Elfie Hopkins, Interview with 1st AD, Phill Reeves
Phill Reeves is an assistant director, he has worked on films such as Harry Potter, Captain America, Clash of the Titans and TV Shows including Peep Show, Silks and Lost.
Elfie Hopkins is Phill’s fourth feature film as 1st Assistant Director. He tells us about the film and some of his other work.
Elfie Hopkins is released in cinemas from the 20th April 2012.
What is Elfie Hopkins about?
It’s hard to put in a box but it’s a thriller/horror and detective story unlike any you have seen before. Our hero Elfie Hopkins (Jamie Winstone) has lead most of her life entertaining herself by trying to be a detective in the style of her hero’s from the old film noir genre, starts to investigate her new neighbours whilst there are some mysterious events happening in her little village.
Where and when was the film shot?
We shot the film beginning of 2011 all in location in Wales around Ceredigion. There are some really beautiful and great locations that you wouldn’t expect to find in the U.K around there and it certainly helped to texture the film.
What software do you schedule with and were there any particular scheduling challenges you faced with Elfie?
I mainly use EP scheduling but I do like to print out strips and have a board to move things around on, it’s just good to see the whole picture and can help to see the schedule in a new way. The schedule had the normal low budget concerns and had the limited availability of the mega busy Ray Winstone to take into account but because of how contained most of the locations where it was fairly easy to put together.
On any given filming day, what’s on your check-list before you get onto set?
Call sheet, Radio, pocket watch (yes I like to be a little old school at times). It also depends where the location is but it’s always good to be prepared with a load of spare kit in the boot of my car, waterproof and keep warm clothes.
Is there a piece of kit/software you couldn’t be without?
Well every 1st A.D needs good scheduling software but the main thing I can’t do without is my trusty pocket watch.
You’ve worked on many major feature films and TV shows, what’s been your most enjoyable day on set?
There are many days that come to mind, each one special in its own way, those days when you look around and see 200 samurai or 1940’s Brooklyn or multiple squib hits during a WW2 battle and just think this beats sitting behind a desk.
Do you have any tips for runners wanting to go down the AD route?
First of all I get too many runners not sure where they want to end up, have a plan and get into that department. Make as many contacts as you can and keep a list. I have over 800 contacts in my phone and it can never be enough.
If you could change one thing about the film and TV industry, what would it be?
The working hours because I never get to eat with my gf!
What do you do when you are not working?
I try and get away on short breaks, check out exhibits, go for a coffee do a little reading and writing and feel like a normal person again. That usually lasts a week then I want to get back to working.
If you could work on any film or with any film maker (who you haven’t already), who or what would it be?
Well if I take that question literally and assume anything is possible, I guess it would have been fun to have worked with Alfred Hitchcock and see how the pioneers did things back in the day. I like working with so many different directors though, it’s always fun to see how different each director is and what each one needs from a 1st A.D.
Phill Reeves is a member of thecallsheet.co.uk, members can check his profile, credits and availability here.
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