I started life as a child actor in Epsom, Surrey, England and had my first role at age 11. I studied at the Laine Theatre Arts and then went on to university. I taught drama between having 5 children and have mentored, taught, cast in my films some of the rising stars of today aged 15-30. Six years ago I took a sideways step into film making and haven’t looked back, winning 15 awards for short film. I am now moving onto feature films and have two in preproduction and have started filming both of them
indieactivity: How did you get into filmmaking and screenwriting?
Jane: I have always written stories, but scriptwriting has it’s own format and rules and I go to a Euroscript workshop whenever I can to develop my craft.
indieactivity: How dies an indie filmmaker distribute his or her film
Jane: I have spent six years learning all aspects of filmmaking and there’s not an easy answer. You have to be bold and brave. I started when my film got into Cannes by approaching Distributors and just pitching on the spot to gain support. Later I teamed up with my Producer and Sales Agent Vince Woods who sorts that side of thing for me. So a good experienced Sales Agent is needed.
Then I met through Vince another Producer who has come on board; Darren Denison. He has Hollywood contacts for distribution so the story moves along. This is not purely luck, I spend a lot of time networking at Media Lunch Club, Shooting People at Cannes and on Twitter and Facebook. You meet people then connect or don’t and that leads to further good things, sometimes.
indieactivity: When should an indie filmmaker start planning for distribution?
Jane: Right from the beginning. You must know your audience and who will be interested to sell to that audience.
indieactivity: How can an indie filmmaker get his film into cinemas?
Jane: It’s difficult, but not impossible. You need a good Sales Agent. How do you find one? Write and arrange to meet 50 to pitch your idea. One will bite if you and your film are any good.
indieactivity: How can an indie filmmaker finance his or her film?
Jane: This is the hardest question. I have a tip sheet with 200 tips and funds to get money for short film. I have successfully funded 11 short films with budgets from £2- £12,000. Crowdfunding is an option but I am not very good at it. Feature film is a whole other story as you first need the good cast, good crew and to make a Presenter pack and the Investment pack to pitch to various investors. There are various consortiums and private investors but they want the track record, the accounts, the ROI and every bell and whistle, when I’ve mastered it I will write a tip sheet on that too, but I am still learning.
indieactivity: What films have you written and made?
Jane: I have written many short films, Killing Class (adaptation of play), Blackberry Girl, Mummy’s Boys 1, 2, 3, Little Red, Unchained, Pressure, Crushed, The Con Game, Katya (2017). Katya has won the most awards yet, and you can view the trailer here
I am presently filming the feature film; Innocent Candy where I am Director for Clock Tower Productions
And my own film: #Swiperight, which is a Psychological Thriller, you can view the teasers here. I have written and produced all the films I have mentioned, except for Innocent Candy. I co-produced a film for Seahorse Films called Squidge. The rest are my own
indieactivity: What is your concept on collaboration?
Jane: The whole of the filmmaking process is a collaboration. The team is all important. One person who fails to do a good job brings everyone else down with them. So I have built good teams that I can trust to deliver.
indieactivity: How do you find the process of filmmaking?
Jane: Fabulous! Hard work and the most enjoyable thing in the world.
indieactivity: Describe your recent work?
Jane: My recent feature film that I wrote and will direct has been a marathon of effort and learning. It has taken 2-3 years to get off the ground. I have been let down by funders, cast have then been engaged on other projects when I re scheduled and people have tried to take it over. I have picked myself up, resisted bad vibes and just concentrated on the good vibes and that we now have an amazing cast, with two fabulous producers and are nearly ready to go.
I have filmed 4 days already of all the flashback scenes that had Toyah Willcox and Sophie Ward in them and this we have used as teasers to attract the other profile cast and further investment. We now have Ciara Hanna (Hawaii 5-0, Power Rangers), Isabel Durant (Dance Academy and Miko Mermaids) and Jack Brett Anderson (Wolfblood) as our leads. It’s a young vibrant cast. You can see it on here
indieactivity: What are your future goals?
Jane: I want to make more films and a TV series that can be seen on my two slates Project 1 and on Project 2
indieactivity: Tell us about what you think indie filmmaker need in today’s world of filmmaking
Jane: Resilience, perseverance and luck (but luck is grabbing opportunity when it presents itself)
indieactivity: Briefly describe your career?
Jane: I feel incredibly lucky to be where I am now at this moment, doing what I love and surrounded by supportive people. Both my family and my team are very talented and supportive. I have some very special cast on my latest film as described above but I have also met some people who are outstanding and will make it in this industry if they keep trying. It’s lovely to discover young talent and watch them grow but I am also interested in older people who make a change in career or come into acting later in life. They bring life experience and that is invaluable in creating a role.
I am available when not Directing my own films to help anyone with theirs as Director or for Casting.
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