The Man Inside

One of the infuriating things about making a feature film is not being able to talk about it.
These things tend to be like a stack of cards that can fall down at the drop of a hat and quite unexpectedly.

However. I am going to stick my neck out here, seeing as we have a start date, a schedule, a budget and distribution!

There are a few things I have to gloss over, such as cast specifics, but I will do my best to get as close as I can to the truth.

THE MAN INSIDE:

For as long as I can remember I have been in love with the film The Godfather.
People often think of it as merely a gangster film, but it's so so much more.
It is the most beautifully realised story, and from script, to cast, to direction, to cinematography, and production design and of course THAT score... It is to me, movie perfection.
I cannot find a duff scene in the whole film. and what is amazing is that despite its lengthy running time it is soooo tense and absorbing.

So, when I sat down to write a semi-autobiographical film The Man Inside, I sat and wrote something that was infused with everything I love about my favorite movie.
And without realizing, it became full of the same themes as the Godfather.

I have long been fascinated by the nature of evil and nature or nurture.
i devour anything to read about Adolf Hitler, and how this young Austrian boy whose childhood hero was a Jewish Doctor who saved his mother's life became a monster.

I am fascinated by the concept of what evil is, and what it can do to someone.

The heart of The Man Inside is a dangerous, lurking dark beast prowling, and waiting to be unleashed.


Casting the film has been interesting, because I was keen to have a mixture of authenticity, well-known names and also some heavy-weight acting talent.

We certainly have this in abundance. I can't wait to start working with them.
It's been fun saying the names to people and watching their reactions!
I have been extremely lucky to get this kind of talent. I'm still pinching myself. especially as they are all first choices!

The film shoots in August, and will have a theatrical release in 2011.

There is a lot of very hard work to go between now and then, but I have to say that i am more than ready for it.

It feels like I have been leading to this point. To direct something so personal and so powerful is incredible.

I feel like my work to date has limbered me up for this big task ahead.

I'm sure there will be tears and blood during this production. It goes with the subject matter. But, i know it will be special.

In the UK right now, and maybe the world. There is a trend for movies made for the market.

That's fine. I will probably watch many of these films. But, right now, I really have to do something for ME. Something I can pour every ounce of passion into. Because it means so much to me. Because it makes the fire inside me, as a filmmaker, burn brightly.

Dan