Every month Brave Island runs a Young Creative of the Month fund, where we spotlight a local young creative with an interview on our blog, and support them with funding of £100. For October, it’s Filmmaker Daniel Pressey. This fund launches at the beginning of every month, you can apply to be Young Creative of the Month for November here.
Please can you tell us about your creative practice?
I am a filmmaker, screenwriter and digital content creator currently studying BA Film Production at University. Whilst I specialise in Editing and Post-Production, I have a strong passion for screenwriting and directing, as well as film marketing and journalism. Aside from my academic work, I create independent short films, as well as YouTube videos and online content around film and television, analysing the medium and highlighting new releases.
What or who inspired you to get into Filmmaking?
When I was around 14, I was introduced by a friend to the films of British director Edgar Wright, namely Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007). His films sparked my love for the medium through his distinct filmmaking style and his small-town rural British roots that are both humorously and affectionately reflected throughout his filmography, which being an Islander, resonated with me enormously. I subsequently made the decision to pursue Film Studies, firstly at GCSE, then A-Level, and onwards further to studying Film Production at Arts University Bournemouth – the same institution Edgar Wright once attended – in which I am currently enrolled in my third year of study. During this time, I have managed to become an Avid Certified Media Composer Specialist (the leading post-production software used within the industry) and received a Special Recognition Award for Attainment in Film Studies in 2017.
Being from the Isle of Wight, I also find the success of IOW natives within the filmindustry extremely inspiring, with notable names such as Anthony Minghella, Suri Krishnamma and Donna Langley being a constant source of encouragement that it is possible to come from the island and achieve success in the film industry. This affirmation was solidified even further when I discovered that Donna Langley (Chairman of Universal Studios) attended my high school and Suri Krishnamma (Director) enrolled in the same university course as me.
Can you tell us about an upcoming project you’re excited about?
I am currently in post-production on my most recent project ‘How to Bury Your Boyfriend’, an experimental short film shot on the island depicting the bloody aftermath of a troubled relationship. I am expecting to complete the film by the end of October and will upload it to my short film production company social channels.
Where can people find your work if they’d like to support you?
For my filmmaking output, I have founded an independent short film production
company titled Press Play Pictures, and you can follow it @PressPlayPicturesOfficial
on YouTube and Instagram.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PressPlayPicturesOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pressplaypicturesofficial/
For my film-related digital content, you can subscribe to my YouTube and follow me
on TikTok @danielpressey.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielpressey
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danielpressey
