Short Film: Intelligent Risk Taking

Interview With Jay Purcell
By Mark Brent

1)Inteligent Risk Taking is an experimental narrative that watches like a poem video. What drew you to the poetry of Darren Gray? What were the challenges with working with a poem versus a plot driven script?

Well I am also a graphic designer and was approached by the publishers Next Century Books to design the book cover and layout for Darrens first collection of poems Delicate Elephant which featured the poem Intelligent Risk Taking. We were throwing around ideas about how best to get the book out to the public and reach people that appreciate poetry but who would not normally go out and seek a book of it. After reading Darrens work it struck me that rather than being like the kind of flouncy/arty poetry you get sometimes his revolved more around twisted daily observations of life coupled with his own inner thoughts and emotional contemplations of his personal life. Reading the poems gave me ideas about how they would look on film, as I always see imagery in my head whether Im walking down a street or listening to music. I thought this would be a great first project to direct some short films, no pressure, no money but pure experimentation! So the task began. I waded through the book and picked out about 10 poems to work with, the next stage was to jot down some rough ideas and shot lists of how they could be filmed. The main challenge in filming these poems verses a plot driven script was my own slap-hazard organisational skills. Although sketching out my rough ideas beforehand I had no script or storyboard and just went out shooting with the ideas in my head, figuring out how to put it all together later. In the case of Intelligent Risk Taking this was all filmed over the course of 2 days in various different locations. The office was the only location we had arranged beforehand with all the other locations found on the day of the shoot. So before we shot we had no storyboard, no script and no locations, this was all my fault in lack of preparation, but then it was all a bit of an experiment! Im a great believer in that however rough or crap you think the footage is you can always, always make something acceptable in the editing stage! I hope that Ive managed to prove in this film that if you can make an acceptable little film with no money or crew, imagine what you could do even with a modest budget!

2)What's independent filmmaking like in England? Do you find much support? I suppose it is always the eternal struggle of getting any money to make films that is always the biggest struggle, but I guess thats the same everywhere. When it comes to documentaries and short films there seems to be a lot of support in the UK for this with various schemes set up to showcase work, get funding, help network and find other crew members. When it comes to feature films though it is very difficult. The UK film industry doesnt really exist anymore and youll be hard pushed to make or even release a film without the major backing of American or foreign companies who own all of the Cinema Theatres here and hence give priority to mainstream blockbuster releases rather than supporting independent films. This is the case on a national basis apart from a small selection of independent theatres in London and other cities who make it their business to show independent films.

3)What's next for you?

Well despite my partially negative answer to the last question I am about to Direct my first feature film! Its a comedy about ordinary guy Paul Blackship who lives in the dull, grey City of Milton Keynes in England. Paul claims that he is a Superhero and possess special superhero powers! After an anonymous letter is sent into a TV network, investigative documentary reporter Egon Kitzmert and his crew turn up to make a documentary about Paul and to investigate the claims made in the letter, this is Egons last chance to make some great TV before the network axe his show. Cue lots of silliness and other dodgy English superheroes! We are due to start filming this August 2006 and a pre-production web site has already been launched at www.midknight-rising.com where we will also be releasing regular production video podcasts in the coming months.

As well as making films I am also a musician currently playing drums for 3 different artists as well as writing and producing tracks for solo artists. I also run my own label Funkbuddha which has a production arm to it making websites, graphic designs and more for clients such as Abbey Road Studios, so Im never really stuck for something creative to get my teeth stuck into!!!! Oh.and Ill also be releasing my first solo album later in 2006 which will feature some of my best music collaborations over the past 6 years. Keep an eye on www.myspace.com/jaypurcell for the latest info!