“I came to film through journalism not film school and so learnt on the job. I see Bhaji on the Beach as my first year film, Whats Cooking as my second year film, Bend it Like Beckham my third year film, with Bride and Prejudice my graduation film! My advice is don’t be fearful to learn as you go along. No film is completely perfect – every director will attest to that – you just have to go for it. But always remember to stay focused on what the story is you’re telling and why you are telling it. That is what I learnt as a journalist and that is true of all the films I have made and others I love.”

“Often when preparing scenes, it’s tempting to plan the most elaborate shot sequence at the beginning – a complex and time-consuming establishing shot. In the editing room, almost the first cut every editor makes is to the beginning of the scene, insisting that the core action comes later. My editors taught me that. Now I try to imagine what is the key moment in any sequence, its visual characteristic, and radiate my preparation from there.”

“Anyone making a film under your scheme is doing the right thing. You learn to make films by making films. There aren’t any short cuts. You just go on and on making mistakes. In the end you learn to fail better.”

“It’s hard enough to make short films on micro budgets – it’s even harder to remember how you did it for the rest of your career, and these days you need to.”

“I have never asked for and have never received one iota of good advice from anybody in the film business. If you happen to get advice from someone who appears to know what they are talking about, they are obviously NOT offering you anything truly helpful like a job or money, but rather simply trying to fob you off onto someone else. Therefore, whatever you do, don’t take any advice from anyone. And that’s my advice.”

“Maintain a sense of humour at all times.”

“Don’t be confined by the script as it’s only a foundation. Know your central theme before you start but always remain open to the new ideas you get from the actors, the location and the magic of the process”.

“A few of the things I learnt making my first film:
Be clear if you can, but if you can’t be clear, be entertaining or intriguing. If you can manage all three, you’re laughing.

The script isn’t everything. If you say it in pictures, the audience are much more likely to get it than if you rely on the dialogue. Especially if it’s a genre film, think about what the audience want as much as what you want – they’ve probably seen at least as many of these movies as you have. How are you going to make it new for them?

When you’re in prep and shooting, be clear with people about your vision, or else sound like you agree with everyone but do what you want anyway.”