Horror has long been a popular and creative genre. Originally called “spook tales,” one of the earliest examples of the horror picture—”Le Squelette Joyeux”—was created by the Lumière brothers in 1895. With his prizewinning  “Clickbait,” British filmmaker Ryan Phillips demonstrates that the genre is as fresh and exciting as it’s ever been. In the interview following the movie, Phillips offers very practical advice for making high-quality movies on shoestring budgets.

Interview with Ryan Phillips

MMM: How did you develop your filmmaking skills?

Phillips: I studied film at the University of Southampton, where we were tutored by the director Ken Russell on our final-year films. It was a great experience that introduced me to films and filmmakers I wouldn’t have found on my own. But it didn’t really teach the practicalities of film-making. The best way to learn that and develop your own style is to go out into the world and shoot your own movies. For exploring new kit, techniques, and special effects I use great filmmaking tutorials like Film Riot, Rocketjump and Video Copilot.

MMM: Have filmmakers influenced you?

Phillips: There are loads of filmmakers working in many different genres, too many to list. For “Clickbait” I drew upon my love of John Carpenter and David Cronenberg. (Watch out for the “Videodrome” Easter Eggs!) I love how Carpenter can you make you laugh one minute, then scare the living crap out of you the next.

MMM: And Cronenberg?

Phillips: Cronenberg doesn’t baby his audience by spelling everything out. There is always some ambiguity. The unknown makes things more horrific.

MMM: Coming up with a new idea for a horror picture has to be a challenge.

Phillips: After seeing “Tangerine,” I wanted to shoot on a mobile phone. I also wanted to push my After Effects skills and master more advanced special effects. Then, while trying to think of an idea, I was playing with my phone and got drawn in by some clickbait that a friend had posted on social media. I was angry with my self for wasting of time when suddenly, pop, the idea for “Clickbait” was born.

MMM: How did you plan the shoot?

Phillips: I always have a tight script, a shot list, and storyboards. I even do special effects tests to make sure I am getting all the coverage I need on the day of the shoot. On set if I feel it’s right, I will improvise with the actors and the shot list in response to what’s happening. But you need a plan in order to alter the plan. Starting with a well-drawn-out plan of what I need to do gives me the confidence on set to make the right calls even if they weren’t in the original plan.

MMM: What was your casting process like?

Phillips: We did a casting call and we recorded the auditions. I always do this to get a feel for the talent in person, plus I want  to see how they come across on screen. I can also cut them together with other cast members auditions to see if they feel right. It’s a strange chemistry. Sometimes seeing someone perform in the flesh is not the same as seeing them doing the same performance on the screen. I would advise that you always screen test if you haven’t worked with an actor before.

MMM: Could you talk about your directing method?

Phillips: The first thing that I do after I have cast a film is try and merge the character and the actor. We tweaked the dialogue to reflect some of the improvisation Lee did during our casting so it felt more natural for him. Then I gave him and Charlotte a sheet each of backstory for their characters so they knew their relationship before the film even began. Then on set I talk to the actors about how their characters feel when I direct them, “She is annoying you.” “You think he’s a dickhead.” I also let the actors have input and try things out. The most important thing is that they feel that they can trust you. Also, if you can, it’s best to pay them. As our shoot was only a half day, we had the budget to pay half day at the minimum wage for our cast and crew of  people.

MMM: Could you explain how you created the clickbait website as seen on the phone?

Phillips: I visited various clickbait sites like BuzzFeed to see how they build their pages to get maximum attention. The eye is a big theme in “Clickbait” so I came up with the name Eye Porn as a name for the website and settled on the bold red and green font as it was the most eye catching.

MMM: The special effects definitely added to the impact.

Phillips: Because I wanted to develop my After Effects skills, I included effects in every shot of “Clickbait.” All the tablet screen shots were composited on in post. Every shot has the background cut out and blurred to give depth of field. There is even a throw focus and a contra-zoom, which were built in After Effects. And those are the effects you don’t notice. The big special effects that you do notice are the push through the window at the beginning and the clickbait ghouls. It was very time consuming as I was working alone, but really satisfying when it all came together. I recommend every filmmaker do it as it gives you the tools to get the best out of your special effects on set and in post.

MMM: Why did you decide to shoot the movie using a phone rather than a traditional camera?

Phillips: I thought “Tangerine” looked so good you’re not thinking that it was shot on an iPhone. You’re just drawn into the movie. The clear benefits were cost. Shorts rarely return their budget (only one of mine “Blood and Chips” has made a profit) so you want to play with money you can afford to lose and most people already have a phone.

MMM: Any limitations in shooting with the phone?

Phillips: Performance in low light, although this is improving in every new model.  We lit with tungsten very close to the actors to get the right exposure and shutter speed, so it was a very hot set.

MMM: What other gear did you use?

Phillips: I swear by the Moondog Labs lens and the DJI Osmo is a must for any mobile filmmaker. The lens makes the image look so cinematic and the Osmo gives you so many was to move the camera smoothly. Also FiLMiC Pro to get control of the image so it’s a clean as possible. We used Filmic Remote on some shots so I could use it as a monitor.

MMM: During the production did you encounter any unexpected problem?

Phillips: I had to cut some dialogue that didn’t work as well as it did on the page and was slowing things down. Even with the best laid plans some things just don’t work on the day. The key to solving problems like this is by making sure you shoot enough coverage.

MMM: What about the soundtrack?

Phillips: Because Lee Miller, my usual composer, was busy on another project, I gave Filmstro a try. It’s a software plug-in that gives you library music which you can alter to fit your film. You can adjust the speed, intensity and depth of the track you select so that it scores your film. It worked really well for this project.

MMM: How long did the production take?

Phillips: The film took about 10 months from script to screen mainly because I was doing most of the work on it—writer, director, editor, special effects & soundtrack!— on evenings while juggling a full-time job as a television director and father. If I didn’t have Merra my producer helping me, it would have taken even longer! I find you need to take a break between each role (changing hats as I call it) to get distance and objectivity. As the the director you might cut some of the dialogue you loved as a writer. Then as an editor you might drop the most beautiful, hard to get shot because it doesn’t move things forward. You need to be objective to make these choices.

MMM:  Is there anything else you’d like to share about “Clickbait”?

Phillips: I play Prof. Ryan O’blivion, the digital philosopher on the television screen seen in “Clickbait.” If you listen to what my character is saying, you might get a greater insight into the film.

MMM: How has the movie been received?

Phillips: We had a successful festival run in the UK, across Europe, in Australia and North America. Highlights included punching above its weight at the BAFTA accredited London Short Film Festival, a screening at the SF3 Festival and winning the horror award at the Smartphilm Festival.

MMM: Can you give us a hint about your next movie?

Phillips: I’m writing a horror/comedy feature called “The Pack” whilst planning my next short “The Quarry,” also to be shot on iPhone but with added drones!

MMM: How can readers keep up with your work?

Phillips: On my website you can see my other movies. I’m on Twitter.   If anyone has questions, they can hit me up there.

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The editors of MobileMovieMaking Magazine have chosen “Clickbait” as a Mobile Movie of the Week.