What Brett Harvey has done while he looked for a real job

Cornish filmmaker Brett Harvey has released a DVD of some of his work to date, one of which was a Govyn Kernewek Award winning film. We caught up with him to find out how he got into film and how nostalgia became an addictive and dangerous beast

You’ve recently released a DVD of your short films. What films are on there and how do they show your development as a filmmaker?

The DVD features 10 short films, five of which have won awards at various festivals. They’re my pick of the bunch so to speak, films I really enjoyed making or experiments that I’m proud of. My favourite is An Jowl Yn Agas Kegin that to me feels like one where I really hit the nail on the head in terms of writing and direction. I also have a soft spot for Bandages because it was shot on 16mm, but we only had enough money to do on average one or two takes per shot! The DVD also has tons of extra features like outtakes, behind the scenes footage, extended cuts and it shows how we shot something only doing one take at a time (storyboard it and do a test shoot on digital!).

I’ve also put some early short films on the disc, ones which to be honest are as successful but I felt it was important to show how I’ve (hopefully) progressed!

The DVD is called What I’ve Done While I Look For A Real Job, is there any significance in the title?

To be honest I just thought it was a funny title! I figured fellow filmmakers could relate to it.

What’s your background, and why film?

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I became a filmmaker by mistake!

The first film was a joke, just something to do one night. We didn’t have a script; we didn’t even have a story just some costumes and tomato ketchup. The resulting film Zombies (13 mins long, edited ‘in camera’ and on the DVD!) was premiered at a house party to room of 80 drunk college students. The reaction was amazing, I remember distinctly thinking that I’d like to try this again. From that moment on I was a filmmaker.

So I went to university, made a ton of bad short films, came home to Cornwall and made a ton of (hopefully) better ones. Eight years and over 15 shorts later I’ve won a handful of awards, worked with fantastic cast and crews (including Phillip Schofield himself!) become an editor, writer, director and am just about to start production on my first feature film.

In your Govyn Kernewek winning film you say you worked with a fantastic cast and crew including Phillip Schofield. How important is cast and crew to a successful film, and how easy are good ones to come across?

It is totally and utterly 100 per cent essential to have a good cast and crew. You cannot make films on your own, so it’s really important to find people who you can work with. Putting this DVD together has been a fantastic experience (nostalgia is an addictive and dangerous beast), but the thing that’s moved me most is how much support I’ve had from friends, family, casts and crews. Words cannot express how lucky I’ve been or how grateful I am.

You’re developing a feature – is there anything you can say about that?

The feature film is being developed right now, it’s a low budget (naturally!) black comedy thriller set in a Cornish ’second home’. I don’t want to say too much at this stage, but we’re shooting in April / May and I’m giddy with excitement at the prospect.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

The DVD is available via mail order. It cost £10 (price includes p&p). To order a copy send cash or a cheque to Brett Harvey, 32 Treffry Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 1WL. Any questions drop me an e-mail: brett@o-region.co.uk. Content not suitable for under 15s.

Brett Harvey, many thanks