www.BudgetFilmMaker.com: So Mark tell me, What's the titles of your films?

Mark Jeavons: 'The Money Tree' 'Death by Chocolate' and 'My Necrophiliac Bride'

BFM:  What are your films about? Give a brief synopsis about it.

MJ: The Money Tree - Is about a lonely postman who discovers a tree that has money growing on

       it. Death By Chocolate - Is about a man obsessed with Chocolate. My Necrophiliac Bride -

       is about a groom who has a shocking surprise on his wedding day.

BFM: What category do your films fall under, drama/comedy ?

MJ: The Money Tree - Comedy Drama, Death by Chocolate - Comedy,  My

       Necrophiliac Bride - Comedy Horror

BFM: How much did the films cost to make? Please break this down in to sections.

MJ:  The Money Tree & Death by Chocolate were made as part of my City & Guilds in TV and   

       Video production course, so hire of equipment and editing facilities were free. We didn't

       estimated a budget (if we did I can't remember what the final tally was). My Necrophiliac

       Bride was made as part of a funding scheme, so again equipment and editing facilities were

       free and I didn't have to pay a penny.

BFM:  How did you plan to make the films?

MJ: Two weeks Pre-Production work on all my films, finding locations, props and actors.

BFM: What equipment did you use to make the films? Break this down (Please list)

           homemade or bought?

MJ: I shot all my films on Sony DSR 500. Sound was on a 416 Rifle Microphone and basic

       lighting equipment.

BFM: Where did you get the cast and crew for your films?

MJ: I got all my actors mostly from posting on Shooting people website and PCR. Crew were

      fellow students on my course.

BFM: Did the film come out like you expected?

MJ: I think all three films came out better than I expected. When you shoot a film you never really

       know what the end result is going to be like. At the same time when you come up with the

       initial idea you do have some kind of vision in your head on how you want the film to look like

       - the finished film rarely matches that vision for one reason or another.

BFM: How did you recruit your cast and crew, how long did it take to cast?

MJ: We held auditions for all of my short films over a period of weeks and I had the final say. The

       crew were students of mine.

BFM: Did all the cast and crew work well as a team? Was there a good working

           environment?

MJ: Yes, all the cast and crew on my short films worked well together as a team and there always

       been a good solid working environment.

BFM: If you had to make the films again how differently would you do it?

MJ: For my film Necrophiliac bride I would have liked some days filming to try some different

      shots, otherwise I wouldn't have changed a thing.

BFM: What advice would you give film makers who want to make films like this?

MJ: Just go out there and do it - There nothing holding anyone back - If you really a passion for

      making your own films then there is no reason why you can't just persevere.

BFM: What editing studio or package did you use to edit the film?

MJ: The Money Tree: Avid, Death by Chocolate - Adobe Premiere 6.5, My Necrophiliacc Bride

        - Adobe Premiere 6.5.

BFM: Will you be making any more films during the next year.

MJ: Yes I'm making a psychological horror in June which is part of a feature called 'Dr Terror' -

       my part should be about 15mins long. I also plan start pre-production on my feature which

       I'm hoping to to shoot in summer 2005.

BFM: Would you only want to direct from your own scripts?

MJ: I never directed someone's else script, so I guess not, but I never say never. Although I can't

       imagine what it would be like shooting someone else's script - I would have to feel very

       passionately about it.

BFM: What did you do before making the film.

MJ: Before making films I worked in a office, Monday to Friday 9-5. Then one day I decided I

       was going to do what I had a passion for and that was making films.

BFM: What are your inspirations and what are your favourite films?

MJ: I love Scorsese, Tarantino, Harmony Korine, Lars Von Trier, Werner Herzogs, Coppola. My

       favourite films would include; Taxi Driver, Reservoir dogs, Man bites dog, The Idiots, Julien

       donkey boy, there are too many good films to mention.

BFM: Was there any obstacle during the course of making the film that with hindsight

           you could have avoided ?

MJ: Not really, I think it all depends on planning as much as possible before the shoot so that you

       avoid any obstacles/problems during the actual making the film.

BFM: What makes a good film?

MJ: A good script, good actors, good locations, a friendly atmosphere, stick to your vision, don't

      compromise and make sure you feed your crew plenty of food as well as drinks. Donuts work

      well!

Mark Jeavons films "The Money Tree', 'Death by Chocolate' and 'My Necrophiliac Bride' can be seen in the 'Films' sections of www.BudgetFilmMaker.com.