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Interview With Andrew Ball-Shaw the Director of the Film CATVID-19

CATVID-19 won Best COVID -19 Virus Related Film Award in the 8th Season of MP Film Award Andrew Ball-Shaw Director of the Film CATVID-19 agree to interview with us.

Andrew Ball-Shaw

Andrew Ball-Shaw: Writer/Director to short films including Focus, Anorak, I See Dead People & Lavender. Seeing success with series Rebound (Director), reaching some tv channels.







Poster CATVID-19

Synopsis:

A Film Series by

Andrew Ball-Shaw

CATVID-19, film series was put together remotely whilst staying at home. The aim being to provide some entertainment during our pandemic situation. Which has kept us occupied with creativity through isolation and lockdown.

CATVID-19

Perhaps we're not the only ones stuck in isolation. A housebound cat adapting to time spent indoors.

CATVID-19: Lockdown

The isolation door is open but we're not the only ones adjusting to lockdown

CATVID-19: Contagion

The news of lockdown freedom spreads fast, but is this really the only thing open to transmission between a few feline friends

Dedicated to anyone who has lost someone due to the global pandemic of 2020.

"CATVID-19"


What was your drive behind making this film?


Behind the Scene

Andrew Ball-Shaw: The CATVID-19 series, is a pandemic theme series, during lockdown it allowed us to remain creative, and whilst utilising pets (the cats), the film series gives an original perspective on the effects of a pandemic, isolation, lockdown, and contagion, as though through the eyes of a cat!



How you feel when you are awarded with the MP FILM AWARD Award?


Behind the Scene

Andrew Ball-Shaw: Fantastic, CATVID-19 was awarded winner of ‘Best COVID-19 Virus Related Film’, a perfect fit! Very grateful for the recognition received thanks a lot to the MP film awards.



Can you tell us about the greatest moment during shooting this film?


Andrew Ball-Shaw: The unpredictability of the cat’s behaviour sometimes (improvisations??), Molly the cat who plays the part of ‘Mike’, is very expressive in her face, it is as though you can almost feel what she is thinking/feeling, and what made this possible to then be able to imagine up, and script storylines for the films, as though the dialogue we hear, the cat’s thoughts in their head.



How rigorously did you stick to the script while shooting?


Behind the Scene

Andrew Ball-Shaw: I had scripted out the storylines, and many of the jokes relating to pandemic themes, and knowing Molly’s behaviours, and common or favourite things to do, it was then a case of capturing her on camera doing these things. There would also be times when the cats did other things, that were caught on camera, and allowed for further scripting to be written in that fit really well, and worked with what it was they had done.



Where there any onset problems During the filming of the film & how did you deal with it?


Behind the Scene

Andrew Ball-Shaw: This was a first for me working with animals, Molly, and the other cats wouldn’t always take the positions hoped for, a little petting and stroking, and occasional treats offered seemed to help encourage them with this.



Do you have any advice for young filmmaker out there? Or like yourself?


Andrew Ball-Shaw: Be creative, and do what you can with the resources available, you can make something interesting and entertaining out of very little.



Do you think it is essential to go to a film institute in order to become a successful filmmaker?


Behind the Scene

Andrew Ball-Shaw: Not necessarily, although can help to learn and develop yourself, your knowledge, and your skills.



Which film has inspired you the most?


Andrew Ball-Shaw: Most recently, the film ‘Rush’, the passion of the characters that is put across, and the energy of the film (helped with the music!), is amazing.



Which particular film maker has influenced you the most?


Behind the Scene

Andrew Ball-Shaw: Spielberg, and/or Nolan. Spielberg’s films are very engaging stories with interesting and often fun characters. Nolan’s films are all kinds of complex, and mastered in tension building and conflict.



Which book would you love to make a film out of one day?


Andrew Ball-Shaw: A book of the life of Robert Falcon Scott.



If you got the opportunity to go back in time & change something in any particular movie of yours, then which movie & what changes will you opt for?


Behind the Scene

Andrew Ball-Shaw: It would be nice to take back some of the time spent working through the challenges of film making, but each brings with it areas of learning, allowing me to develop and improve.



If you were to shoot the film again, what would you do differently?


Andrew Ball-Shaw: No changes required, I am very happy with the film, and series for what it is, and the purpose it has served. I hope people enjoy watching!



What is your greatest achievement till date?


Andrew Ball-Shaw: Any/all of the winning results that I am Director to (and Writer to some), particularly my most recent film ‘Lavender’, completing its film festival run now, Lavender has achieved over 30 film festival results!



How do you pick yourself up after a failed film?


Andrew Ball-Shaw: Do the work, learn, and make the next one even better!



Where our viewers can catch you (share your social media)?


Andrew Ball-Shaw: Please see my work and progression as a filmmaker, on any social media platform-

@andrewballshaw

Facebook, Vimeo, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, IMDb



 

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