LLOYD NECK Directed By Benedict Campbell

Shane: Tell us about your film?

Benedict: Lloyd Neck is about a girl (Alex) who likes her older brother's friend, Jesse.  Jesse likes Alex's brother, Taylor.

S: How did you come up with the idea for the film?

B: The idea came from my memories of high school.  I like characters that don't fully understand themselves yet, and I also like the dynamics in the relationships that siblings have with one another.

S: Was this a school project?

B: Yes, I made the film at NYU.

S: How did you find your cast? 

B: I used New York City casting resources like Backstage and I held auditions and call backs for a few weeks.

S: How long did the film take?  (From conception to final edit)

B: 18 Months.

S: What was the most difficult part of the shoot for you?

B: I wrote a film that I could make on a modest budget.  I didn't want to rely on a lot of lighting, but I still wanted the film to look good and be lit well.  Since the film is mostly lit with natural sunlight, weather was the most difficult part.

S: Tell us about the films festival experience so far?

B: I had just arrived in India for several months of travel when I found out that it had been selected for the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.  I scrapped my whole travel plan and came home in a week.  It premiered at Sundance in January and has also played at festivals in Melbourne, London, Italy, Germany, Toronto, Sarasota, Nashville, and Mississippi.

S: What has been your most interesting Q&A so far?  What was your favorite question?  How was the dialogue afterwards?

B: One of the most rewarding experiences has been talking with people after a festival screening.  Sometimes, people aren’t interested in asking a question in public, but still have something to say.  When you get the impression that your film resonated with someone, it’s intensely satisfying.

S: What films or filmmakers inspire you?

B: I am influenced by a lot of different movies that come from all over the world.  Some of my favorite films are RABBIT-PROOF FENCE (Australia), THE RETURN (Russia), OLD JOY (USA), and AFTER THE WEDDING (Denmark).  My favorite film director is Ang Lee, whose body of work is the most diverse I have ever seen.

S: What made you decide to become a filmmaker?

B: I was first attracted to filmmaking when I discovered photography.  I lived in the dark room and I liked making still images.  Then I figured out that film was really just 24 still photographs shown in 1 second.

S: What is next for you? 

B: I am working on adapting a book for the screen.  It's about a young girl who discovers that her brother and his best friend might be a couple.  She isn't sure what that means and neither are they.

S: What is next for the film?

B: I’ll be screening it in New York, LA, San Francisco, and Philadelphia in June and July and I’m hoping to keep traveling to festivals with it through the end of the year.

S: If asked to give one piece of advice to a new filmmaker making their first short film… What would it be?

B: A friend of mine said, “Instead of trying to make THE film, just make A film.”  Don’t try and say too much in too little time.