We talk to Bex Bradshaw, the Canadian filmmaker about her crazy interesting short film thriller 360 Seconds. We also collaborated with Producer Stephanie Bignault and Ladykiller Sydney Sainté, be sure to check out their interviews.
indieactivity: Bex, give a little background on yourself?
Bex Bradshaw (BB): Well, I was born in Toronto, Canada on a freezing cold winter night the same year Guns N’ Roses would release their masterpiece album “Appetite for Destruction”. The moment I burst from my mother’s womb I remember having two thoughts. The first – “Goddamn, it’s freezing in here!” and the second “I think I’m going to be a filmmaker.” So it’s not by chance that thirty or so years later I would end up in LA. The very first movie I can remember falling in love with as a child, solidifying my initial instincts of wanting to be a filmmaker, was From Dusk ‘Til Dawn. I think it was that dance Salma Hayek did with the snake that got me hooked. I thought it was the coolest movie in the world. I still do by the way. And ever since I’ve been on a mission to make badass movies that would make the nineties proud.
indieactivity: I’m sure there are a lot, but what are 3 films that inspired you to be a director?
Bex Bradshaw (BB): True Romance (1993) a Crime/Romance film by Tony Scott, Training Day (2001) a Crime/Thriller by Antoine Fuqua, and The Ice Storm (1997) a Drama by Ang Lee.
The Official Trailer | 360 Seconds is written and directed by Bex Bradshaw, produced by Stephanie Bignault and stars Sydney Sainté as Ladykiller
indieactivity: Why filmmaking and screenwriting? Why did you get into it?
Bex Bradshaw (BB): I started making films when I was really young, 10 or 11, with one of those big clunky nineties cameras my dad bought for our family vacations. I would make my cousins and friends star in little movies, music videos, fake commercials… whatever I could think up. I’ve always had a wild imagination and film is the perfect outlet for it. There is nothing I enjoy more than taking a seed of an idea and seeing it through to completion.
Talk to us about your concept of collaboration?
BB: Collaboration is everything! I think it’s crucial to surround yourself with people who are not only talented and creative but also enthusiastic about the project you’re working on together. Someone, whether that’s the DP, art director, producer, actor, whoever might take your idea to places you never even imagined and I think it’s important to always be open to that possibility. Be approachable and open-minded. That’s my philosophy, anyway. 360 Seconds is a perfect example of collaboration at its best. Take any one piece of the puzzle away and the film wouldn’t have turned out as awesome as I think it did.
What uniqueness do female directors/filmmakers bring to filmmaking?
BB: We bring a different perspective. A fresh perspective, if you will. If you do a quick google search, you’ll see that female directors still make up a tiny percentage of the Hollywood pool, sadly. I can’t speak for all
women, nor would I want to, but I know I approach all my characters with compassion and sensitivity that comes from my experience growing up as a woman. Our experience can’t help but bleed into our filmmaking.
When you are offered a project, what things do you put in place to deliver a good job?
BB: I haven’t been offered anything yet, I’ve self-produced all my films, but hey! Here’s to hoping there’s an offer on the table soon.
How do you find the process of filmmaking as an indie filmmaker?
BB: I love it. I look at it as a challenge. Seeing what you’re able to accomplish on such small (sometimes non-existent) budgets. People are hungry, eager to prove themselves in the indie world. It’s a wonderful energy to be around. We all had a blast working on 360 Seconds. The vibe on the set was great. Despite most of us only having met each other the day of shooting, it felt very much like a family.
What Inspired the script for 360 Seconds?
BB: This is a fun story. I actually met Sydney when a friend brought her to a table read for one of my feature scripts. She was reading for a few minor characters and when her turn came around my jaw dropped to the floor and I thought “damn, who the hell is this?” She was so captivating. I knew I had to work with her before she blew up and became unlisted and unreachable. So the next day I started brainstorming ideas for 360 Seconds, wrote the script in a week, and emailed it to her begging and pleading for her to be in it. Luckily for me, she agreed.
What do you hope audiences will get from the presentation of your film?
BB: A good, entertaining time! I believe great films are made in the details. There’s a lot going on in this short that you won’t pick up the first watch, especially thematically. I want people to have fun with it. I left a lot of Easter eggs in there for people to find.
What are your future goals?
BB: I hope to continue making films that people enjoy and one day, hopefully, make money while doing it. I would also love the opportunity to turn 360 Seconds into a feature film.
Any last words?
BB: Thank you for having us, IndieActivity! And go stream 360 Seconds
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