Iris Podcast

In the last of the series, Damian chats to filmmakers about the importance of real life stories on our screens and what is the reality of looking beyond the lens at the real lives of those our films represent, managing expectation, and the reality of dramatising our stories for screen.

Filming on location is hard, but when you chuck into the mix rural landscapes and unpredictable weather it can be damn near impossible. That and the sensitivities around shooting a queer film, Damian chat to his guests about all this can be possible and is Wales as welcoming as it perceives.

Representation on screen has never been so important, so Damian along with his guests this week chat specifically about queer young people on screen, and is it truly representative of those real lives it depicts.

Ever wondered how those stories appear on screen? Well, this week LGBTQ+ filmmaking podcast Iris answers just that. Join host Damian as he talks to Waterloo Road star Adam Ali as well as filmmaker Keeran Anwar Blessie and Bad Wolf, one the UK’s largest production companies, script editor, Bethan Evans

This week Damian interviews three LGBTQ+ filmmakers specialising in documentaries. Together they discuss the importance and collective responsibility of telling LGBTQ+ stories and ask whether documenteries have a duty to be balanced in their story telling, or does larger bias play a role?

Episode 1 – Authentic Casting  We kick things off on LGBTQ+ Iris Podcast talking all things representation in casting, and along with our interviewees attempt to answer the old age question in the filming industry, “should queer roles, be played by queer actors?”

After meeting at Uni and going their separate ways into writing and acting, Olivia and Joey reconnected and made ‘Acrimonious’, based on some of Joey’s real life experiences. They delve into what it’s like to make a film in your own living room, the things that really did happen and the bits that were given some poetic licence. ‘Acrimonius’ is a story of Emeka’s sudden divorce from his husband whi...

Manchester based filmmaker Mat Johns discusses his film ‘Inertia’ with Robert, from where the story began, to how much it cost to make and everything in between. The pair dissect the film and we get a first-hand rundown of Mat’s journey from school to the world of film, via the University of Salford. ‘Inertia’ is a story of unlikely friendship between Maddie and Rabia, a teacher and student, as Ra...

Born and raised in Colchester in Essex, Jack studied in London and made ‘Silver and Gold’ as a love letter to London and it’s iconic scenery. In this episode, he discuses filmmaking with Robert and how YouTube and Pixar influenced his work, along with his experience with making a film during a global pandemic. ‘Silver and Gold’ is a silent short film about a living statue ‘Silver’ performing along...

‘Baby Boy’ is a film about a taxi driver’s repressed sexuality and drug addiction coming together over a weekend in London with his younger queer lover. Greg Hall co-wrote and directed the film, and in this episode of the podcast discusses the ambiguity of it alongside some of the deeper meanings of the motifs in ‘Baby Boy’ and how these came about. Greg explores the social realism of the film wit...

Following a teenager who uses Drag to show her family who she really is, ‘Dragged Up’ was written and directed by Laura Jayne Tunbridge. Laura explains how she didn’t have a queer community around her growing up, and that her experience with being closeted helped to inspire many of the ideas in her film. Primarily a screenwriter, Laura’s experience at Yale University helped to give her the freedom...

Having been in the industry for over 20 years, Ian Smith discusses with Berwyn how he started, where he is now, and how he used his film ‘3 Letters’ to address homophobia in society. Taking us back to his days at the Newport Film School, Ian tells us about how he got a job at the BBC during a recession, made and sold his own design company, and then returned to BBC Wales, before starting to produc...

Chris gives us an insight into the world of factory work as a queer person, while Lucie explains why they’ll probably never make another film quite as DIY as Factory Talk. We talk all things Iris 2021, and the pair share some details on their next joint project! To listen to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PBjvIHVM8IcUh70xTJu7Y To watch the film visit: https://www.irisprize.org/

The winners of the Iris Prize 2021 explain how they got from and idea on Canal Street to a short film set in Libya. Sam Arbor and Adam Ali talk us through the backstory of Baba, Sam tells us how he met, and then forgot Adam, and the question on everyone’s minds, what colour is Adam’s top? To listen to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PBjvIHVM8IcUh70xTJu7Y To watch the film visit: ...

In this episode, we’re joined by Co-Director, Lloyd and Actor, Sam as they talk us through some of the unexpected backlash they faced when showing S.A.M. to new audiences. Lloyd tells us how he first met George in a service station, Sam compares working on the film to working on Coronation Street, and the pair let us in on whether or not S.A.M will ever be made feature length. Eyre and Ely have pr...

Rosemary discusses being open about your sexuality in the workplace, considers if she is a filmmaker that happens to be lesbian or a lesbian who happens to be a filmmaker and more importantly why is it still difficult for some people to say the word lesbian? “Lesbian. ” is a fierce, urgent poem by award-winning British-Syrian writer lisa luxx. It’s about the word “lesbian”, and the decades of toxi...

‘From A to Q’ is the story of 22 year old Alex who wakes suddenly from a dream where she’s intimate with Kayla. Only problem is; Kayla happens to be Alex’s best friend and Alex has never been with a girl before… She now has to navigate through her new found feelings, all the while trying really hard not to mess up the friendship she’s had since she was 5. Emmalie is a writer, director and editor b...

James Bell and Leo Lebeau Birthday Boy London based filmmakers James and Leo discuss the importance of authentic storytelling, how they engaged with the Trans community and secured their trust, and the challenges and rewards of being determined to find a Trans actor to play the lead role in Birthday Boy. “Birthday Boy ”  A transgender boy celebrates his birthday in online games, away from the...

Efa Blosse-Mason discusses her love of animation, how she sustained a wrist injury while animating and why she wants to create something "naughty and sexy" are just some of the topics covered in this podcast with Cardiff based Iris alumni, Efa. 'Cwch Deilen': An animated love story about a leaf which becomes a boat, and fears come out of the murky waters as sea monsters and storms. Will the Leaf B...

‘Pop’ Storyline: Jack is a young boy exploring his own identity when he befriends a recently released ex-convict, Pop. The pair bond, but Pop's past and his inability to control his emotions threaten to put Jack in danger. Margo Roe is a writer, director and choreographer from the Midlands, UK. Her career started with a theatre commission from the The Lincoln Company, co-directing a physical theat...

'Cindy' Storyline: Cindy’s first time performing in drag might be camp and outrageous, but it isn’t exactly a success. Rosanagh is a queer Australian filmmaker, based in London. In 2017 Rosanagh set up Spinster Films – a production company focused on producing creative-led intersectional female-driven projects. Since its inception, Spinster has produced the short doc My Mama, A Man, which was sele...

'The Passing' Storyline: A mortician has a difficult day at work. Nichola Wong is an award-winning Writer-Director and 2020 Sundance Fellow. She recently won All3 Media’s New Drama Script award at Edinburgh TV Festival’s New Voice awards. She is a BFI NET.WORK x BAFTA Crew listed Director and a graduate of the prestigious NFTS Directors Workshop, supported by Walt Disney. Her latest film The Passi...

'Pompeii' Storyline: Tam gets on the first tube home alone. He plugs in his earphones and begins reliving his Halloween night out via his phone. Marco Alessi is a writer and director based in London. His narrative shorts include FOUR QUARTETS (LFF 2018; Berlinale 2019, Crystal Bear Jury Special Mention; distributed by Peccadillo), TONI_WITH_AN_I, co-written with Mary Antony (BBC/BFI co-production;...

David doesn’t want to go out. But when his ex-husband Troy turns up, he feels like he might be able to face the scene again. James Corley is a writer and filmmaker. He trained as an actor at LAMDA and a writer with Stephen Jeffreys. Short films include THE YELLOW ROOM and THE SCENE (as writer/director). Stage Plays include WORLD’S END, Kings Head Theatre (Theatre Weekly’s Off-West End Pick of the...

'Better' Storyline: As Max explores his gender identity, the bullying he faces at school becomes increasingly severe. When Max’s mum hears of a controversial new medical procedure that could protect him, she’s faced with a near-impossible personal and ethical dilemma. Michael J Ferns is a BAFTA Scotland Award Winning and two-time Children’s BAFTA nominated director. Originally from Scotland, he mo...