British movies a cultural waste-land?

by Sam Carter

From humble beginnings as a photographer’s assistant after graduating, Malcom Venville achieved success in shooting TV commercials in LA.

The up and coming British talent now directs feature films and has worked with the likes of Ray Winston, John Hurt and now Keanu Reeves and Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga. He tells Arts London News what he really thinks of the British film industry.

SC: You’ve come quite a way from photographer’s assistant, what would your advice be for aspiring directors?

MV: I think it varies, for me it was difficult. I spent 15 years as a commercial director, it taught me a lot about the logistics of film. How to work with images,actors, how to edit and use sound. It’s a really good film school, but it definitely took me ten years longer than I wanted.

SC: So at the end of a long day how do you de-stress?

MV: (Laughs) That’s a question and a half. I usually just spend an hour just chilling and listening to music. It’s really important to catch up on the normal things, my wife and I have a five-month old son, just picking him up is a good de-stressor. That side of life needs to be carefully attended, you need balance to keep your work as clear as possible.

SC: I’ve read that you took pride in the ‘Britishness” of 44.inch Chest. For you, what would be the most important reason to continue supporting British film?

MV: I was really attracted to the material, I felt very rooted in the project. I’ve watched the actors Ray Winston, John Hurt, Ian McShane since I was a kid. The movie is so dependent on their characters and brilliance. I felt very strongly connected to that and to the dialogue and the richness of the script. Beyond that I have no connections to British film.

 SC: So what would you say are the defining characteristics of a great British film these days?

MV: I’m in really huge opinion about this. As a child I watched and loved Ken Loach, Alfred Hitchcock and Michael Powell movies. I love all the British great filmmakers but I feel I don’t have any connection to modern British film, because it virtually doesn’t exist anymore.

SC: Is there any way you could see yourself trying to save British film?

MV: British movies represent a cultural waste-land right now, it’s full of kitchen sink filmmakers and impoverished directors, the future looks difficult. 44. Inch Chest was financed, but it was created by a local producer who had made 40 or 50 movies.

SC: It’s a shame, so you don’t think the National Lottery does enough in its funding?

MV: It’s a hobby for the Government and the lottery to make little films. Even though it’s an investigation of guilt and remorse, 44. Inch Chest didn’t receive any funding from English institutions because it was too strong and aggressive and too risky. The fact that there’s a man beating his wife, made it unsuitable for financing (laughs).

44 Inch Chest is released May 10 on DVD and Blu-Ray by Momentum Pictures.