KATE HERRON

1. How Long Have You Been Directing Films For?

Hello my name is Kate and I’m a Screenwriter and Director. Including the nonsense I made a teenager roughly ten years.

I have written and directed shorts, written features and am currently directing a show for Netflix called Sex Education.

2. What Is Your Feature Film About?

My feature film is called Miss Universe and it’s about a beauty pageant under alien attack. The film is at the script drafting / hustling for money stage. We should be filming next year.

3. How Are You Funding The Film?

My producers are the force behind that one. Once I get this draft done it’ll be a mixture of locking in cast which will bring in some investment and speaking to companies also.

In terms of development we did the Film London Microwave Scheme two years ago and from that were also selected for the BFI Genre Weekender. It’s been an interesting journey for the project which started off as something much cheaper. In time it became clear that we needed a bigger budget. As my directing career has progressed over the rewrites the project is now on a much bigger scale, which is exciting.

4. How Are You Hoping To Distribute The Film?

The film ideally be in cinemas but that’s an interesting discussion in itself. In terms of my career, like every job, I hope to work again and that it’ll also be something that if I hadn’t made myself I would want to go and see.

5. What Tips Would You Give To Beginner Filmmakers?

Make want you love, it’s very time consuming making any film so make something you really want to see. Don’t stress if the first one doesn’t go as planned, things will go wrong and it’s all part of learning. It’s much better to make mistakes on your earlier stuff than later when it’ll cost you more so take risks creatively right now.

Surround yourself with people who are as excited as you. It’s way better to have a tiny crew who are excited than a large ‘group clock’ watching waiting to go home. When you find these people work on each other’s projects. Console each other when it goes wrong and support each other when it goes well.

This industry is about networking so attend as much as you can and reach out to filmmakers you like online. Don’t wait for permission. Go out and shoot on what you can with what you have access to ie your phone, film it in your house, get your friends to be in it etc.

Don’t give up. Remember that online isn’t a complete window into how people are actually doing. People only post the successes but everyone has shit days and has rejection.

Keep going!

Twitter - @iamkateherron | Website Kate Herron

LUKE RUFO