Hello one and all, Today is a big day for us because Selective Listening is now available via YouTube and Vimeo. Here I am with Salvatore to explain more...
And so here are the links. Get comfortable, make sure you won't be disturbed, turn the volume up, make it full-screen and we hope you enjoy!
Hello! Just a quick one to say that, if you've seen Selective Listening, whether on TV, on DVD, online or at one of it's screenings, then please don't forget to rate it on the Internet Movie Database.
If you missed the TV premiere of Selective Listening on Friday night, then the film is still available on Amazon and Vimeo for you to own or rent and for your entertainment!
Hello! It's been a while since our last post, so it's good to be here again! The latest news for Selective Listening is that it will receive it's UK television premiere at 12:15am – quarter past midnight this Friday 2nd September night / Saturday 3rd September morning (however you like to see it) on London's own channel London Live! We'll be very interested to hear feedback from viewers and the voices / toys will be live on Twitter.
An interview with the star of Selective Listening, Salvatore Stella.
How did you become involved in Selective Listening?
I’ve known Tim and Miriam since we worked on The Special Effect (2010) and they asked me if I would like to audition for the role of Harrison. Before the audition I told them we would still be friends if I didn’t get the part!
What was The Special Effect?
The Special Effect has a thriller aspect to it but also deals with some mental health issues. It’s a short film with the look and feel of a feature. I loved playing Graham because I got the chance to do both physical and emotional acting.
What were your thoughts on the Selective Listening script when you first read it?
I felt the story had the right balance of humour and drama. I didn’t feel it was trying to force a particular point-of-view or statement upon you, but instead show a the day-to-day experience of a type of person that you don’t get to see very often.
Salvatore Stella as Harrison in Selective Listening
Tim sent me a DVD of a documentary about people with different mental health issues. It was very uncomfortable to watch, as I felt sorry for the people suffering from these afflictions, but it did teach me something essential for Harrison — there are justifiable reasons for not wanting to take medication although without it, the line between hallucinations and reality can become blurred. Occasionally it’s impossible for Harrison to know that what he sees and hears isn’t real. More personal contact from friendly, level-headed people would help him in these circumstances, which is why his mission is to make new friends. Not an easy thing to do!
Some actors like to rehearse, others like to be spontaneous on the day. What is your preference?
I think rehearsals are important, especially for physical scenes, but not too much. You need to leave something for the camera, because you will always do several takes.
How did you find the rehearsals for Selective Listening?
I liked them. Meeting the other actors and feeling comfortable with what we are doing will show on screen. Some dialogue heavy scenes we rehearsed more as Tim wanted some shot in one take.
What factors do you find most important about getting the best performance on-set?
You have to feel comfortable and in a “safe place”. You expose yourself emotionally so whatever method you use to get up to that point you would like to do without interruption or piss-taking.
What differences, if any, do you think there are when acting in a comedy or comedy-drama as opposed to an out-and-out drama?
Obviously things would be lighter on-set with a comedy but as an actor you play the character. Most good comedies don’t have people trying to be funny, they are just being the character in a funny situation.
What are the pros and cons of acting with toys as opposed to other actors?
The pros are that the toys have no egos — not that there were any egos on this set — and they don’t forget their lines! The cons are that I worry I’ll be remembered more as a puppet stand than as Harrison! I will be very upset if the toys get their own TV show!
Sal Stella as Harrison and Phil Gyford as Robin
Was there anything that you found particularly challenging about the shoot?
They only time I had a bit of difficulty was when we shot with the voices interjecting into conversations as written in the script because we had rehearsed without them and I got completely distracted. We had to film the dialogue and leave enough gaps to add in the toys’ comments in post-production. Trying to keep a straight face when working with Phil Gyford was also difficult.
Were there any behind-the-scenes moments on Selective Listening that are particularly memorable?
Any scene where the toys were animated. I have a lot of respect for the toy operators who had to work around me or inside cupboards. Filming outside attracted some funny looks. The whole experience provided a wonderful story to tell of how creative people can adapt when they don’t have a mega budget.
Selective Listening was quite an intense and fast-paced shoot. How did you find it combined with your own personal process, as an actor?
I liked it. “Concentrate on the project, get it done right.” We knew we had time and money constraints and that gave me the motivation to be as ready as I could be. I didn’t want to be the reason the shoot fell behind schedule.
What is your preferred way of working? Do you find it occurs often?
I like meeting the other actors beforehand and doing some rehearsal, but not too many takes! I find discussing the script and character with the director very useful and I was able to do that with Tim and Miriam. I’m flexible, so how I like to work occurs all the time!
Salvatore Stella as Harrison, surrounded by the voices / toys
After seeing the film for the first time at the premiere, what were your thoughts?
I was very pleased with the result. I finally got a chance to see what the toys were doing behind my back! It does not look like a low budget film, which is a testament to the talent of everyone involved.
For the benefit of any writers, directors or producers who see Selective Listening and decide they want to work with you, what roles would you say you would be most interested in?
Of course I would be interested in playing any role in a quality film, but two roles particularly interest me — either a comedy sketch show or an action role like James Bond or The Transporter, or even fantasy or sci-fi. I have a lot of martial arts and stage combat training and I would love to put it to safe use! Whatever the case, I wouldn’t like to be type cast.
What are you working on at present?
I’m starting to be seen by people who can take my acting to the next level so hopefully I will continue in that direction. My writing has picked up as Selective Listening has shown me the quality you can get with a low budget and a top script. There are high-budget, spectacular stories in my head but they will have to wait!
Salvatore Stella has been awarded Best Leading Actor at the International Independent Film Awards for his portrayal of Harrison in Selective Listening. Selective Listening is due for release in late 2015. Exact date to be confirmed.
The short film, The Special Effect (2010)
starring Salvatore Stella, Harriet Moran, Sarah Gordy and Phil Gyford:
Our poster has undergone a little re-design to bring it into line with the DVD cover...
...and, noting the social media eruption surrounding the release of the new Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens trailer, Smiling Herbert has contributed with his version of a fan video:
We're very happy to see a review of Selective Listening in the latest issue of the UK's Health Triangle Magazine. Check it out here: http://ukhealthradio.com
Hi! Tim and Miriam here. We just wanted to say that we had a great night tonight, with a screening of Selective Listening as part of the Surbiton Festival's first film night (due to the film being shot in Surbiton). It was a great experience to watch the film for the first time with an audience who did not know what to expect, and the reaction was fantastic.
As well as responding well to the film, the audience participated in a nice Q&A with us afterwards and we received some humbling, positive comments, both from those who found the film funny and entertaining, and from those who are in-the-know about mental health issues. Many thanks to Bob Noble and the organisers of the Surbo for asking us to be among the other superb works that were shown. It's been a very rewarding night!
Friday, 18 September 2015
NEWS OF THE DAY! The BBFC have had their say on Selective Listening. We'll let the voices give you the result...
Tim here. When one has made a micro-budget, as-yet-unreleased, British indie comedy-drama feature film about a nice guy who hears voices and projects them into hand-operated puppets with an unknown cast and no budget, it would be easy for one to become a tad unnerved to discover a trailer for a Hollywood comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton and Anna Kendrick about a guy who hears voices that emanate from a CGI cat and dog... WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THAT?! I mean, when was the last time you heard of a film about a someone who hears voices and projects them into anything? BUT, we see the sunny side! Having only just come across the trailer for The Voices (written by Michael R. Perry and directed by Marjane Satrapi) and not seen the full film, the only thing I can say is that the storylines seem a lot different as does the style of humour. It's obviously impossible and unwise to attempt to draw any further conclusions until we see the film, which we look forward to once it has been released here in the UK. We hope that the cast and crew of The Voices get to see Selective Listening soon as well!
Hello! Yesterday we were very happy to find an article about the making of Selective Listening in this month's edition of Digital Filmmaker magazine (January 2015 / Issue 22). The magazine interviewed us last month and asked if we had any nice behind-the-scenes photos. We were nicely surprised to see an article titled "Natural Selection" that ran for several spreads! If you want to learn more about the film, the cast, the crew and the process of making Selective Listening, check it out!
Digital Filmmaker is available in the UK from WHSmiths, Sainsbury's and some independent stores. In the US, via Barnes and Noble. Digital downloads are available from the iTunes store, or at www.pocketmags.com. You can buy online from www.selectps.com or call (+44)1202 586848.
The evening of Saturday 6th December 2014 saw the Selective Listening premiere for cast, crew and invited guests!
The evening took place at Richmond Upon Thames College's Edmund Kean Theatre. A private screening is something they hadn't hosted before, and was a punt on our behalf when we made the enquiry in the first place.
(Low-budget indie filmmakers note: you have to get creative when organising a screening. The venue has to be of a standard that will show off your work but is also affordable. Many of the official venues in London do not fulfil the latter criterion.)
It's probably not a huge surprise to say that nerves were a part of the occasion. Miriam and I arrived early – Miriam arranged the reception area for guests with the help of actor Philip Gyford whilst I worked with the RUTC staff to get projection and sound to the best standard possible.
It was great to see the cast and crew come together again. In the film world, this only ever seems to happen for shoots and screenings. It was also touching to see all friends, family and guests who had made the journey, in some cases travelling cross-country, to be there for the night.
Unfortunately some actors and cast members were not able to attend. Thank you to everyone who did come along!
After a brief introduction from Miriam and myself, the film was underway.
As the writer / director, this is what I've been seeking since the film was complete – to know if the laughs or thrills or emotions are shared by an audience who know little or nothing about what they are about to see.
I'm happy to say that we appeared to get it right. There were even occasional laughs and gasps at points we didn't predict. It was a great experience. And I will point out that the theatre was not simply full of cast, crew and friends willing to please by reacting with ease. In a sense the room felt a little more difficult to crack than a room full of people we don't know – there was a lot of anticipation – probably as we've had little else going on in our lives to discuss since May 2013! This had better be good...
Thankfully, the story, performances and efforts of everyone involved had the desired effect. The cast all received applause and a plethora of compliments and we were very happy with the positive one-on-one feedback we received afterwards – from the story to the cinematography; to the sound and music; to the overall quality of the production.
It was great to hear discussions of the themes and reasons to pause for thought raised by the film. As the film is primarily about someone's struggle with mental health issues, when you hear a viewer telling you that your film has made them think twice about the challenges faced by others, it is good to know that your intentions have made those contemplations happen.
It is also satisfying that we have labelled Selective Listening a comedy-drama and that, although people are aware that we are portraying a serious subject, it has given them reason to laugh several times during the film.
Whilst I wouldn't be so bold myself, it's alright if I mention the other films with which some said Selective Listening would stand comfortably next to on the DVD shelf, isn't it? Among them were:
Silver Linings Playbook
Napoleon Dynamite
Withnail & I
Forrest Gump
We will happily accept those comparisons!
It was also nice to hear many people say that they wanted to see the film again as soon as possible.
On a similar topic, we were asked many times during the evening, "So, what now?" The answer is, now we are seeking a sage and dutiful film distributor to take Selective Listening to be part of their portfolio and help us to get it seen by as many people as possible.
So, if you know of, or indeed are, a sage and dutiful member of a film distribution company, please do get in touch!
In the meantime, the yuletide season brings little rest for us as we work to find possible distribution avenues and develop other projects.
If you're reading this and want to know what else you can do to help, please do "like" the Selective Listening Facebook page, and, importantly, "share" anything you find of interest.
