Film: Jackal and Hide
Director: Andy Gray
Writers: Lee Alan Donaldson, Charlie Rich
Actors: Lee Alan Donaldson, Charlie Rich, Moa Wikberg, Laurence Pasqualini, Dale Sheldrake
Synopsis: 2 Rival gangs are at war, with one kidnapping and torturing the other’s boss and wife. In a desperate attempt to save them, a rescue group band together to free the boss whilst vastly outnumbered, a fight to the death soon ensues.
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds ahead of the Southend Film Festival, I got a chance to ask Director Andy Gray a few questions about his film ‘Jackal and Hide‘.
Jackal and Hide will be playing at the Southend Film Festival on 7th June at 6.30pm as part of the Mostly Made in Southend Part One.
Q. Your film Jackal and Hide has been selected to play at the Southend Film Festival. Can you tell us what we can expect from the films?
A. We wanted to drop the audience into the middle of an ongoing conflict between two rival gangs where blood has been spilt on both sides. We set the stage, build tension then let all hell break loose with some great fight choreography and two groups desperate to beat the living shit out of each other.
Q. The script was written by Lee Alan Donaldson and Charlie Rich who also appear in the film. What first attracted you to the script when you first read it?
A. When Charlie and Lee approached me with the script I was struck by how much leg work they had done and how far along the production process they already were. It felt like a well oiled machine that I had to try and slip into. What I liked about the script is that it felt like a real, lived in world and that this short film was just part of a larger overall narrative. The rivalry between the two gangs and the relationships between different characters existed before the film started and will continue after the film ends.
Q. What are some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. As I’m sure is the same for most people, I feel like I’m constantly pulling from different ideas that I’ve seen in hundreds of different films. I’ve always loved how Ridley Scott relies on heavy backlighting in most of his films and try to emulate that, whilst the gritty realism and visceral violence of Ben Wheatley’s films are a strong influence.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments whilst making the film?
A. As sinister as it sounds, a highlight for me was shooting the scene in the torture room. I had a really strong vision for how this scene would look and it was incredibly rewarding to see it come to life. Nick Sneath, our cinematographer, did an amazing job lighting and shooting the scene and all our performers were really on point.
Q. Did you experience any issues whilst making the film?
A. Nothing out of the ordinary just not enough time, too smaller crew, wet and cold filming conditions and no pot noodles!
Q. What do you hope people will take away from the film?
A. I’m so proud (and slightly amazed) by what we were able to achieve in such a short period of time. Everyone turned up to set prepared to work hard and contribute to getting the film made. We had actors standing in as 2nd AD’s, make up artists lending a hand with the lighting and the stunt coordinator ferrying people to and from the location. It really was a team effort. Hopefully the final film is a testament to all the hard work people put in and shows how much can be achieved when you really believe in a project.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are working on?
A. Yes, we’re currently in production on our second short working again with the same core team that created Jackal & Hide as well as some familiar faces in the cast. It’s a zombie horror action film called Dead Zero which is a far more ambitious project featuring a larger cast, loads of stunts, great make up & SFX. Fingers crossed we’ll get it finished by the end of 2025!
Q. If someone is looking to direct their first film, what advice would you give them?
A. I would say go into the film with a strong vision and ideas about what you want to achieve and then be prepared to throw all that stuff away and have to make it up on the spot. Even with the best prep in the world you never quite know what you’re going to be faced with so being able to pivot and move quickly is a great help. Therefore having people around you that you can bounce ideas off or who will throw ideas at you that you hadn’t even thought of is a must. I love the collaborative nature of film making and the fact that the best ideas can come from anywhere but you also have to remember that ultimately you’re in charge and so you have to be able to make a decision quickly and stick to it. Oh, and be able to shout louder than everyone else!
You can find out more about Jackal and Hide on IMDB and follow on Instagram here:
You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets for ‘Jackal and Hide’ here:
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
