Lottie Graham and Sophie Thackray

Name: Lottie Graham, Sophie Thackray

Year: 2nd

Course: (Lottie) English Literature, (Sophie) Film Studies

These two girls are the Co-Presidents of Film Society this year. Lottie previously studied Screenwriting at the New York Film Academy and Cinematography at London Film School. Sophie worked as a runner for ‘Fast and Furious’ but is ultimately more interested in documentary making and hopes to go to the National Film and Television School after Exeter.

Can you tell us a bit about Film Soc?

In Film Soc, we well.. love films! We also get together to make our own, we’ve just finished filming for the Exeter Phoenix 48 Film Challenge, and have been short listed as finalists! We also have workshops, learning about practical filmmaking, screenwriting and theoretical aspects of film. Our up coming event is a talk from the visual effects director John Paul Docherty, he’s had some amazing experiences and worked on the recent ‘James Bonds’, ‘My Week With Marylin’,‘Tomb Raider’, etc; so we’re pretty excited about his talk on the 9th! We aim to provide as much opportunity for students to get involved with film, whether that’s entering competitions, learning about the industry or dressing up as our favourite film characters.. we try to do as much as possible.

Anything exciting coming up for next year?

We are combining with French Society for a Cannes esque Film Festival; French food, French cinema and we’ll showcase some of our own work. The screenwriting competition deadline is on the 18th January and we’ll be entering more festivals next term and hopefully be able to show all of Film Soc’s work at the end of the year.

Why should people get involved?

We help get people’s work out there, if they’ve got a script or project idea, we’ll find a festival and people to help get it made. It’s great socially to meet likeminded people who want to be future Directors, Producers, Screenwriters etc.

You’re both film buffs, what are your favourite films?

Lottie: It changes! And I have favourite films and favourite screenplays. I think my favourite screenplays are; ‘Beginners’, ‘Thelma and Louise’, ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. My favourite film at the moment is ‘Leviathan’. It’s this silent documentary on fishing, but there are some really weird and interesting shots, it’s mesmerising! And I love ‘The Untouchables’, such a great film.

Sophie: There are so many films which I admire and value for many different reasons, In terms of British directors, I think Shane Meadows is particularly remarkable , especially his 2006 film ” This Is England”. It’s rare to come across a film that’s simultaneously visceral and tender. Similarly I am a big fan of “Fight Club”, I cant seem get enough of Fincher. Chaplins ‘City Lights” however, remains probably on of the most poignant and iconic classics for me, if you haven’t seen it, watch it!

Finally, what films of this year do you think we should be watching?

Watch ‘Leviathan’, ‘Gravity’, ‘Blue Jasmine’, ‘Blue is the Warmest Colour’; and they have some great films on at the Picture House fortnightly on a Monday.