Director Q+A

When meeting Marcus Markou, I learnt a lot about the process of making a short film, and the industry itself. My top five points were:

1. I learnt about pre-production, and the role of a Line Producer (in this case, Sarah Butler). A Line Producer will read the script and work out a budget for each individual line.
2. Marcus also told about how he ran the sets, and how it differed from big budget films; he tried to create a family atmosphere, and on the first day he learnt the entire crews names, and queued for lunch.
3. I also learnt that the technical crew, such as electricians and boom mic operators, get paid a fixed amount, whether they are working on a big budget set or an indie film. The locations and actors fees tend to be negotiated.
4. Marcus also told us about how he got Stephen Dillane and Georges Corraface to act in his film; he essentially stalked them until they got his script. Stephen Dillane wasn't going to be a part of the film, until he found out that his son, Frank Dillane, was performing the role of Harry Papadopoulos' son. Stephen Dillane then wanted to act in a film with his son, so took the role.
5. I also learnt about how Marcus first asked the actors how they wanted to perform the scene, then asked the Director Of Photography how they would shoot it. Then, if there were any extra set ups, he would check with the Assistant Director on whether or not they had time. This way, he ended up with a more natural looking film, as the actors were more relaxed, therefore giving better performances.