Written & Directed by by James Hastings
Out in the Wild West, a retired magician is confronted one stormy night by an anxious priest in search of a miracle, but once a confession is made, tensions surface.
READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH JAMES
Tell us a bit about yourself and your filmmaking background.
My love for cinema emerged from my discovery of Steven Spielberg during school, when I found myself immersed in the shocking realism of ‘Schindler’s List’. This prompted me to spend the following week studying Spielberg’s entire filmography which ultimately led to my passion for filmmaking.
I set up my independent production company ‘Hastings Infinity Films’ and have been making films since the age of 13. At 16, I leaped into the deep-end and wrote/directed my first feature film, a chapter in my life I like to call ‘the ultimate film school’. Funded by Kickstarter, 'Raymond's 5' landed a spot on Amazon Prime. Additionally, I’ve directed a number of low/no-budget short films, one of which took me to Cannes. I’m constantly finding ways to make a little bit of money go a long way.
What's your inspiration behind Slightly Red Handed?
Greed and regret; two themes I knew I wanted to tackle in this project. Having been a practicing card magician from a young age, I’ve always contemplated the idea of making a ‘magic’ film… but the real question was how to make it unique. Why not merge it with an unlikely genre? Sparked by my love for Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns and inspired by the modern works of the Coen Brothers and Tarantino, I developed the idea for Slightly Red Handed; A confession story dealing with motives of greed accompanied by some awesome music.
What are your tips for convincing western production design on a micro budget?
This film was shot on the basis that it was a ‘Lockdown short’; small crew, small cast, reasonably simple locations.
Some advice I’ve always been aware of is to write about things you know you have access to - advice I often fail to follow. I guess my love for filmmakers like Spielberg, Kubrick and Nolan have led to my overly ambitious ideas.
My advice for making a micro-budget western, especially if you’re shooting in England, is to keep it simple. We had one room to kit out with props, and even that was a struggle to make it look busy, authentic and ‘lived in’. However, with some research, a creative visual style and a couple of spare shotguns, you’ll be good to go!
What obstacles did you overcome while in the making of this film?
Tackling Covid safety whilst shooting proved to be manageable, but very much a restrictive part of the process. Set-building my garden shed into looking like a ‘dishevelled cabin’ wasn’t easy. Every film comes with it’s own challenges, but it’s overcoming these obstacles that make you a better filmmaker.
Any hacks or tips for making a short film?
Some great advice comes from Tarantino, in which he said ‘If you truly love cinema with all your heart and with enough passion, you can't help but make a good movie’ and I couldn’t agree more. It takes a lot of time and a lot of work to learn your craft, but if you love cinema that much, then you’ll be willing to go all the way.
Short films are a perfect way to learn and develop your 'style' without the stress of having much to lose. They don’t require a large budget. Plus, many important lessons can be learnt from a micro budget shoot. Work with a cast and crew you trust and enjoy the process as much as you do (shout out to my super talented cast & crew!). Even use people you know; friends, family, anyone interested in helping out on a film, anyone who owns a horse and cart or some spare cowboy hats!
Tell us about the journey of getting your film to audiences.
Get it out there, get it seen - that was my release strategy. Release online, film festivals etc. I had no expectations with the distribution of this film. It’s always a tricky process, trying to reach an audience, but then again, if something is worth seeing, then it will find a way to be seen - sometimes!
What are you working on now?
I have multiple projects in development, however my main focus remains on my next feature film, an uplifting true story of a 14 year old boy growing up during the Second World War and his heroic determination to build an aeroplane, with the intention of flying to Berlin and single-handedly taking on Hitler.
Any film recommendations that we should add to our watchlist?
Most Spielberg and Kubrick films. Also, ‘Life is Beautiful’, ‘Fitzcarraldo’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’