About The Filmmaker

With his first few short films James Lees quickly established himself as one of the UK's brightest new filmmaking talents, picking up a string of prestigious international awards and being nominated for a European Film Academy Award. His films have been selected for the world's biggest independent film festival, the Sundance Film Festival, at festivals all over Europe and the States and as far afield as Mexico and Australia.

Off the back of these shorts James set up The Hobo Film Company and was signed by Warp Films. His first TV commercial garnered equal acclaim and controversy as it shocked the television viewing public up and down the nation and shook people’s stuffy perceptions of the BBC. He now regularly directs commercials and music videos and is working on various short and feature length projects.

Summary

What's in your pockets? Filmmaker James Lees asks Londoners to share what they're carrying in their pockets and what it means to them. Every object tells a story, revealing more than expected about its owner. From tiny treasures to the downright bizarre, the contents of Pockets provides a quick and charming social insight.

Questionaire

How long did it take to make from conception to completion?

I did not have long to come up with the idea and then see it through to completion. I think in total it was little more than a month. I think this is often a good thing though and working in this way is good training to make quick decisions - not what I am normally very good at! Though also it allows you to focus completely on the project and your mind is totally absorbed into the film, giving it the attention it needs.

How did you find your contributors?

First I worked out where the best locations to get a strong cross section of society would be. I knew I needed to film in a few of these to get a broad enough representation so after research and location recces selected two locations a day. Then on the two-day shoot I made sure I had some great AP’s and researchers to go out and find suitable people for me to select from. It is really important how you interact with your contributors and it is often different every time. You have to gauge quickly the best approach.

Where has the film been seen and how did it get there?

I was asked to put in a treatment for a Channel 4 and Britdoc collaboration wherein four new directors worked with music from four established composers. The treatment was selected and less than two months later it was screened at the Britdoc festival and on Channel 4 in the same week. Although it was a television commission and had already screened on TV I was able to still get it into many festivals internationally and it has enjoyed a great festival life for such a short short. It has also since sold to television in other territories.

What are you doing now?

After my third short I got signed to Warp Films and am now directing music videos and commercials. I really enjoy working in both those areas and to be represented by one of my favourite film companies is a real privilege. I am still very focused on the shorts and features and have shorts scripts and a feature in development. On the documentary side of things I am now developing a few very different longer form projects.