‘Side by Side’ – Pre Production Event Coverage

It’s not every day I find myself attending screenings for films that haven’t been made yet – let alone released – but I was delighted to attend my friend Daniel Johnson’s pre-production promo event for his upcoming debut feature Side By Side.

Held in the classy confines of Whitechapel’s Genesis Cinema, tonight was about raising awareness – and hopefully some cold hard cash – for the film. Daniel has previously helmed numerous short films, some of which were screened this evening in order to show off his considerable talent. We were treated to three shorts, Alone, Crazy Love and A Single Guy, all of which studied different aspects of relationships, often in comedic but always in interesting ways. Alone was a series of brief portraits of couples falling apart or failing to start; Crazy Love was a zany ‘meet-cute’ told from the point of view of a guy who seems always to attract life’s more eccentric women – whilst perhaps not being the most normal person in the world himself – and A Single Guy followed a hapless fellow who manages to scupper every opportunity he has to form a relationship.

What was clear from the shorts is that Daniel is itching to write his talent all over a feature-length project. Side By Side is raring to go. The plot concerns a couple, Paul and Lisa, who are on the verge of splitting when a massive obstacle is placed in their path as Lisa is diagnosed with breast cancer. The film promises to be moving and affecting, but not without a healthy dose of humour. We were also shown a short series of interviews cast of the film and Daniel, all of whom were excited to be a part of the production.

I had the chance to chat to Daniel about his film. Here’s what we discussed…

The nature of relationships – or the lack thereof – are common theme in your work. What keeps bringing you back to the subject?

For me, relationships are everything! The complexities of human interaction are the most baffling, amusing, and confusing things in the world. I could make films about things exploding and cars that smash through windows, but I find it more exciting to focus on relationships. That’s where the drama really is.

In Side by Side, a main character is diagnosed with breast cancer. Was there a reason you chose this specific terminal illness and what has researching it been like?

I think that cancer affects everyone. When you’re in a room with five people; pretty much everyone will have a personal experience with it, whether it’s their own health or a loved one. Even if someone has never been touched by it – that’s still an experience of cancer – to be the outsider who’s never been around it. And I think it’s one of those topics that hangs around like a ghost – everyone knows it, most people have experienced – yet we have a tendency to shy away from it. It’s understandable, because it’s a painful topic. But also, cancer isn’t just this one thing, it’s not just an illness. It’s a thing that changes and affects and influences the lives of all those who are touched by it. ‘Side By Side’ really gets into that – how ordinary life changes when someone gets ill.

The story could have been about any cancer. But I think, for a woman, breast cancer can be even more profound and unsettling, like testicular cancer for a man, because it’s extremely personal; a big part of how we define our identities, our gender, is by our physical form. So I think it’s potentially an even more difficult thing for a woman.

In the interviews we saw, your cast seem very motivated and excited about the project – you all seem very driven towards a common goal and there appears to be some great chemistry between the three of you. How do you cultivate that atmosphere on set?

I like working with actors. I like it when they’re able to be comfortable and really truthful on screen. And I think, because of that, actors like to work with me – because if they need rehearsal, or need help understanding a character or a piece of dialogue, I’m totally there – I get stuck into the mud with them and we explore it together. So it’s a lot of fun, always creative. And on a more simple level, Sam and Camilla are just fantastic, lovely people; great fun to be around. So it’s a blast.

How do you find the writing process – is it something you enjoy more or less than directing?

I think my strength is writing. Directing for me is mostly about protecting the material. My favourite director’s, people like Charlie Chaplin, Billy Wilder, and more recently – Cameron Crowe. They’re great writers, and their directional style is to give space for the actors to tell the story. The camera doesn’t intrude, it doesn’t jump around and fly around on big cranes – it’s subtle. I like that. It’s not that I’m more of a writer than a director, but rather – my style of directing is to support the writing. I guess Woody Allen is the best example of that.

When it’s finished and released, where do you hope this film takes you?

I just want Side By Side to find an audience. My favourite independent films are the ones that sneak into little film festivals around the world and resonate with people. They start out small but the word of mouth grows and grows. And before long, they’re being seen by much bigger audiences. I’d love that for Side By Side.

With any luck, Daniel will be able to secure the finances to head into production soon, but if you’re interested in getting involved and helping a talented young British filmmaker, then check outDaniel’s website for further details. You’ll also be able to watch some of previous short films there too.