Fox&Squirrel: First thing first, what do you do?
George Hamilton: I produce, direct and do a bit of writing...
George Hamilton: I produce, direct and do a bit of writing...
F&S: What is Sentinel Productions?
G.H.: Sentinel Productions is a small production company that I set up and run with Lucy Patrick Ward (no hyphen in the name or she will kill me!) We have made a number of short films, and narrative fiction is our driving passion. We have also now moved into music videos, live gigs,we are shooting a bit of fashion and we are dabbling in the corporate pool also...
And to comply to the social media frenzy you can find us on facebook and follow us on twitter under SentinelPro.
F&S: You sound busy?
G.H.: Yes we are. Lucy and I both moved back from New York after three years and have re-launched Sentinel over in the UK. It has been a very exciting year so far and we have a lot of cool things happening.
F&S: So what shall we be watching out for?
G.H.: Well our latest short film 'The Reward' is just finishing up after a final sound mix... Have a a look at the trailer.
'THE REWARD' Trailer HD from Sentinel Productions on Vimeo.
F&S: You produced this?
G.H.:That is right. I produced it and Lucy directed it. It was a great short and Lucy did such a wonderful job, it is a lovely film. It was written by the playwright Joel Horwood when he was out in New York and so although in every way a New York film, the two leads, writer, director and producer were all English, which gives it a very interesting perspective.
F&S: Who were your cast?
G.H. Anatol Yusef plays Felix and Phoebe Waller- Bridge plays Charlotte. Both of whom are astounding actors.
F&S: Where are they and what are they up to at the moment?
G.H.: Anatol lives out in New York and is just in the process of finishing up shooting Scorcese’s new HBO drama ‘Boardwalk Empire’ playing Meyer Lansky (not to mention running his own theater company Fixitsolife).Phoebe lives in London and seems to be going from one great theater production to the next, as well running the innovative DryWrite [The Reward was produced in association with DryWrite]
F&S: And what has been happening with your previous films?
G.H.: It’s very exciting actually, as they are being screened at a few festivals…HomeTown was the first short I directed, is screening at the Swansea Bay International Film Festival on Wednesday May 12th and is also nominated for the ‘Best Film Under 20 mins, USA’. Then ‘Meeting Mr.Tiller’which Lucy Directed just screened at the Los Angles Women’s International festival and is being screened at Swansea in May too. Also Alejandro Sescosse’s Heartland [George & Lucy were the Producers] went to Cannes last year…You can see trailers for these on the Sentinel Productions website.Next month we will be hosting a screening for The Reward and we also might be having a collaborative screening/exhibition in London soon with a photographer who has been doing work in the rust belt, at which ‘HomeTown’ will be screened alongside his work.
F&S: What is the next film you are going to direct?
G. H.: It is another short film called Corner Shop.Lucy and I have just finished writing it.
F&S: What is it about?
G.H.:Well… it is about an encounter in a corner shop where a man at the end of his tether snaps and a conflict arises with the shop owner. It is attempting to explore and touch on the effect of Britain’s current social economic situation tieing in with the realities of day-to-day racism (and the form it mostly takes). Perhaps most importantly, (we hope) it examines the connection or understanding that is, as often as it is not, able to be formed across divisions of age, race etc by a collective humanity and the ability of a wiser emotional maturity to resolve, embrace, pacify and understand the more violent, panicked elements brought out in us when the world feels like it is crushing us… wow, that sounds wanky doesn’t it but I guess I don’t want to give the actual story away so that is what it is about in the loosest, thematic terms.. sorry about that, another crystal clear answer…
You Said you are also doing music videos?Yes we shot a video for the 'Popes of Chillitown' last month, which is in post as we speak and we have started collaborating with 'The Correspondents' which has also been great.So far we have shot some live and documentary style material and the rest will be coming soon. The Correspondents Teaser... from Sentinel Productions on Vimeo.
F&S: The Correspondents are the latest music craze. How did you get involved with them?
G.H.: Well I used to know Mr.Bruce a while back when he performed at a music event I used to run years ago. Then I was out in New York and Lucy got forwarded a video of their’s and forwarded it to me and I thought this is really cool but then I was like ‘hold on… I know him!’. So when I got back from New York, I got in contact and we have started collaborating on some things….
F&S: What is next with them then?
G.H.: Exciting things!
F&S: How about any other bands? Who would like to work with?
G.H.: Well anyone who is interesting and really saying something or coming from a new angle that is interesting. We would love to do something with Frank Turner, Mumford and Sons, Jakwob…
F&S: Would you mind buying me a another beer?
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