In pictures: On set at the Iris film festival
- Published
Shooting the film Boys Village was a great experience. This was the second film made, and I was given huge freedom to roam the derelict holiday village and really explore the themes in the film, through photography.
The film Burger was a bit different in that it was shot in one night, rather than over a few days. It was very interesting to see the crew and cast get to grips with this over the hours. The weather did not help matters, it was freezing rain all night.
This was the first film produced, and I was excited to explore the locations it was shot in, around the Corporation Road area of Newport. I had at look at the work of Dean Rogers, who did stills on Control and This is England, and it really helped me to get started.
The motel we were in for the film D-Ice and Pansy was a great location. You really felt like you were in one of the endless suburbs you see depicted in films like Tangerine. With a bit of lighting genius thrown in, my job was made very easy.
I found Valmai, who played Lynn in the Followers, absolutely fascinating. Her character is deeply religious, and so much of her performance was down to small gestures and guarded expressions. I asked her to close her eyes here, as if in prayer, and it's one of my favourite pictures I've taken for Iris.
Hurts Rescue is a claustrophobic and disconcerting film, which mixes the reality within its narrative with moments of tension like waking dreams. It is the only film so far in black and white, and I took it upon myself to do the stills in the same style. Imola Gaspar plays the lady in this frame - so friendly in real life, in character she really was spine chilling.
I was really pleased with this shot, which I thought looked like an album cover. Again it's a case of me having the advantage of shooting pictures on a set that has been lit by very talented and gifted artists, in this case for the film Little Man.
Iris films always take you to new and interesting places on location, that are often under your very nose. This is the Kymin, just outside Monmouth, and it really is an idyllic and sublime spot, used in the film Spoilers. It really added to the poignancy of this scene - no spoilers, you'll just have to watch it yourself.
D-Ice and Pansy is the latest film shot, and one of my favourites, before I've even seen it. I found the lighting and production design very clever, and definitely well within the realm of what makes my photography brain come to life. I loved the mix of light, mimicking the strong sodium lighting of a Los Angeles night-time. This year's Iris Prize runs between 12-16 October.