How to swipe right on your first straight 8

This was your first straight 8 as a company. Why did you enter? What was the challenge for you guys?

In all honesty, sort of by accident! VCCP had a previous slot from 2020 which didn’t go ahead due to Covid so we had a delayed place to take on the unprecedented challenge of straight 8. 

Having only just launched Girl&Bear in the last year we were up for flexing our production muscles, to take on some of the production companies we commission day to day at the agency. 

How did you get the concept for the film? You’re an agency, so getting a good idea is easy, no?

George, our CD / Director, already had the idea kicking around as a potential short film he was thinking of shooting one day. When he saw the email about straight 8 he thought he would write it up properly and throw it into the mix at our initial brainstorming/pitch meeting. 

For us, one of the most refreshing things about the whole project is that it didn’t really develop much at all. No client feedback to contend with, no stakeholders, no clearcast, no legal teams, no tweaks or concerns from anyone.

George admitted “To be honest, I didn’t really read the email properly and didn’t fully understand the limitations of the competition and the camera when writing it. If I had, I might have made it a little easier on ourselves! Thankfully it all came together in the end and we managed to pull it off.” 

How was it developed (not literally)?

For us, one of the most refreshing things about the whole project is that it didn’t really develop much at all. No client feedback to contend with, no stakeholders, no clearcast, no legal teams, no tweaks or concerns from anyone. 

Together we figured out the best way to bring the story to life and a couple of weeks later we shot it. If only every project at the agency could be so straightforward! 

How was the shoot? How long did it take and were there any unforeseen issues?

The shoot was one day in a toilet in South London… albeit in the very lovely family home of our producer, Maddy. We’d ambitiously planned to shoot our dream sequences in slow motion using a Super 8 camera borrowed from a friend. We set up the first shot, took a collective deep breath, pulled the trigger and suddenly heard a bone-chilling *click*. The camera died on us before we’d even begun! 

Luckily, by pure chance, we had another camera that we’d previously disregarded because of its lack of slow-motion capabilities. Thankfully this one worked perfectly and we ditched the slo-mo… probably for the best considering the sound-syncing nightmare it would have presented. 

We set up the first shot, took a collective deep breath, pulled the trigger and suddenly heard a bone-chilling *click*. The camera died on us before we’d even begun! 

The rest of the shoot was one long adrenaline-pumping and anxiety-inducing experience. 

It makes you appreciate the ease of modern shoots and the luxury of saying “Let’s try that again”. 

Shooting someone on the loo is a pretty novel straight 8 narrative anchor. With one take for each cut… Were you ever worried you might show too much bum?

We tried our best to cover ourselves (literally) from any wardrobe malfunctions. But to be honest we couldn’t be sure of anything until seeing the film... 

Thankfully we avoided any embarrassing moments in Cannes!

Above: Behind the scenes on the shoot.

What were your feelings when you saw the film for the first time, in the screening? And winning Bronze?

We'd had little sleep from the Cannes shots party the night before (wink wink), and were probably still more hungover and nervous than we could care to admit...

Despite that, nothing beats that feeling of seeing your film for the first time on the big screen. 

Nothing beats that feeling of seeing your film for the first time on the big screen. 

People were laughing at the right moments and there wasn’t a blank picture so that was all the success we were hoping for. 

Winning the bronze award was just the icing on the cake and the perfect round-off to an amazing experience. 

What top tips could you give anyone who’s thinking of making a straight 8?

Do it! It’s unlike any other shooting experience you’re likely to have and it’s an incredible creative challenge. Just make sure to prep before each shot and pray it turns out alright!

Are you going to enter again in the future?

Definitely! 

Hopefully, we’ve encouraged enough people at VCCP that we will have a whole crop of new ideas for this year's. 

See you there!