With the festival underway there’s plenty of opportunity to catch up with alumnae - not least being our Underwire Reunion on Saturday 15th from 12-2pm, RSVP HERE - until then, enjoy the final interview in our series, with wonderful director Lucy Patrick Ward.

 

 

Three years on from Underwire 2011, what was your experience of screening The Reward in competition at the festival?

Fantastic. It was hugely exciting to screen The Reward alongside such brilliant films, with such exciting film-makers, and even more of a bonus that they were women! You can often feel like an island working on your own films, and it’s always lovely to be reminded that you’re not on your own!

Screening at, and being part of the festival has been hugely beneficial. The night itself was a brilliant networking opportunity where I met some fantastic people - both past and future collaborators. I loved getting instant and honest feedback to the film too - it’s really helpful to hear how different people react to your work. It’s also been a fantastic addition to my CV - it’s a festival with real clout and respect in the industry, and I’m really proud to have been a part of it, and hope to be again soon!

 

What opportunities arose from that? What have you been up to since?

I made some great connections at the festival and kept in touch with lots of people. It’s so wonderful to feel like you’re part of a network of people, and very inspiring to hear about everyone else’s work. I’ve been keeping busy writing and producing another short (Cornershop) as well as directing a couple of music videos and promos. I’ve got a few projects in development (including a low-budget feature and a comedy series) and I’m thrilled to be working on another short (The Nest Egg) due to shoot in October this year.

 

How important has screening at festivals been for you as a Director?

Really important - it’s great to give your work a life outside your own head - after all that’s why we make films - to share them with the world and nothing beats a cinema-style screening. I love watching and listening to an audience’s reactions to my films - it’s so helpful to find out what works and what doesn’t - and what resonates with people and what doesn’t. Whilst I may not always agree - I think it’s a great experience, and I hope can only help me to refine my voice and work.

 

Do you have any advice for filmmakers currently submitting their films to the festival circuit?

Wherever possible make sure you attend can attend those screenings! And when you do make sure you have the details of your next project- it’s the first thing people will ask you about! Get some business cards ready to go and don’t be frightened to hand them out. Make the most of the opportunities there and the people you might meet - you never know how they might manifest in the future!

 

Would you like to see more support and celebration of craftswomen in the film industry?

Absolutely - there are some really frightening statistics flying around at the moment, particularly those that suggest women in key creative roles are in fact falling. It’s tough out there, and I think the hardest thing for women, is a foot in the door - making a transition from short films to gaining paid work in their chosen field, and anything that support women making those first steps is crucial.

 

What are you currently working on?

Projects are like buses!! At the moment I’ve got 3 different priojects on the go in various stages of production. I’ve just wrapped on my next short - The Nest Egg. It’s taken quite a while to get here - but it’s a project that I’m really excited about it. It’s being produced by fellow Underwire Alumnae Martina Silcock and written by Lee Sutton. It’s a blackly comic tale about a chicken suit, benevolence and eggs. We shot for 4 days in South London with an amazing crew, and brilliant cast (including Paul Copley, James Northcote + newcomer Lily Bacon-Darwin). We’re in post now - and I’m due to see our first assembly next week! I’m hoping to have the film finished up by the end of the year, and we’ll begin submissions to festivals next year, hopefully with a visit to Underwire 2015!

I’m also working on a project with the amazing comic duo - LetLuce, and prodcuers Suzy McClintock + Jessica Malik- It’s a comedy short and we’re currently through to the longlist stage of ‘Funny Girls’ - a wonferful scheme set up by Creative England and in assocation with Big Talk + Baby Cow. Finally I’m also in development stages on a really exciting low-budget feature (again with Suzy + Jessica) with a view to moving into preprodction next summer. 2015 looks set to be a busy year!!