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Meeting Place Director Jason Croot Tells All

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Frost caught up with super talented visionary director/actor/producer Jason Croot. [disclaimer: I play Grace Holloway in this film]

 

What was the idea behind Meeting Place?

Hello frost readers, We wanted to create something original and after having several ideas we kept it simple [by] not have any back story and filming actors who create there own scenes I love improvisation and Meeting Place is 100% improv.
Tell us about the film.

The film is a montage of conversations edited together a day in a London Cafe the twist is 80% of the conversations are between 2 actors who are the same person which gives the film a certain unique edge
How did you cast?

I like to work with actors I’ve worked with before also new actors fresh out of drama school we have a real mix in the film and some fab acting displays
What was the hardest part of the process?

Dare I say it the now getting people to watch the film I don’t have the funds to market like the big boys since giving my first feature away for free which as notched up 10,000 views in 8 months, I hope people will enjoy Meeting Place it’s a entertaining film
You act, write and direct. What is your least favourite thing to do when making a film? How hard is it to juggle everything?

I love directing and the process of filmmaking it is time consuming but rewarding when you receive good feedback and reviews, the acting is with me and I strive to keep learning and improving
Do you have any favourite characters in it?

I was blown away by some of the improvisation and have so many scenes I like I can’t really narrow it down
What did you shoot on?

We shot on a Sony HDV
What was your main inspiration for the film?

Jim Jarmusch’s Coffee and Cigarettes we did not try to copy it, but it is a great film and very simple but watchable
Where can people see the film?

I have had a few enquiries of distribution but I’ve decided the best method for this film is stay in control and I stumbled on a few good online mediums we will anounce the sites on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/MeetingPlaceFeatureFilm

What’s next for you?

I have few irons in the fire on acting and the directing front but always looking for new productions to work on

 

Jason Croot on Making Films | Frost Interviews

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I interviewed Jason Croot for the second time recently. Jason is an incredibly talented film director, writer and actor. He is everything the British film industry needs: a talented, hard-working, pro-active filmmaker who puts himself out there and just does it. I am in a few of Jason’s films, notably Meeting Place and Le Fear, Le Sequel, but I am not biased- honest.

Jason: Hello Frost readers thank you for the interview.
 
How easy was Le Fear to make? Le Fear was a world-wind my directorial debut post production was only 3 weeks. We filmed it in 2 days, and we had a few difficult situations, but when you are making films you have to give everything and think on your feet. It was an improvised feature around a basic script and all in all I was very pleased with the outcome

What is the most important thing you learned?  A reliable crew is vital on a film set, we had a few people who let me down last-minute, but the crew where fantastic

Where did the idea come from? I was walking to the supermarket in Peckham and I thought I’d love to make a film about a film. After I made it I found there were about 30 films that were similar film within films, I’ve watched most of them. Day for Night is my favourite

How do filmmakers make money in this new climate? Great question, I’ve decided to show Le Fear for free currently on vodo.net http://vo.do/lefear.  There are a few distribution deals on the table but I believe vodo will hit 10,000 plus views and that’s what excites me more than anything at present, but to answer your question Netflix, Love Film, Creatspace will make you some income but it really depends how good your film is. My saying is ‘Cream always rises even in cheap coffee’.  

What has the feedback been like? Brilliant, when you send your film to be critiqued, especially when you have a budget of £1550 and this is a feature film you expect to be slammed, but out of 7 reviews we got one poor one, but the guy did give us 4 out of 5 for comedy so that was a good positive.

You obviously enjoyed yourself as you made a sequel, tell us about that; when will it be released? I would love to tell you about the sequel, I want to make Le Fear in to a series and really believe if people watch the first 2 films that dream can become a reality. The sequel is a 100% improvised feature unlike the original. It will be 90 minutes plus feature-length comedy horror, I must say the cast and crew where brilliant and we have 24 hours of footage to edit, I’m really excited about the prospect, no plans for a release yet, my films tend to be world-wind in making but lengthy in post, simply because I believe that method really works, okay give me a million pound budget I might film over 2 weeks, but the edit would take the same time generally 12-18 months after the film wraps, If you rush often your left unhappy so it will be ready when it’s ready. Sorry to be so vague, we will have a trailer out there this year and I have my target on a former number 1 soundtrack if I win the lottery I will definitely have that song in there, if not we will find a good track music and sound is so important in film making

What is next for you? Since moving into film making my acting as been limited but I’m hoping to get back into it. I’m currently looking at finding a new agent, I love directing so will hopefully will be working on some other films soon, I’ve decided not to make anymore of my own films until the four our out there{Le Fear, Demons and Doors, Meeting Place and Le Fear 2} hopefully start making some noise.

What advice do you have for people making their own films? Find a good crew, have your own equipment if possible, and always have a back up, especially with locations, finally sound is just as important as visuals; Finally never panic even if the crap hits the fan.
 
How important is IMDB to you?  I was on a mission for sometime to get into the top 10,000 on there starmeter, I think I hit the dizzy heights of 10, 861 in 2010 but I’m way out at present mainly because I’ve produced some low-budget films which sent my starmeter the opposite way. Generally actors are in the top 10,000 not film makers/actors. Saying that I believe it does hold a lot of weight and fell free to check me out 
 
What is your favourite movie? I don’t really do favourites, so I’d say Night on Earth

Favourite actor? Same again but I’d go with Roberto Benigni

Favourite director? I’m a big Jim Jarmusch fan

Thanks Jason.  Thank you Frost for having me!!!

Frost Interviews: Jason Croot.

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1) How did you get into making films?

I guess it started 10 years ago I made a experimental short film then made a few more and then progressed into professional features

2) What is your background?
I started acting 10 years ago before that I have around 30 jobs I never could settle in one but I guess I use a lot of life experience in my films and acting

3) How did you get your first film off the ground?

Le Fear was a real world wind 3 weeks after coming up with the idea the film was in the can, it was a great experience and really made my love for film making grow much stronger, we were stuck in post production for a while then the film was picked up for distribution I’m awaiting the release date which will be great

4) You act, write and direct, which one is your favourite?
I really can’t pick between acting and directing, I would say acting is like my first love and will never end, film making was my bit on the side during the acting years but now has become my full time love affair

5) You will be making Le Fear, Le Sequel soon. What was the idea behind the film? I was walking to the supermarket one day and had this idea to make a film about a film, using my experiences as an actor I was on one film shoot and the sound guy was texting during a take, I put a lot of misfits together and it worked out well, Le Sequel is the follow up to the first film this time I’ve had longer to plan and develop the storyline

6) What are you up to at the moment?
I’m in the middle of co directing my fourth feature film Meeting Place the film is based in a restaurant and follows conversations of 80 different actors some of which play 2 characters it’s been a good shoot

7) Who are your favourite actors/directors?
I have so many but to narrow down some, Steve McQueen, Max Von Sydow, Peter Sellers, early De Niro,Pacino & Brando, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Gérard Depardieu and the wonderful Roberto Benigni, directors Olivier Assayas, Jim jarmusch, Ingmar Bergman, Martin Scorsese & Quentin Tarantino

8) What advice to you have to people who want to get into film?
I guess never give in no matter what and don’t rely on anyone but yourself

9) What is your favourite thing about the film industry?
Being on set as an actor or director and working it

10) And the least?
Recalls just bloody cast me ;]

Thank you for taking the time to read this find out more on me on IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2907429/