Making Independent Genre Movies with Creep, Severance, Triangle and The Banishing director Christopher Smith

Mar 30, 2021

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

We are delighted to have legendary director Christopher Smith on this weeks episode. He has been a firm favorite of host Giles Alderson who has wanted him as guest since the start and finally he is here to talk about his latest gripping film The Banishing.

Joining Giles as co host is fellow director Christian James as they discuss Chris’ journey to becoming a filmmaker. His first brilliant film Creep and how he met producer Jason Newmark who has since been a team with him pretty much all his journey as a filmmaker.

We also chat about pitching and personality, what he has learned as a director and agents and managers. We discuss working on set, why it is important to create a great vibe for actors and crew and why sometimes you have to lay down the law!

In 2004 Christopher Smith wrote and directed the nasty shocker CREEP, putting Franka Potente (Run Lola Run) front and centre as a woman stuck in the tunnels of the London Underground, pursued by something you really wouldn’t want to meet in the dark. Run Franka, run!

Smith hit the ground running with his 2006 pitch-black horror comedy SEVERANCE, this was a brilliant mix of the horrifying and hilarious that had audiences howling in delight.

In 2009 Smith went out to sea for the thrilling TRIANGLE, with Melissa George (The Slap) trapped in a hellish time loop on an abandoned boat, pursued by a hooded figure with a bloody axe.

Smith’s hugely enjoyable BLACK DEATH (2010), set in 17th-century plague-ridden England, had a terrific lead performance from the ever-reliable Sean Bean (Possessor)

After forays into family comedies (Get Santa) and TV series (Alex Rider), Smith comes back to the horror genre this year, with THE BANISHING, a spine-chiller set in Britain’s most haunted house, Borley Rectory, during World War Two. Downton Abbey’s Jessica Brown Findlay is a young woman uncovering dark secrets in her new home.

THE BANISHING is released on digital platforms from 26th March and will stream on Shudder beginning 15th April.

WATCH The Banishing here:

PATREON

Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, industry survival guides and feedback on your film projects.

Our new 4 tier structure is in place. Come join the community!

https://www.patreon.com/thefilmmakerspodcast

EVENTS & CROWDFUNDERS

Join us on ClubHouse on Thursday's 6.30 GMT https://www.joinclubhouse.com/event/M5X0Qzvx

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Read & Sign Up for The Wrap Up - Our weekly Newsletter with news and information from the world of film

Spread the Word with Our Merch T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Masks and Water Bottles all now available in some very cool designs.

Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Help us out and write us a review (a good one!), tell your friends and CHOOSE FILM.

Get in touch? Email us thefilmmakerspodcast@gmail.com

Check out our full episode archive at TheFilmmakersPodcast.com

CREDITS

The Filmmakers Podcast is hosted and written by Giles Alderson @gilesalderson

Produced and edited by Robbie McKane @robbiemckane & Samuel Evans @SamuelHEvans_

Social Media by Kalli Pasqualucci @kallieep

Logo and Banner Art by Lois Creative

Theme Music by John J. Harvey