E108 - Demystifying Producers with Helen Simmons

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus are joined by Producer and Writer Helen Simmons (F*CK & KLOKKENLUIDER). With the BFI Network funding applications currently open and there being a lack of Producers available, we did a deep dive to uncover the mystery of Producers. This covers...

 

-What are the different types of Producers?

-What do Producers do?

-How do Producers choose their collaborators?

-How do you find/approach Producers?

-How do you get projects funded?

-How do you get feature projects moving?

-We also ask a bunch of YOUR questions!

 

HELEN SIMMONS is a BIFA longlisted producer and writer who was named a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2018. Her work has screened at festivals across the world including Rhode Island, Flickerfest and LOCO. As a producer, she runs Erebus Pictures – BFI Vision Awardee 2020 – and recently produced features KLOKKENLUIDER (Jenna Coleman, Tom Burke, Amit Shah); HOARD, (Joseph Quinn, Hayley Squires), and BONUS TRACK (Josh O’Connor, Jack Davenport, Alison Sudol and Susan Wokoma)

As a writer, her debut short F*CK, starring Emmy-award winner Brett Goldstein (TED LASSO) and Esther Smith (TRYING) screened at multiple festivals, was a Vimeo Staff Pick, and gained a Best Screenwriter nomination at Underwire. Helen has been part of iFeatures and 4Screenwriting, and wrote 4 episodes of Audible Original DARK HARBOUR. She’s currently writing 3 episodes of an animated show for Sky and Hocus Pocus under lead writer Joseph Morpurgo, released later this year, and a romantic comedy feature for the Netflix Breakout scheme with director BAFTA nominated Ben Mallaby. Helen co-wrote feature film LAST SWIM, which is being produced by Caviar (SOUND OF METAL), directed by Sasha Nathwani, and is in production. 

She recently co-wrote and directed a BFI short starring Callie Cooke (WEDDING SEASON) and Lydia Rose Bewley (DRIFTERS). Helen is also developing multiple TV and film projects including a darkly comic crime thriller with World Productions; a romantic comedy six-parter starring Daniel Lawrence Taylor for Kinetic Content; a biopic for Erebus and The Development Partnership; and a darkly comic horror for Moonriver TV.

 

To hear about Helen's journey into the industry listen to this episode of The Filmmakers Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2c2gzdoCno8VCnl1rgeTjL?si=4c8804f20b7341d3

 

Nuggets of the week

Marcus: The A24 Podcast - Nervous Laughter with Ari Aster & Joaquin Phoenix.

Oz: Unreal Engine for Animatics.

Helen: S16 Ep9 How To Fail: Greg James on radio, rebellion and failing to be good at fame.

Instagram quote - 'Art doesn't have to be depressing, there's value in happy/feel good art'.

 

Credits

Music by Oliver Wegmüller

 

Socials

Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast

Twitter: @DirectorsTake

 

If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.