Written & Directed by LOUISA CONNOLLY-BURNHAM
Produced by LOUISA CONNOLLY-BURNHAM & EMILY EVERDEE
Paige spends her days setting up people’s life insurance in a drab North London call centre. She is bored of her life, longing for intimacy and connection that she unexpectedly finds on the phone to a charming customer called David.
About the Film:
If you were at our Short Film Open Mic last moth you may have already seen this film, but even so we think it’s worth a rewatch. Well-crafted and consistently compelling "The Call Centre" harkens back to the era of films like "Fatal Attraction" or "9 1/2 Weeks" - stories that explored the frontiers of human desire, desperation and violence in a provocative, powerful way.
Read our interview with Louisa
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION TO WRITE THE CALL CENTRE:
A few years ago whilst in-between jobs as an actress I started a part-time job at a call centre selling insurance in order to pay the bills. I was blown away by how much customer data I had at my fingertips. I knew where they lived, if they were married, how many kids they have, their email address, where they work…the list goes on. It got me wondering what could happen if all that information got into the wrong hands, or in the case of my film, into the hands of a very lonely young girl.
DID YOU HAVE ANY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR CREATING QUALITY CONTENT ON A MINIMAL BUDGET:
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign the budget we got to work with was actually pretty decent - around the 18K mark. However, we certainly still had to pull some favours along the way. For example, I wanted the office scenes to feel super busy with lots of bodies, so all of my mates turned up for free to fill up the space and support me. We managed to get our gorgeous office location for free thanks to a family friend and another friend of mine also helped me out with our kit. I’ve done lots of favours for people over the years and I was certainly repaid during the process of making The Call Centre. I’m so unbelievably grateful to the many friends, family and even strangers that got behind me. I couldn’t have done it without them. So my biggest advice would be kind and generous on the way up and I believe you’ll be repaid. Don’t be afraid. Send the email. Ask for that favour. What have you got to lose?
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE FILMMAKING PROCESS:
Having been an actress for 14 years prior to making the film, my favourite part had to be putting my directors hat on for the first time. I’ve never had that sort of control on set. It felt incredible. As an actress so many decisions are out of your hands and in a way you sort of fall to the bottom of the pecking order. It was also very liberating to create a piece of art that I’m incredibly proud of that originally stemmed from a day job that made me miserable. It came full circle.
SCREENING RECOMMENDATIONS TO KEEP US BUSY WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING:
Well with it being the best month of the year, PRIDE MONTH, I’d like to recommend the documentaries The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson and Paris Is Burning. I also think with everything that’s going on in the world right now, the incredible Black Lives Matter movement in particular, I’d implore everyone to watch 13th and When They See Us - in my opinion these are both essential viewing, it’s time for all of us to get educated and energised. And then if you just fancy a bit of trashy tele (which is totally ok) treat yourself to Selling Sunset on Netflix (it’s awful and I love it).