Film Name: Bannister Doll Heist
Director: MJ Dixon
Writers: MJ Dixon
Starring: Angelique Taylor, Philip Andrew Rogers, Petrina Richardson, Jack Granville, Christopher Morley, William Marshall
The Bannister Doll has spent years locked away in an old evidence locker, tonight 4 thieves are about to find they just stole the wrong package.
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds, I got a chance to ask actor Jack Granville a few questions about the film ‘Bannister Doll Heist‘, which had its World Premiere at Horror-on-Sea on Saturday, 24th January.
Q. You play Davis Howard in the upcoming horror ‘Bannister Doll Heist’ which has been selected to play at Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. What can we expect from the film?
A. Expect a sharp left-turn from action into horror with screeching tyres. The tone goes from adrenaline-pumping to anxiety-inducing at a rapid pace. Definitely a lot of twists and turns to keep you guessing
Q. What first attracted you to the character and what sort of preparation did you to do for the role?
A. I surprisingly sympathise with Davis; he’s trying to make his way in a difficult world, making some questionable decisions of course, but his heart is in the right place, and ultimately the ends are noble… even if they don’t quite justify the means.
Q. Are there any elements of the character which you feel reflect some of your own personality?
A. Davis cares deeply for the team, putting the others before himself (one most of all, but I will say no more on that). It’s almost a paternal instinct, and that’s something I resonate with.
Q. Did you make any changes to the character from how it was written?
A. Definitely a couple of ad-libs on set, but he’s such a sincere character that (for once) I wasn’t playing for laughs. I think I might have made him a bit more grounded than in the script too, where he feels a bit less of an everyman and more of an almost heroic character.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. The heist! We covered all of my scenes in the heist in one intense night and everyone was in great spirits. The cops and robbers were equally fun to be around and I think that shows in what you see on screen – I may have got so into the action sequences that, in one take, I knocked over part of the set and twisted my ankle (no lasting damage, thankfully).
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. Only a scheduling issue – the latter part of filming came in the middle of another production I was on that required me to have a beard, whilst Davis only has a slight stubble (and we had already filmed scenes months ago where that was the case). We weren’t going to do a Henry Cavill CGI job, so we went for a more practical facemask to conceal it throughout the heist.
Q. What makes Bannister Doll Heist stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. It treads a really fine line between action and horror, as well as tapping into the nuances of the characters – one minute, you’ll be rooting for one character, then suddenly you’ll learn something that will make you question their motivations. They are all perfectly imperfect.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. How much can be achieved with teamwork and practical effects – Mycho never ceases to amaze me in the ambition and feats they can achieve on screen with a shoestring (sometimes literally).
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. MJ and I are currently in pre-production of Season 2 of our web series HEXAGON, which is very exciting! Outside of that, does becoming a dad count?!
Q. If someone was looking to get into acting what advice would you give them?
A. Do. Indie. Horror. Independent film is a brilliant way to make connections, learn about the industry and of course give you an opportunity to showcase your skills in an actual project, rather than paying £100’s to have a showreel done.
You can find out more about the films playing at the festival and purchase tickets here
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
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