You have a diverse educational background. You studied Aeronautical Engineering at City University and Philosophy at Cambridge. In what ways has your background helped you to make informed directorial decisions?

 

Alexander: The one I’m influenced by is the philosophy degree. I did aeronautical engineering because my parents thought it would be a good idea and I had a private pilot’s license and I was quite into the RAF. So having said that, as soon as I’d got the degree, it’s basically been absolutely useless! The philosophy was more relevant. If you look at Dead and Awake (Alexander’s upcoming movie due for release in 2015) there’s a lot of philosophy in it.

 

You have also been credited as a writer for films you have directed, including an adaptation of Hamlet (2007) and Dead and Awake (2015). What are the challenges you have experienced whilst directing scripts you have penned?

 

Alexander: I think the biggest trouble with it is being objective about something you’ve written. However having said that, it does mean that you know exactly how it is. The main thing is to write it, don’t make it immediately, maybe leave it for at least three months and look at it with a fresh set of eyes.

 

And what have been some of the challenges you’ve faced generally during your career?

 

Alexander: The biggest challenge is raising money for films. That is without a doubt the most difficult thing to do. You’ve got to get a bank of executive producers who just go out, they like chatting to people and they get money. That’s the biggest challenge. Artistically the challenge is getting results out of next to nothing but I’m quite good at it, and also developing film techniques.

 

Who and what have been your sources of inspiration in your career as a film maker?

 

Alexander: Inspirational films. They’re usually ground-breaking and usually change film afterwards. Examples of that are Alien and Pulp Fiction. Reservoir Dogs is certainly ground-breaking. That is a good example of how to make a film on a low budget. People who inspire me are Ridley Scott, David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino. They’re the ones that immediately spring to mind.

 

What makes your style of direction unique?

 

Alexander: Use of music and heavy use of empathic techniques. Lots of little subconscious tricks. I’m very keen on music and sound design. I tend to be good at supernatural, psychological and romance.

 

What have been some of the most gratifying moments of your career to date?

 

Alexander: When I was doing filming in Azerbaijan, my translator came up and said “the crew think you’re the best director ever.” I don’t believe in long days, it’s bad for creativity, after about 8 hours you really can’t make direct artistic decisions. So I plan things and I make it quite concise and I have a quite exact timetable. The most we ever shot was 8 hours and they thought it was wonderful. And I think the end result, that’s very gratifying and that counts for an awful lot. Certainly when I got the Nantes award, they seemed to think I walked on water, which is kind of nice as well.

 

What have been some of the positive aspects of working with a small budget?

 

Alexander: I think it really helps your creativity because you really have to think about it and you have to work it out and also develop techniques. Being able to work with small budgets means you’re not beholden to having to raise £10,000,000 to make a film. You can do it on next to nothing and that’s really good because it means you can actually make the film.

 

Would you suggest that a budding film maker should do a degree or gain practical experience?

 

Alexander: I’d say experience is probably better. You’re bound to get a few more contacts. The most important thing is to just make films and nowadays you can just make films.

 

What do you feel could be done to support budding filmmakers in the United Kingdom and what advice would you give to budding artists wanting to make their mark in the UK film industry?

 

Alexander: The main thing to use as support is a base where they can have equipment. I work with the Pauline Quirke Academy teaching and we film things and they have a chance to play with the cameras. Usually in the week I’ll just knock out a script and we’ll film it and edit it and I think that really helps.

I’d say to any filmmaker with no experience, don’t actually start making a whole film, just shoot a scene.

Then you’ve got to have a portfolio of work, you’ve got to have a reel and get the CV together and just keep on sending things out and some of it will stick.

 

Tell us about your current and upcoming projects….

 

Alexander: Dead and Awake is one of a series of 5 feature films. Once we’ve just got this one, we’ll move directly onto one of the other four. They all have increasing budgets and that’s exciting!

 

To discover more about Alex visit his website.