INTERVIEW: Juggernaut Productions Need You
By Adam Clery on September 6, 2012 in Film
Here’s one for you. Three lads who met at Sunderland University turned out to be so good at making films that they started a company together. In fact, they were so good at making films that one of their short films has picked up a boatload of back-patting and award waving praise.
Slight hitch though, all these lavish ceremonies just happen to be on the opposite side of the moon and the days of having private jets dispatched to pick you up went out the window at the last election. All’s not lost though, as the miracle of the internet is helping them raise the required funds to see the fruit of their collective loins receive the praise it richly deserves. Specifically an indiegogo campaign.
Don’t listen to me though. I got a few moments with Ben Iland to let him explain it all better…
Juggernaut all met in Sunderland University, can you tell us a little bit about why you then decided to come together to form your own company?
We all met at the University of Sunderland, but myself and David knew each other very well, where as Dan, the third member of the group, we didn’t. But we met him a lot after we had finished so we got to know him very well. We decided to form a company because we saw the benefits it can bring in terms of funding, recognition and that we would be more encouraged, and be more financially able to create our own short films. We had looked at other people in our university yeah and they were off doing runner jobs for some small feature films, the BBC, ITV etc. and they had not reached any goal they had sent themselves. In other words, they were working for free, and a year or more later, they still are. We did not want that. We wanted to build our own doors and not wait to get our feet in them.
What’s the story behind Office Worker?
The story behind Office Worker comes from David. He used to work at the tax offices at Longbenton, and absolutely hated his job. He had a number, not a name, a broken chair, surrounded by bureaucracy and red tape that made even the most medial of tasks very hard. The film focuses on an employee at an office, in a similar position to David, day dreaming about his medial tasks and boring job, turning them into hilarious, visual, metaphoric jokes.
Were you expecting the sort of nods and acclamations that it’s garnered thus far? What was the reaction like when you found out?
We didn’t know what to expect back from the festivals. We have entered over twenty festivals, we have so far been accepted into three (being Whitley Bay, Peace River and Yellowknife), and have only been declined by two. So things are looking good as we approach the notification dates from the remaining festivals. When we knew we were accepted into Whitley Bay alone, we were so happy, but nervous. The film had not been screened to anyone apart from a select few people who we already knew, so for it to be accepted by a third party really meant that the comedy must work, but we wanted to see that for ourselves. When we found out that we were accepted into the two North American festival, we were ecstatic! The film had reached an international audience and had obviously worked as a comedy and narrative short abroad, which has really built up our confidence.
Had you heard of either the Peace River Film Festival or the Yellowknife Film Festival previously? What does it mean to a NE company to get a screening in those parts of the world?
We had never heard of Peace River before we entered it (it’s only in its second year of running), but Yellowknife was one that had popped up before (this is its sixth year). For a Newcastle and North East based company to have a film shown abroad, especially in a gigantic market such as North America really shows the talent and potential that this region has to offer. We believe it is reguarly overlooked by film makers due to its positioning away from London, and for a brand new film production company from Newcastle to receive this recognition in its first year of trading, we are very happy with that.
Can you tell us a little about the Indiegogo campaign? Was this the only avenue you explored to get over there?
Our Indiegogo campaign is being used to help raise funds to put towards the costs of travelling to these festivals. Just today, we booked our travel and accommodation over to Yellowknife festival. The money raised through our Indiegogo campaign will be used to help fund that, and we send out a massive thanks to everyone that helped us.
What would it mean to be able to get over there and see it? Personally, and for the company as a whole?
By travelling to the festivals, we are giving ourselves the opportunity to network with foreign markets, with the potential of setting up links with people and or companies with that market. The recognition too, not only by being selected for each festival, but if we won, would be phenomenal, and we want to be there to live that moment.
If you’d like to help (you should), you can do so here. If you’d like to find out more about the boys and Juggernaut Productions, or see the trailer for Office Worker, visit their website
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We have our interview with Keyo.tv live now!!! Check out it and share!… http://t.co/YK9ml25a
So proud to have taken part in this film!
These hard working lads deserve recognition for their commitment, vision and determination. Well done x
RT @kyeotv: INTERVIEW: Juggernaut Productions Need You http://t.co/L9ypqGJ7
This is fab lads!
It’s great to see a local business/company doing so well – and abroad too!
All the best x