He Who Dares poster

British director Paul Tanter is a man on a mission at the moment, and must be one of the hardest working writer/directors in the UK right now?

He Who Dares, is his latest offering and is a British action thriller described as a cross between The Raid and Die Hard, we like the sound of it already.

Due out at the end of the year, check out the poster below which bares the tagline, ‘Fight. Kill. Win.’ Simple and yet highly effective.

Plot wise a gang of masked terrorists kidnap the Prime Minister’s daughter, fortifying themselves in an underground car park rigged with explosives. Crack SAS operative Chris Lowe and his team are sent in and must take the building one level at a time.

Tom Benedict Knight, Simon Phillips, Christina Bellavia, Ewan Ross, Ben Lloyd-Holmes, Zara Pythian, Kye Loren, and Lorraine Stanley star, with Knight taking the leading role as SAS operative, Chris Lowe.

The film is written by GBH scribe James Crow, as well as being produced by debutants Anthony and Patrick Maxwell.

If you’re a fan of action then this one is going to be right up your street, I like the fact that someone has chosen to do something with a bit of flare and I have high expectations for this one.

We’ll look forward to seeing the first trailer, He Who Dares will be heading into theatres over Christmas 2013.

Check out the poster below…

he-who-dares-poster

Paul Tanter Interview

Yesterday we brought you the first look at the trailer for White Collar Hooligan 2: England Away, which is the follow up film from Paul Tanter to Rise and Fall of a White Collar Hooligan.

Tanter recently completed Fall of the Essex Boys and is busy working on Shame the Devil which is his new film, we always like to catch up with him to see how he’s getting on. Below he talks up White Collar Hooligan 2, what its like working with talented actors and his experience on shooting in New York.

DBR - What was the interest with Fall of the Essex Boys?

PT - Obviously everyone knows there have been other films that touch on these events. Rise of the Footsoldier is an awesome film from a fantastic director that casts a very long shadow – it sets a high benchmark to live up to, so to speak. But for me, the fact that this story had been looked at before was also part of the appeal – what could we do differently?

The story is only eighteen years old but already there’s a huge mythology built up around it. Conspiracy theories abound and it seems every London and Essex gangster, geezer and cab driver has a story to tell that apparently connects them with those guys.

In fact, so many people I meet claim to have had dealings or a drink with them that I’m amazed they had time to do anything, criminal or otherwise! It was also a chance to work with a great ensemble cast.

DBR - There seems to be a number of usual suspects that crop up in your films, do you feel safe working with the same actors as you know what you get back from them?

PT - I think we had a great mix of actors on this one. There’s my regulars, Nick Nevern, Peter Barrett and Simon Phillips – and as you say, I know what to expect from them. I’ve worked with them so often that we have a great shorthand with each other that means you hit the ground running. We’re also all very good friends, so every film is like a reunion.

Then there’s people like Ewan Ross and Lucinda Rhodes, who I’d worked with before, was impressed with them, and we gave them something a bit bigger on Essex Boys. Needless to say they repaid our faith with great performances.

Then there was a wealth of talent I’d never worked with before but was obviously very aware of and always wanted to work with – Kierston Wareing, Kate Magowan, Tony Denham, Peter Woodward, Eddie Webber and Rob Cavanah. These guys were a joy to direct – they really lived up to expectations.

There were also a couple of up and comers who I know I’ll work with again as I was so impressed with them – young guys called Jay Brown, Ryan Winsley, Roman Kemp and Joe Stamp.

PT directing FOTEB

Tanter calls the shots during filming of Fall of the Essex Boys

DBR - When can we expect to see White Collar Hooligan 2 released?

PT - It’s released in May and I’m very excited about it. It picks up eighteen months after the end of The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan with Mike and Katie living under witness protection in Spain.

Mike’s old life soon catches up with them and he finds himself having to go to New York before heading back to London to save. Nick Nevern and Simon Phillips resume their roles as Mike and Eddie and the chemistry between them is better than ever. Rita Ramnani returns as Katie and delivers and outstanding emotional performance while we encounter some new faces such as Tom Knight, Tony Denham, Neil Large and Vas Blackwood, known to many as Rory Breaker from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells.

DBR - Tell us about Shame the Devil?

PT - It’s a thriller about a London detective tracking a serial killer from London to New York. He teams up with his ex; a Criminologist and they pursue the killer as the body count rises. The killer puts his victims in situations where if they tell the truth then they get to live, but if they lie – they die.

DBR - What’s it been like shooting in New York?

PT - I’m not going to lie, it was awesome. The place is just immediately cinematic and also very receptive to film crews. We shot the New York scenes for Shame the Devil and White Collar Hooligan 2 while we there and whilst it was a lot of hard work, it meant I was directing two of my films in New York, so even the worst day at work was better than anything else.

Outside of London it’s my favourite city in the world. Simon Phillips and I are talking about what next to do there – we’re definitely going back. We shot a film in L.A. recently and whilst it was a great experience, New York is the place that feels alive 24/7 and looks great wherever you go. One of my proudest scenes in White Collar Hooligan 2 is a one-take steadicam shot through the middle of Time Square with Nick and Simon – it just looks fantastic.

Paul Tanter

DBR - You’re on a bit of a roll now, do you ever take a moments rest for yourself?

PT - I try to balance everything as much possible and not run myself into the ground, but as you say, we’ve hit a bit of a stride at the moment.

As we always say; it’s good to be busy. Too many people are great at grandly announcing the films they’re apparently going to make, then quietly shelve it six months later when nothing happens. I’d rather be too busy than be one of those people who just talks about the films they’re going to make. Those people always get found out in the end!

DBR - Are you still writing, can we expect more from Paul Tanter in the coming years?

PT - I’m always writing when time allows, but of course as we’ve gotten busier I’ve started directing stuff by other writers, such as The Fall of the Essex Boys and He Who Dares.

Shame the Devil and White Collar Hooligan 2 are both ones I wrote and I’ve got several other scripts in various stages of development. Ultimately the plan is to keep making films, whether it’s writing, directing or producing.

White Collar Hooligan 2: England Away  is released May 20th and we’ll be reviewing it in a future post!

 

First look at White Collar Hooligan 2: England Away

We have an exclusive first look today at the new trailer for White Collar Hooligan 2: England Away.

hooligan

Directed by Paul Tanter its sure to be a hit with fans of the first film who are keen to see what happened to Mike after he turned grass in order to escape with his life and girlfriend Katie.

It’s safe to say that judging from the trailer below his past has and is about to catch up with him, putting himself back in the firing line with those that seek revenge, and what they are owed.

Here is a full synopsis…

Eighteen months on from the events of The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan; Mike and Katie are living happily in Spain under witness protection and are expecting their first child.
Now relaxed with their new identities, Mike goes to a football match in Barcelona but is spotted and recognised by associates of his old credit card firm, many of whom his testimony helped put away. Soon Mike finds his old life catching up with him as Katie is kidnapped and he is given four days to return all the money that Eddie stole. Desperate for help, Mike heads to New York seeking the cash he needs before returning to London for a deadly showdown. 
 
With the stakes even higher this time, White Collar Hooligan 2 takes in international locations, bigger fights and more explosive action as Mike struggles to save Katie and his unborn child.
The film sees Nick Nevern (The Sweeney) and Simon Phillips (Jack Falls) return as Mike Jacobs and Eddie Hill, joined by regulars Rita Ramnani (The Last Seven) and Peter Barrett (GBH). Stars Vas Blackwood (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells), Tony Denham (The Football Factory), Neil Large (Turnout), Tom Knight (He Who Dares) and Ewan Ross (The Fall of the Essex Boys) also appear.

Check out the trailer below…

The film looks to capture the essence of the first, with some brutal fight scenes, high drama and new locations including New York, as well as featuring some of Britain’s best known acting talent. We’re certainly looking forward to this one!

White Collar Hooligan 2: England Away is released on May 20th by Momentum. You can follow updates at http://www.facebook.com/hooliganfilm and http://twitter.com/hooliganfilm

Simon Phillips Interview

It’s safe to say that Simon Phillips has a bit of a cult following in the world of independent film, the star of the acclaimed Jack Trilogy, and The Rise and Fall of the White Collar Hooligan has seen him cement a very successful career as an actor.

Now though, like many before him he has stepped behind the camera to direct his first feature, G.B.H. The film is a gripping British thriller set against the back drop of London riots, and sees the struggle one police officer has in his day to day life, as he chooses whether to stay with a successful career or go back to a darker past.

We caught up with Simon to discuss the film, shooting tough scenes and whether or not we’d get to see Jack Adleth again?

What made you decide to give directing a go?

I decided to give it a go after finding a script that there was nothing in for me as an actor – but a story I very much wanted to tell. I also witnessed the 2011 London riots first hand and so had a unique perspective on it.

What was it like behind the camera as opposed to being in front of it?

It was actually quite liberating. The challenge with being in front of the camera is not to be conscious about how you look on screen – but more to concentrate on the relationships and performances with other actors.

But when directing the film you must have awareness for all things that go into the film making process. I had a passion for the story and I had worked with several of the HOD’s and actors before, which made my transition perhaps easier than it, might have been with a fresh bunch of cast and crew.

Paul Tanter made a similar decision to step behind the camera; did you ask him for any advice for this film?

Paul came at directing as an extension to his writing abilities, whereas I came at it from the other end – so there wasn’t that much in common here – but I’ve worked very closely with Paul on a number of films and we always talk about all aspects of the process – and this film was no different.

Having said that it was his first producer only project, and it was my first directorship – so we reversed our normal roles – and I surely took some influence from Jack Falls on a visual style for the film.

James Crow wrote the screen play, what was it that attracted you to it?

Characters and a great back drop. As I said before, I witnessed the London riots first hand and wanted to tell a story with this as the backdrop to contrast the image that London was putting forward in the recent Olympic Games. James penned a very dark screenplay and that interested me as he blurred the lines between good and bad people in a manner you may not see coming when you watch the film.

As an actor is there anything you can take into the director’s chair?

As an actor I know the type of information I’d wanna hear form a director, so when instructing the talent – most of whom I’ve worked with before – it’s helpful that the information comes from a fellow actor, there’s much less of a barrier to overcome and trust is established much quicker.

What kind of message were you trying to get across with a film such as this?

That not every situation is clean cut. It’s easy to look at the London riots and say its young people out of control and that we need to be much harsher on them and bring back a sense of discipline and respect, but in actual fact the London riots was the most recent form of civil unrest in a western city that I have seen.

It was our disillusioned youth shouting out for attention as they are on the front lines of the recession, lack of education and lack of prospects – our young people today seem to have lost aspiration for the future, they’re not ‘bad guys’ – they are good kids in bad situations for the most part and we have to acknowledge that part of this problem was made by us.

There are some powerful scenes within it such as near to the end with Louise and Barry. Is there a certain degree of emotion on set when something like that is being shot? How do you and the cast handle something as serious as that?

The scene in question was indeed a difficult one to shoot, and it’s very important to get the tone for it just right. I discuss the scene with the actors, Kellie Shirley and Peter Barrett, beforehand so they have an understanding of what it is that I am trying to demonstrate.

In such distressing scenes I need them to give me everything and not feel conscious about it, something only achieved with a good deal of communication and trust between me and performers – but ultimately it’s their talent in understanding the script and their characters - and I just give them the platform.

We’ve been suitably impressed by Nick Nevern, are there any plans to work with him again?

Of course! Nick’s a talented actor and very underrated, but he’s on the rise for sure. I’ve done 5 films with him now and I’m sure we’ll work again together – the White Collar Hooligan feature film was so popular that we’ve wrapped on the sequel and are in discussions on a third part just now – so I’m sure we’ll be on set together again soon.

Did you fancy the chance for a director’s cameo?

Not this time. The film was so intense and I was so concerned with trying to ‘get it right’ that I wanted to put all my energy behind the camera, and very happy that I did. In the future I may like the challenge of directing myself in something – but I think I need a few more years’ experience and the right project.

What is next for Simon Phillips?

We’ll it’s mostly in front of the camera for the next 12 months I think. I’m starring in White Collar Hooligan 2 (alongside Nick Nevern, directed by Paul Tanter) and that was a great deal of fun to film. I’ve also got alien invasion feature film UFO coming out in January 2013 with Jean Claude Van Damme.

We’ve also just wrapped on a London/New York serial killer film called Shame the devil – which should be something a little different. So lot’s going on at the moment!

And finally, have we seen the last of Jack Adleth?

Ha! Myself and Paul Tanter had a great deal of fun putting the Jack trilogy together and learned a great deal by the time we reached the final chapter, Jack Falls. I was very proud that we had the first ever British independent feature film trilogy and was very proud of the final chapter – which I think rounded off the character arc very nicely.

There was talk of a fourth installment, and even an treatment for what the project would be like – which sounded very exciting indeed – but I think it’s time to hang up that particular leather Jacket and re-visit it all in five years’ time!

GBH Exclusive images

GBH the directorial debut from Jack Says star Simon Phillips is released theatrically in the UK on September 28th on DVD, iTunes and VOD on October 1st through Revolver.

The film which stars Nick Nevern (The Rise and Fall of a White Collar Hooligan) is about a local police officer who must choose between the boys in blue or the firm he used to run with.

Set against the backdrop of London riots the film is a hard hitting British thriller, featuring a wealth of acting talent including Kellie Shirley (Eastenders), Peter Barrett (Jack Falls), Con O’Neill (Telstar), Lorraine Stanley (London to Brighton) and Steven Berkoff (The Krays).

We have been lucky enough to receive a few stills from the film’s production, check them out below…

Here is a full synopsis of the film as well.

GBH is a powerful tale of justice and vengeance starring Damien (Nick Nevern) a London copper with a past he’s trying to forget. Before signing up for the force he ran with a football firm, getting involved in tear-ups up and down the country.

Now he’s on the other side of the law and faces a tough decision: side with his old crew or protect London as it burns and rioters run amok?  Falling in love with fellow cop Louise (Kellie Shirley), Damien is quickly alerted to a street-level uprising that is about to shake London.

Amidst the brutalities presented by the riots, Damien fights for justice at Louise’s expense. Having been raped by a rioter known to him, Damien finds himself levelling with the rioters, fighting a war he cannot win, as much against the rioters as against himself.

The film is produced by Jonathan Sothcott (Elfie Hopkins) and Paul Tanter (The Rise and Fall of a White Collar Hooligan).

While you’re at it check out the trailer as well…

GBH will be reviewed soon in a future post, so check back for that!