Lawrence Pearce Interview

First of all, could we ask you to tell us a bit about yourself and what you do, in your own words?
You’re welcome, the work you do on DTA is great, and I’m glad to be a tiny part of it. I’m a storyteller, aka a writer/director but I prefer the previous term because that’s what we really are, storytellers. I’m interested in movies that grab me and hold on tight, forcing me to watch the paths of the characters unfold. I’m interested in dark, intense narratives and characters, in plot-lines that twist and turn, in difficult moral choices and in visuals that keep reappearing in my mind weeks after I’ve seen the film. All these things I try to incorporate into my writing and directing, and I hope Night Junkies is a good example of this.

How did you first get started in the Entertainment Industry, and was it hard to work your way up to achieving the goals that you have managed to reach so far?

I came from a Fine Art background, then found my way into Film and Photography, so I was always visually driven. I then discovered screenwriting whilst running an editing company. So combining my love for visuals with an understanding of storytelling, gained by the writing and the editing, it made sense to move into writing and directing my own flicks. Yes, it’s very tough, as anyone who has tried to make their first film will tell you, I won’t lie. But the sense of achievement and satisfaction from battling your way through all the barriers and eventually getting your film made (and seen) is worth it all.

Who or what would you say has inspired you with your writing and film making?

I think I’m inspired by so many things in life, not just other filmmakers. I’m inspired by music and artists I admire too. If you ask anyone who’s seen Night Junkies though, they will probably say my inspirations are a mixture of David Lynch atmosphere, Film Noir characters, Tarantino attitude, and dark comic book style visuals.

Let’s talk about your films; Enchanted Entertainment is currently featuring ‘Night Junkies’ on our website, it looks like it has a great storyline and some dramatic and exciting scenes. How did you find the filming process overall, and what was life like on set?

Thanks Becky. Yes, we’re really proud of how Night Junkies has turned out, the trailer alone has built up quite a fan base. The whole process of Night Junkies has been an incredible experience. Heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. There is an opinion that directors often look like they’ve gone through war by the end of a shoot, and that’s what it feels like sometimes. We spent 4 weeks, 6 days a week, 14 hours a day shooting outside during Winter time in London, and I learnt more during those four weeks about the workings and creating of a film than in 3 years of film studies. We had scary moments such as when a gang of 25 youths surrounded crew members and broke into production vehicles, but we also have lovely stories like our two leads Giles Alderson and Katia Winter finding romance and falling in love. At the end of the day, it’s the film that counts and we’ve now got a movie that people are really responding and looking forward to, so war veteran or not, I’m happy.

We see you are also currently working on more films such as ‘The Sandman’ ‘Night Junkies 2’ and ‘Come As You Are’ could you tell us a bit about these films and what we can expect from each one?,

I’m very excited about ‘The Sandman’. It’s about a killer-for-hire who becomes the victim of a sick game where he is hunted by 4 other hit men who are trying to be the first to track him down and win the bounty money. I have high hopes for this flick and I’m sure it’ll knock people out just as much as writing it is knocking me out!
I’m also working on Night Junkies 2 which is bigger, bolder and more dangerous. I can’t say too much about it, as being the sequel to Night Junkies, I will be giving the ending of the first film away, but I promise it’s going to be even better.

Enchanted Entertainment is full of Movie and TV fanatics. When you are not working, which Films and TV shows do you personally enjoy?

I’m a real fan of many films, directors, actors, TV shows. I love LOST, seriously, what an amazingly well-written, perfectly acted, excitingly directed series! Films-wise I’m always going back and watching past films from Directors I admired like David Fincher (Seven, The Game, Panic Room), PT Anderson (Magnolia, Boogie Nights), Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs), Scorsese (Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver), David Lynch (Mullholland Drive, Lost Highway) and Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Vanilla Sky). A recent film that definitely has stuck in mind is Hard Candy, where a young girl ties up and tortures a man she believes to be a pedophile. A fantastic exploration of morals and fear.

Have you been lucky enough to meet any of your favourite celebrities during your time in the entertainment world, and if so were they as you expected them to be?

Well just recently on a flight back from LA, I handed a copy of Night Junkies to Mr ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ himself, Robert Englund aka ‘Freddy Kruger’. That was an exceptionally cool moment as I kinda grew up on those movies. I didn’t get to talk to him properly so I can’t comment on how he is as a person. I’ve been lucky to meet quite a few famous actors and media people, but after the initial 2 mins of adoration, you just relax and either connect with them or don’t connect with them. The same as meeting anyone, from anywhere. Some you like, some you don

What advice or start up tips would you give to anyone looking to become a serious writer or director like yourself?

Quit. Only joking! You know what, I was once sat down by an established director who looked at me like a child whose belief in Santa was about to be crushed. He said “Lawrence, I like your ambition and energy, but I have to tell you that you’re not going to be able to just go into directing a movie like that. You’ve got to work your way up, be a cameraman, write for some TV shows, work as a production assistant for a bit. Maybe then, in 10 years time you can look into directing your first film and have others believe in you to work with you.” Four months later I started writing Night Junkies and now, 2 years later Hollywood is signing up my first film. So my advice is, don’t necessarily listen to other people’s advice, follow your instincts instead, they are your truest friends.

So, last but not least what does 2007 hold for you, and what projects can we look out for from Lawrence Pearce in the future?

Night Junkies will be released worldwide hopefully, and so all the people that have been waiting to see it will finally get their chance. For me, I’m frantically writing The Sandman and Night Junkies 2, and so naturally I’m hoping to put both into production during 2007. I’m expecting it to be a very creative year!

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