Dan Pringle (Film Writer / Director): From Satire to Soul Searching - Independent Filmmaking in BCP

Success on the South Coast

Success on the South Coast is all about showcasing interesting people doing amazing things in the local community.

My guest for episode #14 is Dan Pringle, the Bournemouth-based Film Writer & Director.

Dan’s latest feature, the philosophical thriller DIE BEFORE YOU DIE recently landed on streaming platforms…

However, I wanted to dig into his backstory and find out how he made his award-winning debut K-SHOP, a hard-hitting satire on binge drinking culture…

Dan takes us through his journey, offering his valuable insights into independent filmmaking, while sharing loads of great advice for aspiring filmmakers.

Dan also recently helped setup and launch the BCP Film Office, and he gives his thoughts on how this new “centre of gravity” could be a game-changer for the region.

- - - CHAPTERS - - -

00:00:00 - Intro ("A sunny new podcast...")
00:00:26 - Guest Intro
00:02:07 - Welcome…
00:02:55 - Where Dan's love of Storytelling came from…
00:04:23 - Dan's earliest memories of movies & cinema
00:06:00 - Cinema as a spiritual place
00:07:00 - Dan's backstory & growing up near Elstree Film Studios
00:08:02 - Family history working in film
00:08:52 - Growing up 'round the corner from Kubrick's house
00:09:13 - How Dan's Dad mislaid a reel of Clockwork Orange
00:10:47 - Dan's move to Bournemouth - studying TV Production at BU
00:12:01 - Dan's view of success following completion of his course at 22…
00:13:42 - K-SHOP, Dan's debut feature film: "Sweeney Todd in a kebab shop"
00:15:51 - The inspiration for K-SHOP
00:19:57 - The million dollar Q: how Dan managed to make a feature film!
00:26:06 - Independent film sector vs Studio System vs Streaming
00:27:07 - How Dan met his Production partner, Adam J. Merrifield at White Lantern Films
00:28:55 - Casting K-SHOP & nominations for the 'British Independent Film Awards'
00:31:20 - Discovering Ziad Abaza, the lead actor of K-SHOP
00:33:13 - The audition process & the filmmaking moments you live for!
00:34:05 - The strength of K-SHOP's supporting cast & how Dan found them
00:37:36 - The Premiere and seeing K-SHOP up on the BIG screen around the world!
00:40:34 - Looking back at K-SHOP 8 years later… and how Dan has evolved
00:42:02 - Shooting K-SHOP across Bournemouth & beyond…
00:43:05 - Why K-SHOP was shot in Bournemouth
00:44:35 - The pros of working in the local BCP filmmaking community
00:47:37 - The challenges of working in the local BCP filmmaking community
00:48:46 - Dan's advice for aspiring filmmakers
00:49:30 - Importance of exploiting the resources and telling stories relevant to BCP
00:51:31 - Shooting 200+ locations for the BCP Film Office location directory
00:52:48 - Uncovering hidden locations in BCP: eclectic locations that surprised Dan
00:55:01 - The future evolution of the Bournemouth filmmaking community
00:57:51 - How the BCP Film Office provides a "centre of gravity" for the local scene
00:59:02 - DIE BEFORE YOU DIE - synopsis: a "philosophical drama"
01:00:40 - Teaming up again with Ziad… and co-writing the script together
01:02:27 - The shorthand Dan & Ziad's relationship Importance of having people you can trust in your corner.
01:04:56 - Working with local actors, such as Laurent C. Lucas (who stars as Ibrahim)
01:06:50 - A potential "Ziad trilogy"?
01:08:06 - Dan's next feature film project in development…
01:09:33 - What is happiness?
01:12:33 - Film recommendations: DEAD MAN SHOES (1996) and PERFECT DAYS (2023)
01:16:16 - What is success? Following Dan's "official recalibration": "Be a person of intrinsic value"
01:19:33 - Buddhist wisdom and talking philosophy with Dr. Ziad
01:22:10 - Life by Misadventure - We aren't the bad guys in each others stories
01:27:06 - Learning through World Cinema: understanding the Human Condition
01:28:52 - Thank you, guest links & wrap-up

GUEST Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-pringle-1b8142283
• Website: https://www.danpringle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danvspringle

• White Lantern Film: https://www.whitelantern.film
• Bulldog Film Distribution: https://www.bulldog-film.com

SUCCESS ON THE SOUTH COAST Links:

YouTube is our primary platform, but Success on the South Coast is also available on all your favourite streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts etc)!

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successonthesouthcoast
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xo4ByqAqUlp7UHYOeBjWM
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/success-on-the-south-coast/id1760075408
• YouTube Music/Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCOvHz8DkSa5PSX5yKCMCmHffqzMjYz-K

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/successonthesouthcoast
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successonthesouthcoast
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/success-on-the-south-coast

#DanPringle
#KSHOP
#DieBeforeYouDie
#ZiadAbaza
#LaurentCLucas
#WhiteLanternFilm
#BulldogFilmDistribution
#BCPFilmOffice
#BCPFilmProduction
#Bournemouth
#Christchurch
#Poole
#FilmDirector
#SuccessOnTheSouthCoast
#SouthCoastSuperstar
#SotSC
#Happiness

INTRO MUSIC: 'Generator' by CALL ME ANIMAL.

If you like the sound of it, check out 'Arron Sans' (the singer/songwriter) at https://www.arronsans.com or https://www.instagram.com/arronsans.