Lecturer Samm’s film success

Lecturer Samm Haillay is successfully combining a career as a film producer with lecturing. And he’s talent spotting here at the University.

Samm, 34, is a part-time lecturer in Television and Media Production here, and has produced the feature film ‘Better Things’ which received good reviews after the world premiere in International Critics Week at the recent Cannes Film Festival. It has also recently had its UK premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The part lottery and film4 funded feature was directed by Samm’s long-term collaborator Duane Hopkins. It explores the lives, loves and challenges faced by a group of young people and their extended families in a small rural community in the Cotswolds.

The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw wrote of the film: ‘It has a bold and brilliant insight at its heart.’

Samm is originally from North Wiltshire and has been involved in film production for ten years. He said: ‘As the producer I act as ‘the parent’ of the project, overseeing the writers, actors and directors and ensuring money is attached. We were one of only two British films to be selected for Cannes and I’m ecstatic with the film, it’s an extremely powerful romantic journey.

‘We finished the film at the end of last year and then you think about the politics and logistics of it. Now we think of the positive reception we got at Cannes, there was such a massive buzz, and over 1000 people saw it on the first day across three screenings. Cannes is a brilliant experience but also vital for this sort of film as it gives us a platform to present our work.’

The film will be on general release through Soda Pictures after screening at the London Film Festival in the autumn. For more information check the film’s website.

Samm is now developing three features for cinema with three directors, including Duane Hopkins. He added: ‘I’ve had very encouraging messages from the University’s students, they’re keen to find out more about how they can get their films out and I’m here to help them. I can bring my own experience to ensure the students are empowered and go on to fulfil their dreams, as we have done. I’m also not ashamed to say I’m talent spotting amongst them for directors of the future!”

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