Diff 2015: ‘Notting Hill’ director on how to save money on movies

It sounds like a no-brainer, but casting lesser-known actors and actresses is one of the best ways of keeping a filmmaking budget low.

Roger Michell should know – he’s worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Julia Roberts in his film Notting Hill.

Speaking at the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) Dubai Film Market on December 11 at The Director’s Chair, a forum on direction, casting, funding, budgeting, and relationships with producers, he said that one of the causes of funding and budgeting problems is the preference of big studios to cast famous actors and actresses. “We get the script, we cast it, we work out the budget as low as possible, only then we start to find sources for fund[s],” said Michell on his solution.

Michell explained the process of filmmaking, with respect to each of his films, starting with Notting Hill, his breakthrough project, to his latest TV mini-series, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies. The panel was moderated by Simon Field of Illuminations Films and a clip from his major works was played before the discussion.

Michell said that as opposed to working independently, working for a big studio is taking on a huge responsibility; it’s becoming a “part of the money-making machine.”

The Dubai Film Market runs alongside Diff, which continues until December 16.

– Diyab Basheer is a Nolanite (obesessive fan of director Christopher Nolan), exploring the world of film through student journalism before making his big movie. He is one of the UAE-based students taking part in the Diff-tabloid! Young Journalist Award programme.