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Newcastle film producer on building his movie empire from North East

Newcastle-based film producer Ed Barratt is on a mission to build his film empire in the North East. He frequently flies the flag for the region at major international film festivals such as Cannes, Toronto and LA.

The former human genetics student said he turned his back on science after realising he “wasn’t going to cure cancer.”

The dad-of-one established Hook Pictures in September 2012 as a vehicle for his producing talents after ten years in the industry, first as a runner making tea before making his way up to unit manager and location manager on British films.

Ed also worked for Newcastle firm Ipso Facto Films as head of development and assistant producer. It was here that he built a strong network of industry contact that allowed him to make his first feature film before turning 30.

A film producer is the CEO of several small businesses, with each film having to be treat independently. Ed quotes British filmmaker John Boorman: “film making is the process of turning money into light and back again.”

He explains: “People are often confused about what a film producer does. Ultimately, you are responsible for delivering a return to the stakeholders.

“There’s actually two types of stakeholder in a film: the creative talent, which includes the writer, director and cast; and the financial stakeholders. The thrust of each party goes hand in hand. If you make a great film, you will make money.

“The producer sits between the two parties and has to understand the business side in order to make profit.”

His latest film, The Rise, stars Timothy Spall and Neil Maskell, and is a British crime set under grey Leeds’ skies. The film premiered at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival - an event Ed missed as his wife was due to give birth to their son.

For Ed, each film is like a new small business in its own right. In each instance there needs to be finance, recruitment and an idea.

Ed adds: “It’s always nice to work with people you know, or who you are friends with, but that isn’t always the most important factor. It’s about finding the path of least resistance and building the strongest team for that film.”

Funding a film, Ed explains, often requires a multi-faceted approach. Experienced film investors can sit alongside first timers, and public money is sometimes available.

“Most people wouldn’t be able to tell a good script from a bad script. There are people who’ve invested in bad scripts and are then surprised when it doesn’t make any money. Initially I sell the idea, and then, like any business, I sell the team behind it.

“With The Rise, I worked with Mark Foligno who was executive producer of the King’s Speech; and the international sales agent, Bankside Films, have a great reputation. That showed the wealth of experience on the film.

“It was a similar story with the cast. Whilst we didn’t have any massive movie stars per se, we had Timothy Spalls who is a tremendously well renowned actor and a household name, and there was a lot of recognisable faces for joe public to see, but also people who are highly respected within the industry.”

The critical mass of cast and staff can make or break a film. With sufficient clout the industry will begin to take notice and the project can take off.

Ed has two other films slated for release next year, and is in that same momentum building stage as he assembles a cast and crew around them.

He’s also got one eye on Hook and aims to attract sizeable investment to the firm in order to grow his workforce. The ultimate goal is to be able to produce more quantity and quality.

Ed also has ambitions to move into television work and graphic novel publishing.

He adds: “It’s about telling more stories in more media. That will attract talent to the company and retain talent. The story is king and we’re defined by our ability to get good stories out there.

“I love being in the North East and my plan is for Hook Pictures to remain firmly in the region. I love being able to make content here.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .