Tim Phillips- Producer/director.
Already having worked crew on some major films, Tim is now in his final year of Film Production- here is his entry for the Kodak 2011 Student Commercials. Featuring the beautiful and talented actress May Phillips at the beginning!
Kimberly Jaraj in Airbourne.
Most certainly an actress in the ‘ones to watch’ category.
http://dominicbuchanan.tumblr.com
Current Position: Development Exec / Producer for Qwerty Films
1: Can you describe what you do for Qwerty Films?
The long and short of it is, I do everything my boss doesn’t do! Well, in more serious terms, I inherited two peoples roles here, and as the company streamlined recently, like all others, my role as you can imagine encompasses a very wide range of duties. From your basic admin, diary management, booking travel, reading scripts, looking over budgets, contracts, to the more exciting tracking of talent, screening films, meeting agents, writers, directors, networking at various functions … as silly as it sounds, my boss and I are the company face, so keeping my own face known in my immediate circles, and wider, is vital for maintaining relationships.
2: What is it that you bring to this position that makes you unique?
The best way to answer that is to delve back into my recent past roles, and what it was that got me here. As we all know, no one person has the same path into the film industry, and some people take for granted the necessity to harbor certain skills, and also develop these, within your skill-set, which will ultimately help you along the way. To answer your question more directly, in regards to my current role, I think my boss certainly employed me due to the vast experience I accrued at Universal and prior to that - The Weinstein Company. I’d like to think beyond my knowledge of the industry, and the exposure my previous roles presented, he probably liked my face somewhat! What makes me unique is exactly how I approached my previous roles, the projects I worked on, and also how I transitioned myself from role to role. Going back many years before those those two big jobs, I did a lot more groundwork trying to break myself in the industry. The two companies I named just help cement me in it.
3: How have your past work experiences enabled you to reach your current position- would you have done anything differently?
There is no way I would have done anything differently, because I wouldn’t be where I am today doing the marvelous things I am striving for each day. I tell people not to have any regrets because you have to be confident in yourself, within your skin, with a supreme positive outlook for what you are trying to achieve. Myself, like many others have received several knock backs to say the least, but you have to stay focused, you need to stay determined to win, at all costs. However you also need to stay smart about it all. I remember reading a very succinct quote, from a Hollywood persona from yester-year, which to paraphrase said something to the effect of ‘be nice to all those you come across on the way up, because you may need them on the way down’. Of course you cannot be nice to EVERYONE, but you get the gist. Also, its about knowing when to take a step back, knowing when to push, knowing when to move on, knowing that no matter how much money you do or do not have, you need to have the right connections to help facilitate. It is also knowing who you need around you, what company to keep, because if you want to stay creative, you need to be surrounded by creativity, to become successful, you need to be around it, know what it smells like, tastes like…
4: Can you identify and comment on the current emerging British Talent currently making waves in the film industry? (Please feel free to include a link to a film clip or short etc)
There are too many to remember, and paradoxically too few [UK based talent] to champion. Names that stick out for me; Felicity Jones, Tom Green [director and creator of Misfits], Tanel Toom [his short THE CONFESSION won the student Oscar], Nathan Stewart-Jarrett [Misfits], Idris Elba [he left THE WIRE 7 years ago, look at him now, Lucy Punch [huge resurgence with recent comedies], Tom Hardy [can do no wrong right now], Duncan Jones [may have a famous father but is definitely talented], Gareth Edwards, [directed MONSTERS, now about to do GODZILLA], Saoirse Ronan…
5: Top 5 Films:
I don’t have a static top 5 list of anything, I’m a student of film so I’ve learnt about every decade from 1920 up till now, every era, film movement etc. I know that may sound like a high brow cop out, but I can never give a top 5. I CAN tell you that the first three films I remember through my childhood; a) E.T., b) Raiders Of The Lost Ark, and c) Robocop. That should give you a good insight into my lack of pretentiousness and parental guidance (I was born in 1982, why I was allowed to watch Robocop at such a young age I’ll never know other than it is awesome)…
6: Favorite Book or poem?
I don’t think I’ve ever re-read a book, but the most pleasurable books for me in my life thus far; You’ll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again, The Kid Stays In The Picture, Easy Riders Raging Bulls, His Dark Materials trilogy…
7: Life Motto or Quotation that you most identify with?
Hmm, like a geek I collect quotes, I apply them depending on my mood and current situation, the one that will always stick with me though is “BECOME YOUR DREAM”
8: If you could offer any advice to those emerging in the same industry as you what would it be?
Be smart, read, love what you do, do what you love, be patient, be aggressive with your dreams, stay focused, stay positive, believe, act, understand actions, take risks, learn how to evaluate situations quickly, be careful of the company you keep, be confident, be yourself, learn your inner workings, know what makes you ‘tick’, know what slows you down, understand the difference between fame and success, be nice, be ruthless, be flexible, stay adaptable, uphold integrity, don’t be annoying, and most importantly HAVE FUN, life is too short!!!
