Yes, that’s right. Quiet, picturesque, sleepy Devon is a secret hive of film activity. Don’t believe me? Well, you’d better, because as little as two weeks ago, the film premiere for John Tomkins’ They’re Coming – an independent film shot entirely locally – was hosted in the Central Cinema, Torquay a quick jaunt of less than an hour away by train.And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Down the road in Dawlish, a series of ambitious short films are currently in production by local indie film company Realm Pictures. Here in Exeter, we have our very own burgeoning filmmakers in Tom Hutchings and Ben Tallamy, whose first feature film, Shields of Justice, will be one to look out for next spring.
Now make no mistake, Devonian locations popping up in films is not a new thing – Dartmoor gets tons of screen time, the latest high profile visitors being the makers of War Horse. But such a number of independent, local filmmakers using locations in or near to Exeter is potentially very exciting, not just in the feeling of glam we could all get from going to uni here, but in the possibility of a strong and lasting network of support for British indie film. And who knows, if these enterprising filmmakers get enough funding, we could be seeing graduate job opportunities in all aspects of film production opening up in this otherwise quiet city.
The first person to make a feature-length film in Exeter, Andy Robinson, observes that “year on year there is more filmmaking activity going on in Exeter and Devon”. When he started to make his feature film, The Forewarning, back in 2005, he admits, “I had no idea what I was letting myself in for” and with no precedent in this locality, he found it an “isolating” experience. But now, with such a proliferation of filmic endeavour, talent and ambition around, a vibrant network of local indie filmmakers is growing in Exeter.
So much so, that a substantial proportion of the audience at the premiere of They’re Coming were directors. After the premiere, director and producer Tomkins stated that it was “the first time I’ve seen so many filmmakers together […] it’s a small world”. And it looks like the film world is about to become a whole lot more connected in Exeter. Last June, Shooting People, a film networking group, started meeting monthly at Exeter’s Picturehouse cinema, where there is a bar and relaxed space for casual chat and support. With friendly groups like this encouraging creative ambition, it looks like independent film is here to stay.
However, Tomkins emphasises that making a film on no funding whatsoever is always “very hard, very emotional”. Directors, writers, producers and goodness knows what else, John Tomkins, Andy Robinson, Tom Hutchings and Ben Tallamy have all found it essential to surround themselves with an extremely able-bodied crew of volunteers, and even then it’s no easy or cheap task. Although all of these filmmakers, when interviewed, expressed delighted surprise at how accommodating local organisations and location-providers have been (Tomkins notes somewhat bemusedly that “everyone loves the word ‘film’”), all are united in the determination to get funding for their next projects. The fact is, finding the money for decent filming equipment and editing software is one of the biggest problems for the future flourishing of independent film. These days, the high-tech cameras may be ever more portable and available, but they are still extremely expensive. But what are the opportunities for financial support in the current economical climate, I (sort of) hear you cry!
Julian Kemp, sound technician for They’re Coming and yet another local filmmaker, found a way to get funding for his first venture. This came in the form of a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which he says he was “fortunate” to obtain. But, as the name of the fund suggests, there is a condition: your artwork has to be aimed at maintaining heritage in some way. So while this worked for Kemp, as his film, The Sanatorium was a documentary about the history of an ancient building on Dartmoor, it won’t work for all filmmakers.
Instead, local filmmakers in need of funding are likely to turn towards Crowdfunding websites. Several of the filmmakers I spoke to mentioned Kickstarter, a trendy American fundraising site, where you advertise yourself and what your project is about, and hope that some members who like what you’re doing will donate. This idea started in America, but it’s becoming increasingly popular worldwide. So if you like the idea of Exeter becoming a UK hotspot for filmic creativity, I advise you to keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved.
They’re Coming should be showing in Exeter soon and Shields of Justice should be screening in Exeter next spring. The former is an hour-long thriller about a man whose wife goes missing and is pursued relentlessly by mysterious characters. The latter is a pastiche of 1970s American macho cop shows. So there’s something there for everyone.
And for any aspiring student filmmakers out there, here are a few friendly words of advice, direct from the guys who’ve been there and got the extra wrinkles to prove it:
- “Take the stress off by surrounding yourself with as much help as you need” (Andy Robinson)
- “Don’t be afraid of asking for support from local organisations and companies, there’s […] plenty of people who would love to help you develop your talents” (Julian Kemp)
- “Be open and friendly […] People are a lot nicer than you think” (Tom Hutchings and Ben Tallamy)
- “Plan, plan, plan [and] believe, [because] if you have a real passion for it, you can make it happen” (John Tomkins)
Mia Nashe
exeposedev 