Laura & Elliott's award winning film for Barnardo's
"We entered Cannes Young Lions a few weeks ago and had to turn around a 60 second ad for Barnardo's in 48 hours. Idea, script, shoot, edit, all by our lonesome.
To cut a long story short, we won. Best UK team.
Not many actors are interested in working in a cold church on a Saturday night with 2 hours notice. So sadly, I ended up 'starring' in it. Mwahaha.
We got briefed on Friday at 4pm.
Friday evening (until 9ish) was spent on ideas.
As was Saturday 8-12ish.
Saturday 12-4ish was spent writing the script.
Saturday 4-6ish was spent finding locations, begging, borrowing and stealing.
(In the end, we were actually just given the keys to the church by a very trusting priest. We actually got the church just by knocking on the door and he happened to be in.
Says a lot for just getting out and asking for favours instead of making calls and emails.)
Saturday 6-10ish was spent filming.
Saturday/ Sunday 10-11 was spent editing overnight.
We actually came up with the idea for the script on Friday night, it was one of our first thoughts.
After pummelling through dozens more ideas we realised it was the best by far. We could spend hours trying to top it. If we did we'd only have a few hours to film and edit, if we didn't, we'd have wasted that time completely.
And so we went with it. I guess it's the nature of a 48 hour competition, you're never 100% sure because you could have spent longer coming up with ideas, I guess you just have to trust yourself.
The same thing happened Sunday morning. We'd stayed up overnight editing and had 8 hours left until it had to be submitted.
We could have continued editing it, but with the footage we had it would have only got about 3% better. Plus we were both knackered and couldn't think straight. So we just submitted it.
I think we learned not to take competitions like that TOO seriously, as you'll always have doubts and you'll always be comparing the finished article to how good it could be if you got a proper director, proper actor and you had more time.
But you don't. So it's important to just enjoy it and cross your fingers."
To cut a long story short, we won. Best UK team.
Not many actors are interested in working in a cold church on a Saturday night with 2 hours notice. So sadly, I ended up 'starring' in it. Mwahaha.
We got briefed on Friday at 4pm.
Friday evening (until 9ish) was spent on ideas.
As was Saturday 8-12ish.
Saturday 12-4ish was spent writing the script.
Saturday 4-6ish was spent finding locations, begging, borrowing and stealing.
(In the end, we were actually just given the keys to the church by a very trusting priest. We actually got the church just by knocking on the door and he happened to be in.
Says a lot for just getting out and asking for favours instead of making calls and emails.)
Saturday 6-10ish was spent filming.
Saturday/ Sunday 10-11 was spent editing overnight.
We actually came up with the idea for the script on Friday night, it was one of our first thoughts.
After pummelling through dozens more ideas we realised it was the best by far. We could spend hours trying to top it. If we did we'd only have a few hours to film and edit, if we didn't, we'd have wasted that time completely.
And so we went with it. I guess it's the nature of a 48 hour competition, you're never 100% sure because you could have spent longer coming up with ideas, I guess you just have to trust yourself.
The same thing happened Sunday morning. We'd stayed up overnight editing and had 8 hours left until it had to be submitted.
We could have continued editing it, but with the footage we had it would have only got about 3% better. Plus we were both knackered and couldn't think straight. So we just submitted it.
I think we learned not to take competitions like that TOO seriously, as you'll always have doubts and you'll always be comparing the finished article to how good it could be if you got a proper director, proper actor and you had more time.
But you don't. So it's important to just enjoy it and cross your fingers."
