I had worked with Paul (Director) on A Landscape of Lies a few years back. I was recommended to him by another fellow actor. If I had to audition, I probably would not have booked the role, but, it worked out. And, I really enjoyed being part of it. So, when 24 Little Hours came around and Paul contacted me, I said yes without hesitation.
indieactivity: As one of the main cast on the project, how did this ‘choice’ work for you?
Danny Midwinter (DM): It worked out really well, the film has a fantastic cast and when you have that to bounce off of it makes a good scene great. I love playing roles that force you to add another layer, although this character is a far cry from the character I played in ‘Landscape’. That time I was really out of my comfort zone.
What part of ‘Landscape’ story challenged you when you read it compared to this film?
Danny Midwinter (DM): To be honest I didn’t feel challenged when I read ‘24’, I was intrigued by the way the script was set out as no one got the full script, Paul kept it all very compartmentalized, so you didn’t know just how far you could go but where ‘Landscape’ was concerned, I absolutely knew I would have to expose myself and go dark but that’s the challenge and the buzz, you sink or swim, the drive was to jump into another soul and be that person for a while.
You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Danny Midwinter (DM): My first ever movie was a film called ‘Fast Food’, the whole cast was paid expenses only and we worked almost every day and all the hours god sent but our passion was second to none, it was absolutely amazing to shoot and I couldn’t of cared less about payment, just being on film set and turning it on is an incredible feeling, most indie films I work on the cast just want to make magic and shoot a great film, zero egos…
Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Danny Midwinter (DM): I was shooting a dark scene one day on ‘Landscape’ and the Director added an even darker scene where I completely lose myself mentally, he said there’s no script, it’s all improv, he told me exactly where he wanted me to go in my mind and said we shoot in 15 minutes. He came back 2 hours later and I was not the happiest man, he walked in the room and shouted ‘ACTION!!!’…….. Paul Knight knew how to put me in the moment. He just lets the reigns go, great work mate.
How did you create your character from ground up?
Danny Midwinter (DM): I see the character in my mind after reading a script a couple of times, I take out all my scenes and read them over and over again and then people from my past would pop into my mind and I pinch a trait from that person, a trait from someone else, within a few days I have the bones of the role I want to play. I grew up in a rough part of London and was friends with everyone so I got all types of different souls to borrow from.
As the main cast in the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Were you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes were difficult to shoot?
DM: if I show weakness and fear on set in a scene it would create worry with others, I have always believed that confidence is everything, not being arrogant just being nice and doing your absolute best of your ability in each and every scene, also supporting everyone around you but not over doing it … so to speak.
There have been a few films where I’m the more experienced actor and so new actors look to me for advice, which is usually never to be afraid to let go. But that’s just me, whether I’m a lead or not. When you are working with other experienced actors the real responsibility is to bring your A game, because they’ll show any of your weaknesses in a scene, and that kind of competition is a real motivator and that can fire you up.
Explain one creative choice you made on set during production?
DM: There’s not really any creative choices I made, I just had my scenes each day and Paul would watch a rehearsal and tweak it or leave it, he has that faith in his cast to bring what is going to work on camera.
What did you take away from the film production?
DM: Friends. Everyone was great.
What do you like most about the director, and his collaboration with his team?
DM: I loved the way everyone would break their back for Paul, he is a leader as a Director, he knows what he wants and he gets on with it. He lets an Actor go, there’s no 4 walls with Paul, he just winds you up and lets you run, if he thinks something isn’t working he will discuss it with the Actor, he won’t say ‘I WANT IT THIS WAY’. He is an Actors Director.
What is next for you?
DM: I love comedy, Bromley Boys is currently in the cinemas and that was a great and fun experience working with Alan Davies and Ewen Macintosh, who is also in 24 Little Hours. I have a passion project I’m developing which is a comedy so II seem to be leaning more toward light hearted roles.
What advice do you give actors regarding what you learnt on the project?
DM: Just keep fighting every day, don’t let anyone say “You can’t do that”. Every dog has his day!!
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