Petch, of an event today in Media City in conjunction with Oscar-winning production company Slick Films. You'll know the company, um, headed up by Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton. Both been on Actors on This many, many times. And for the last 6 years, since I've been the number right now, they've been doing a documentary, Petch, called Sticks and Shelter, an incredible story. I won't spoil it for you, but basically about two men in particular, footballing legend Lou Macari, and a guy who's an incredibly talented drummer called Mickey Donovan. Lou's kind of one-man mission to end homelessness and addiction within the Midlands with the Lou Macari Centre. Um, and Mickey's journey from, yeah, being an incredibly talented drummer, well, that never never stopped, but falling on hard times, you know, becoming homeless, having battles with addiction, and, you know, the the journey back to drumming again and performing for the first time. Um, it's incredible. If you get a chance to watch one of the screenings, do go. Petch is going to be watching it for the first time today. I saw it a few weeks ago. But once they have now got this documentary out and and they've screened that, they're moving on to a scripted drama feature-length film version of this story with lots of other stuff in it involved as well. Um, and it's called Dust. And the whole point of the screening is today to show people the documentary, and then they're raising 1.4 million pounds to take this this production into production, this feature film into production um, of Dust. So, I'm going to be hosting the event for them. There's going to be loads of rich people in there, Petch. We're going to be trying to get some money out of them to make this, uh, this film go ahead. And then and we're going to try and crowbar ourselves into it so we can have a part as well. What do you think? - Either that or I can find a rich person. - Either that, yeah. Either we're going to get a part [laughter] or Petch is going to find a rich person to, um, to give him some money for something else. Um, so, we're going to take you with us, basically. Lou and Chris are on the way. Rachel's not going to be in, unfortunately. She's filming an ITV drama today over in Cardiff. Um, shout out to you, Rach. Um, but we're going to take you behind the scenes and you're going to see uh see all of it and and more. I don't know what's going to happen, basically. I don't know what's happening on on this whole vlogging journey. If you've got other ideas for vlogs and stuff like that and things that you want to see, do let us know. Um, but let's drink up, Patch. Get this party started. - [music] - It's not been here in years. It's been done up, hasn't it? So, it's nice. Used to be when um we used to come on the 7th. Simon is uh on the 7th. All right, Patch. When did you come in here? How do you always get up here before us? Right, Patch. I'm just doing some rehearsals, Patch. Got an awful lot to get through tonight. I don't want to mess it up for them. Um Oh, are they here? Oh, they're here. They're here. Look at that. We were just doing some rehearsing, right on time. Is it It's not great, Chris. It really isn't great. Lou, really good to see you again, mate. Really good to see you. Um, I'm just making sure I know what I'm doing, basically. So, um right. I mean, right on time. Literally perfect. Patch is vlogging, a little bit behind the scenes. Um, we've got a load to get through, so we're going to go and do some rehearsing and make sure that we raise us on a cash. The film's creator and director here tonight. Oscar-winning filmmaker, co-founder of Slip Films. The man himself, Chris Overton. Um, and then you can come up. - Hopefully, that's a very nice warm introduction. - And then yeah, after that, we'll just go We'll just obviously, you know, obviously go into it, you know. Settle in, enjoy the film. We'll see you back here afterwards for a for a Q&A with Chris. [music] - [music] - Right, we've done the rehearsals. I'm pretty confident I know what I'm doing. Everybody's taking their seats. Let's get in there, get this party started. And Patch, I'll do what we used to do on the vlog. - [music] - Good evening, everybody. It's lovely little trailer. Welcome to MediaCityUK. It's amazing to see everybody tonight. Thank you so much for for coming out. My name is Ross. I'm going to be your host this evening - [music] - for this private screening of documentary Sticks and Shelter. You guys are about to watch this incredibly moving story really revolving around sort of the lives and relationship between these two remarkable men here, Lou Macari. Little round of applause already for Lou. And Mickey Donovan as well. And you'll see also the friendship between these two guys. I'm sure you'll agree once you've seen this documentary that too is absolutely incredible. Now, we were hoping to have the full select film contingent with us tonight, but Rachel Shenton, you'll see her name up there, sends her regards. She's actually over in Cardiff doing a very nice job filming a brand new ITV drama. So, she can't be here, but we do have the other half of the duo. Give him a round of applause. Bring him up on the stage. Oscar-winning filmmaker Chris Overton. Chris, come on down. - [applause] - Thank you, Ross. - Want to say a few words? - Yeah, thanks so much for being here. I always appreciate people coming out cuz it's so much easier to stay at home these days and just watch something on the couch. But, you know, when you do that, you I think you miss out on this beautiful collective cinematic experience. So, I really appreciate you all being here. I've had the pleasure of following Lou around for 6 years with a camera in his face and he's been he's been very open to that. But, yeah, this this film touches on homelessness, addiction. I will warn you there's a lot of swearing in the film. So, apologies in advance if anyone's offended by that. But, yeah, that's that's it really. I hope you enjoy it. And and please stay in your seats afterwards. We're going to do a Q&A with Lou when when the film's done. But yeah, switch your phones off and um enjoy the film. Thank you. - Amazing. - [applause] - So Chris, they're in there. - Yeah. - I think the intro went well. They're going to be watching the documentary. That's all good. Um but I want to talk to you about the film. I'm going to talk to you about Dust. I mentioned to people earlier when we were sat in Costa that, you know, one of the main kind of goals of tonight is get everyone to watch the documentary and then there's some pretty rich people in there. But back to the film, right? 1.4 million pounds budget on this film. You've raised 90% of that right now. You're looking for 160 grand tonight. What's the journey been like for anyone who's thinking of making a feature film on a really, you know, a decent entry-level budget? Um what's that been like? - Well, I think it's like, [music] you know, climbing a mountain, isn't it? You know, it's so daunting if if you're at the bottom and you look right at the top, you just go, "How am I ever going to get there?" But just, you know, bit by bit you build momentum. But we've also had a lot of ups and downs [music] as well. Um but yeah. Uh it's it's also really important to kind of note that straight away, because of the government at the moment, we get a such a good tax incentive [music] now. - Right, okay. - So, anyone's thinking of raising money for a feature film, you're already about 30 [music] 33% funded. - How? I don't know anything about it. - a tax credit. You know, the the headline is like the UK tax credit will give you 40% of your money back after everything. It's not quite that much. It's probably safer to say you get about 30%. 30%, you know, - decent. - It's it's pretty good. So, um I mean, you look, we did everything a lot of filmmakers would usually do. Applied to the BFI. Applied to various grants and and and that's very difficult because it's a bottleneck. There's so much competition. Um there's not enough funding to go around. It's really quite a small amount for the amount of stories that need to be told and and the amount of applications. I I'm probably nowhere near uh, accurate, but I would say they probably are only able to fund like less than 2%. - Wow, okay. - Maybe even less. I don't know. I just know there's thousands and thousands of filmmakers who want to make their films and they can't fund everyone. Like there's a lot of pressure on the BFI and there's just there's just unfortunately not enough to go around. Like you can't they they they have to choose a certain amount of projects and you know, I think they a lot of people grumble about the BFI and you can't you just have to get your submission in and like one day maybe you might get to work with them. Um, so our route at the moment is is trying to you know, get private investment. That's what we've done for the past couple of years. - I'm all about the hustle. High net worth individuals, loads of money, you know, they like a bit of film razzmatazz. They want an exact producer credit. They can have a little tax write off or whatever. - Yeah. - Um, I just freaking love it. I feel that you and Rachel and everything you've done you've always been resourceful. You've not necessarily gone down the well-trodden path and done the safe route of like BFI and the usual sort of stuff. You've just gone look, we want to make this. We're going to find a way and you've and you've gone and done it. - Yeah. I mean, it's not it's not been easy, but and I think this story in particular Dust resonates with people from the city of Stoke-on-Trent. So, you know, if you've got a feature film [music] that resonates with your community, that's why this is working, I I believe. Um, - [music] - and you know, there's a few different angles. There's the football angle, you know, - Lou Macari, football legend. Yeah. - Exactly. We've got we've got him as well. - My dad loved him as well. I I didn't know too much about him before I first met him and went to his homeless shelter, but you know, getting to know him now, he's an absolute legend. But yeah, there's definitely a few different angles, [music] you know, there's with Sticks and Stones there's the music, there's there's football, there's homelessness, there's addiction. Same with Dust, we've got those themes. So, there's there's quite a few which really helps. - Yeah. Tell you what, one angle that will resonate with all of my audience and members about some obviously they're all actors. You're casting director for Dust and Des Hamilton, BAFTA winner. Um he's been on Actors on This. Incredible guy. I'm going to get him get him back on again soon. Um won his BAFTA for Top Boy for Netflix. - Yeah. - Proper just straight-talking casting director. - yeah. - No mucking around. These guys are all going to be like, "Right, I know Des is casting this. It's going to production soon. How do I get myself in the mix apart?" [music] - Yeah. He well, just on Des, he's just been absolutely amazing to work with and his team. They are just formidable. And um they're just they're just so brilliant and light-hearted, you know, Des Des has us [music] in stitches. He's so funny. But yeah, I think that that a lot of actors might not even consider this, but we our budget is really small. - They'll think 1.4 million massive. Yeah, yeah, yeah. - just not. It really isn't. Like when you actually break it down, so we can only hire local actors. There's a There's about [music] We could probably accommodate up to four or five actors. So, you know, the first five leading actors, if they're outside of of Stoke-on-Trent, we're going to be after, you know, looking for lo- for local actors outside of that. And then we don't really have it We don't have a choice in doing that. Um so, you know, it's we're shooting in Stoke, so it's people that are kind of like an hour within that are considered local because we don't have the budget to put someone up for a few nights. We just We just don't. It's just It's just unfortunately how it is. - So, Actors on This is based in Manchester, Birmingham, Stoke in particular. - Derby, yeah, the surrounding area. - They want to be getting in their spotlight over to Des and he sending anything to you. I don't know, like what's the best route? - I I I would just I would hound us, I think. Hound [laughter] him. Yeah, they do though because like uh people are people are busy. Everyone's busy and um I I know for a fact that I will see an email and be like, "Ah, I've got to reply to that." And then I'll And then I just don't because there's we're onto the next thing, especially at the moment. It's busy. But like when I see how hungry people are and like I can't sit here and tell people how to word an email, but some people just word an email or approach it in the right way. - Yeah. - And it's I don't know why, but it just it gets my attention and I always try and reach out and put them in touch and you know, send them send them the right way. Um and sometimes also like someone will uh get in touch with us and there just isn't a part for that person. They're not the right age, they're not the right um look for the for what we're going for, but it's it really is as simple as that sometimes. You assume that every film will have a part for you, it's just not the case. - Yeah, but you'll keep keeping people on file, maybe thinking of them for future projects. - of course. Yeah. Um and that that happens all the time, you know, so I would just say triple tap. That's my that's my uh best piece of advice, yeah. - Triple tap, what is in three times in the bounce, what do you mean? - Well, yeah. - I think if you don't hear from someone, you can reply. Uh sorry, you can get in touch again and then I think you know a few weeks later, try once more. Uh if you don't hear back after that, maybe it's bordering on harassment. Um so that's my rule anyway. I I try and I try and do a triple tap with people and I know that that that works and it's simply because people are busy. - Yeah, I love it. Well, we've got all of Des Hamilton and his team's like information, all their email addresses in the app on this membership. If you're not a member, link in description, go get a membership, we'll look after you there. And people want to get in touch with you direct, what's the best way to do that? - I guess via uh a lot of people get in touch via Instagram, but just email us at info@slickfilms.co.uk. - info@slickfilms.co.uk - Yeah, yeah. And and like I you know, if you're not for this project, that is our focus. So if you are not uh based in the area, I'd say just maybe wait - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - until you know, another time. - So you've got a base an hour within an hour of Stoke. - Yeah, but people will push their luck, won't they? They'll be like an hour and 10. I'll just be like yeah. I'll just be like it's it's not going to work, you know, just like we just have to be honest. - an hour. If you've not got a base, get a base, but strictly an hour. - Someone - Yeah, exactly. Just just move a few streets out and you'll and you'll make the hour. - And it's because like as as producers as well, we don't like people I know actors I was an actor myself. I would have put myself up. I would have said, "I don't care. I'll do anything to get that part." But like it's just like we know we have morals. We we we we just won't do that. And I never got that before being an actor. So but I mean you could lie, you know. - White lie? - Yeah. - Not not not, you know, pushing that, but maybe maybe you won't. - encourage it. I've got my phone's buzzing like three times. What is this? - Oh, right. Well, we might they might be ready to come out or something. We've got to go and do our Q&A. We'll go and do that now. Petchey's in there watching now. I want to get some some reaction from Petchey's well. I've seen his documentary, incredible. If you can get to a screening, get to a screening. Make sure you're following @slickfilms on Instagram, is it? - underscore slickfilms on Instagram, yeah. - underscore slickfilms We'll put that on the screen for you. Make sure you're following as well so as to find out maybe about our future screenings of this. But yeah, we'll we'll get ourselves back in, do the Q&A, and then I'll get Petchey on camera later as well. We're testing out this new vlogging camera, get his reaction, and we'll and we'll wrap up this vlog. But thanks for watching so far. We'll see you on the flip side. Petchey, that is a wrap. How do you always get in the lift before me? - [music] - And we have made it back to mine. Fantastic driving perch got us back in one piece. Going to get a little bit of reaction from you, mate. What was Sticks and Shell alike? How did it affect you? - Oh god, it was emotional. - Yeah. - Especially because I was watching it next to Lou Macari. - Yeah. - Uh so going through the things that was going on screen and living it through his eyes like practically next to me was heartbreaking. Um I don't want to spoil the documentary for anyone. - Yeah. - But what happens in it it does tug at your heartstrings. Chris and Rachel did a really good job at putting it together and getting it to tell that story in such a way like uh and inspiring like I know Lou was a well, he was capped for Scotland, played for Manchester United, uh manager of Stoke. - Yeah. - Like he has a massive football background and that comes with money. Obviously not as much today as it was back then, but uh you know, he has money behind him. But for him to go through and and do that with the homeless people and trying to get them off drugs and I know he can do it on a much bigger scale, but it's inspired me to do whatever I can. - It's phenomenal, isn't - to help others as well. - it will change the discussion, yeah, around around homelessness if you if if you watch it. I think people will get a real insight into a world that I think there's a lot of um presumption around and and you know, people jump to conclusions and um you know, maybe it will make people stop and think the next time they walk past a homeless person or something like that. - do more. - Definitely. We also you were when you were in there, we had Chris on before who has expanded a little bit on Dust, the feature film that is coming up from Chris and Rachel and the team there. Um we gave a little bit of insight into the casting. So I've already said Des Hamilton is on board of this. If you are an actor within an hour of Stoke, where this is going to be filmed, you want to be getting showreels, spotlights over at Des, over at Chris. He gave his email address out before, info - Is he going to cast us? - I think so. I mean, we'll ask him. I mean, I can't say that. I've absolutely no idea. Um info@slick films.co.uk, I think it was. I can't remember exactly, but go back in the in the uh in the vlog, it will be there. We'll get it up on the screen as well. Um so, if you've enjoyed this, I mean, we're back, mate. We're back. If you enjoy this, please leave us a comment, okay? Let us know what you would like to see on these vlogs. We will be taking you behind the scenes of just everything to do with Acts On This, our acting careers. I'll take you to auditions again. We'll go behind the scenes of voiceover jobs. I'll try and bring you the latest news of what's going on in the industry. Help you meet people you wouldn't normally get access to. Um so, let us know, yeah, what you want us to cover. And don't forget to like and subscribe if you're watching on YouTube. If you're watching this anywhere else, go over to youtube.com/actsonthisTV. Do like and subscribe. Turn your notifications on. We'll be putting the talking head videos out still. Still going to do that. So, let us know if you want us to cover any topics that's going to help you move your acting career forward faster. - Yeah. - Um and if you've liked this, and maybe you're seeing us for the first time, you're like, "Who are these two northern jokers?" Um come and join actsonthis.tv. If you want to hang out, honestly, every single week with the biggest casting directors, agents, actors, writers, directors, and producers in TV, you want to be introduced to people like Chris. I'll bring you on camera when we do our live sessions if you're an Acts On This member. Uh if you want to get involved in that, go get your membership. Use the the discount code. We'll give him even the discount code, YouTube at checkout, right? You'll get your first month half price. Come and check it out um at checkout, - I can't say fairer than that. - Well, no, I mean, you honestly you just will not regret it. I don't see anyone else doing this. Like, it's such good value. It'll cost you literally like a latte a week. Um and you'll get to hang out with us and the biggest names in the game. Um so, yeah, we're wrapping it up. That is vlog number one done. - Wait, something feels weird. - What's that? - I'm I'm not necking anything and doing a weird task. - Oh, yeah. On the Yeah, on the old vlogs we used to make - [laughter] - You've not got that many to go, Petch. Come on. 2 minutes and 20, you've got 40 seconds. 40. - We used to make Petch like do crazy challenges. Go and watch uh some of the old vlogs if you want to, you will uh you will see that. Uh but we're going to be bringing you more. We're going to have a spotlight, we're going to be behind the scenes of spotlight. Chris wants me to host another event for him at the Bolton Film Festival, the um slick films like film fund thing that they do where uh filmmakers can pitch Dragon's Den style to get 10 grand for their film. So, loads more on the way, but thank you for watching, really appreciate it. If you do get a chance to watch Six and Shelter, um do go and go and watch it. Keep an eye out for more private screenings. Get your stuff over, let's get us all in the bloody feature film. - Yes. - That'll be great. And Petch, you can go home now cuz you've not eaten all day. - It's only It's only 11:00 at night. - It's only 11:00 at night and um he's not eaten since like 2:00. So, before you pass out, go home, um have a nice night, and I'll see you back in work the next day tomorrow. And right, there's only one thing left to say. For those people who um who know us, you'll be used to this. For those who don't, we say this at the end of every single - anything we do. [laughter] - anything. Doesn't have to be the vlog. Um but love to you all. Thanks so much for uh for being here, and we'll catch you on the next one. Until then, Petch, in three, two, one. Bye for now.