+REEL

In Conversation With Keith Farrell

In this exclusive interview, Keith discusses the inspiration behind Wait for Me, his proudest moments during its production, and his exciting upcoming projects. He also shares valuable advice on filmmaking, distribution challenges, and his thoughts on supporting the UK independent film scene.

On Wait for Me and Your Upcoming Films

Wait for Me has such a raw and emotional core—what was the inspiration behind the story, and what drew you to directing it?

Bernard O'Toole who wrote Wait for Me was inspired by his experience growing up in Blackburn and the cross over between the Irish emigrant experience and post-industrial life in those left behind Northern Communities, which are ripe for exploitation by criminals. I was drawn to the project for two reasons, the script just popped off the page, his writing just grabbed me from the start and it felt both visual and visceral and I hadn't read anything like it, that truly reflected the Northern experience for working class Irish emigrants. The second thing that drew me to the script was the characters who felt real and lived in but relatable.

Looking back at Wait for Me, what are you most proud of?

Wait for Me was a complex story with many layers that would have been a challenge to film on a low budget in normal circumstances, however, we were shooting during Covid. I am most proud of being able to complete the film during the worst pandemic to hit Western Europe since the 1918-1919 Flu Pandemic and I am proud that we were able to make the film during this time while remaining true to the script.

Your next films, East/West and The Last Command, explore very different themes—what excites you most about these projects, and how are you approaching them differently from Wait for Me?

Unlike Wait for Me, East/West and The Last Command are both much more commercial films. East/West is a crime thriller set in present day Manchester and Ireland and while it reflects my continued interest in Irish emigrant stories, it was very much developed with an eye towards making something that will sell internationally. The Last Command is a period high concept horror set just after the Irish War of Independence during the transition from British to Irish rule (in the 26 counties), and very much is developed with people who love psychological horror in mind (which I love and find myself drawn to rather then traditional gory or jumpscare horror). What really excites me about both projects is they are stories that tell the story of outsiders caught in events beyond their control but will still resonate with audiences.

On Your Influences and Filmmaking Philosophy

Which filmmakers or films have had the biggest influence on your storytelling and directing style?

That is a difficult question, there have been so many films and directors that have influenced me. One of the earliest "grown up" films I saw as a kid was The Mission written by Robert Bolt (who is from Sale in Greater Manchester where I am now based) and directed by Roland Joffé (who began his career at Granada TV where I began my career), I saw it in the cinema when I was 11 and it stuck with me for its beauty and storytelling style to the present day. I didn't consciously end up moving from Ireland to Manchester because of this film. I love the chances in life that have taken me to the city that helped give birth to the film. As I looked to pursue a career in film making, Mathieu Kassovitz has been a big influence, I come from a documentary background and I find his films capture the intensity and realness that come from documentary making, his two masterpieces Le Haine and Rebellion are films I can watch again and again and find something new in them each time.

If you could go back to your first day on a film set and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

Relax and enjoy it, the end of the day, we are very lucky to do what we do, so appreciate it.

For aspiring filmmakers trying to make their first feature, what's one thing they should focus on that many overlook?

Genre, Genre, Genre, if you want your film to find an audience make a genre film.

On Film Distribution and Industry Challenges

The landscape of film distribution is constantly shifting—what have been your biggest challenges in getting your films out to audiences?

The film industry is going through a period of instability and change. I think we are living in a period where no one really knows what the future holds. What is clear is the old models are gone, with DVD and TV sales gone from the equation and with streaming and VOD models not yet finding a way to fill the gap making films that will find an audience has become harder and harder. This is the real challenge for any filmmaker in the independent sphere. Attaching recognisable cast that will bring an audience to your film is virtually impossible as the gatekeepers to talent, the agents steer their clients away from independent films toward TV/Streamer series without recognising that a successful independent film can catapult their clients to another level of fame and fortune. Financing films in the UK (and England in particular) has become harder and harder as Government policy has failed to keep pace with our European neighbours who have invested heavily in their screen agencies, while at the same time, they have taken away tax incentives for investors will to take a risk investing in film, meaning that we are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to finding finance for your film, unless of course you have a major star attached but then if you do have major stars attached your budget tends to spiral out of control and ever upwards.

On +Reel and Where to Find Wait for Me

You've signed up to the waitlist on +Reel—what do you like about the services that the platform will offer, and how do you see it helping filmmakers navigate distribution in the future?

I am looking forward to seeing what happens with +Reel in the near future and how the service grows. It can only help with the growth of the UK independent film making scene but +Reel needs time and support to grow and find its feet.

Where can people find Wait for Me and keep in touch with Old Hall Films upcoming projects?

Wait for Me is available in the UK and Ireland on all major VOD streaming platforms. Internationally, we are only just beginning our distribution process.

Stay tuned for more updates on Keith's upcoming projects and insights into the evolving world of independent film!

Old Hall Films