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Phil Stoole on Schneider's 2nd Stage
Short Shorts Film Festival 2002 |
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"I love the Japanese film 'Ring' . Ever since I can remember, I wanted to make films like that, that frighten you even after watched them," says Phil. His short film, "Schneider's 2nd Stage," starring Kenneth Branagh, marks his debut as writer, producer and director.
Phil has worked for Branagh for quite a while, first as his assistant and more recently as his stand-in (during production of the second "Harry Potter" film scheduled for release later this year). Branagh asked him early on what he really wants to do. "I told him I want to direct someday, and so he encouraged me to learn everything I could while working together." Then suddenly, one day, Branagh turned to him and said: "The Kenneth Branagh school ends here. It's your turn. Make your own film. And you can use me for one day." |
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While it was a great offer - who wouldn't work with Kenneth Branagh for a day? - Phil found himself in a frenzy. "Because of Ken's busy schedule, I had only twelve days before he was available for that one day. I had no idea what kind of story I was going to do. The first two or three days of that 12-day period were agonizing, to the point where I was thinking so hard about what I was going to do, I didn't sleep," Phil recalls. Then suddenly an idea - the idea for "Schneider's" - popped into his head, which he proposed to Ken, who liked the idea and suggested Phil move on it quickly. He spent the next few days meeting people and gathering his crew, while writing and re-writing the script at night. Phil is now working on a feature-length version of the same story.
Will Branagh appear in the feature-length version of "Schneider's"? Phil's not sure, although he says that Branagh has not had such a role in his career to date, and hopes the two will collaborate again. "It all depends on his schedule." Meanwhile, they continue to work together, and time permitting, Branagh reads Phil's work and offers him constructive advice. Will Phil, the director who has loved horror films since he was very young, try a different genre, such as comedy? "I wouldn't rule it out. Sure, I'd give it a try. It would definitely be a new challenge." But first things first. Phil is determined to complete his feature-length version of "Schneider's," then consider other projects. Phil has just finished the second draft. "Now I just need to find the money to do it." We asked Phil for his opinion on of this year's festival topics, whether there's a relationship between films and nationality: "Definitely. While a film's message is usually universal, each film often has a part of it that shows its country's unique culture, flavor."
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