MobileMovieMaking: What made you decide to go into filmmaking?

Leach: Being an actor who’s working his way up the ladder you can have some lengthy gaps between gigs so I wanted to stay creative and when I realized my phone can film in 4K I began researching Smartphone Filmmaking. From there I discovered Filmic Pro which then left me with zero excuses to not make films. I’ve wanted to make films for a long time but it’s always felt financially out of reach. Now it couldn’t be easier.

MobileMovieMaking: How did you develop your filmmaking skills?

Leach: A huge part of my development has been from YouTube. It’s a fantastic and free way to learn. I can’t afford film school but there are so many amazing YouTube channels out there now that it’s a really accessible way to improve your skills. Learning on set is another area. You can watch every tutorial imaginable but until you actually get on your feet and make something you don’t properly develop anything. Also behind the scenes videos of Smartphone (and non Smartphone) films is an excellent tool. To see how something is created behind the camera is very useful too.

MobileMovieMaking: Are there any filmmakers who influenced you?

Leach: I saw “Parasite” at the cinema and that blew me away. Bong Joon-Ho’s vision is so crystal clear and the framing of his shots were so magnetic I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. Not to mention the performances were incredible. “Jurassic Park” was my first cinematic experience so Steven Spielberg will always be up there with his incredible storytelling.

MobileMovieMaking: How did you come up with the idea for “Caterpillar” ?

Leach: I have wanted to make a film in central London for a while now but for me it had to be something relatable too. Most of us had a 9-to-5 job that we’ve hated but that’s been a safe option. Leaving my own cafe job was scary as it had paid my bills for over six years. The excitement of leaving mixed with the fear of the unknown after the fact is the real roller coaster I wanted to explore on film and also I wanted to inspire people to take a chance on themselves.

MobileMovieMaking: Could you talk about your casting process?

Leach: It’s a funny story actually. Me and Andre worked together at the same dreaded cafe for 3 years! We actually became best friends and when he said yes to playing Jorge I was delighted!

MobileMovieMaking: What gear did you use?

Leach: My whole kit consisted of the Ulanzi U Rig Pro, Rode VideoMic Me, Moondog Labs ND filters, Sandmark flash drive, AOPOWA power bank and my iphone 6s. And Filmic Pro of course!

MobileMovieMaking: Why did you shoot on a phone rather than use a traditional camera?

Leach: For me the advantages come from how easily accessible our Smartphones are. We have them on our person 24/7 so that coupled with the cheaper costs is a massive bonus. I was able to fit all my equipment used for “Caterpillar” in my rucksack and even had room for lunch, so ease of portability is so helpful. The biggest disadvantages are a phone’s battery power and the lack of depth of field. Filmic Pro does a great job of changing that but ultimately a DSLR camera will always win in that area (for the time being at least).

MobileMovieMaking: How did you plan the shoot?

Leach:  Once I got a yes from Andre I wrote a few drafts of the script in 24 hours, made a shot list (which we changed on the day at a couple of points) and filmed it all within 5 hours. Storyboarding is something I definitely want to work on.

MobileMovieMaking: What about finding the locations?

Leach: Having a good knowledge up and down the South Bank of the River Thames meant I didn’t have to do much location scouting. City Hall is such a great location for Jorge’s workplace so I was really happy with those shots. I actually discovered the location under the wooden pier by accident and it ended up being my favourite location. It just suits that moment so well.

MobileMovieMaking: What’s your approach to directing?

Leach: I did my best to let Andre feel safe to make mistakes and trust his instincts without judgment. Before each take we had a brief moment to remind ourselves of what has just happened in the story and what the scene means to Jorge. After the first take I would give the odd note and we developed the performance further. It was such a fun experience working with Andre.

MobileMovieMaking: The soundtrack really adds a lot.

Leach: The pigeons—who clearly hadn’t read the script!— weren’t as vocal as I would have liked so I downloaded appropriate sounds from FreeSound.Org. In terms of atmos I just used what was there in the shots and added a sea or city atmos underneath that.

MobileMovieMaking: During the shoot did you encounter any unexpected problems?

Leach: Plenty! The first shot of the day didn’t go to plan. When we got to City Hall a man was mowing the lawn but it would not have made sense as he wasn’t in frame. We waited for about fifteen minutes to get him in frame but he then stopped completely so we grabbed the shot. I was actually going to shoot the first phone call on the pier itself but it was closed due to the pandemic so that’s when I noticed the underside was even better. A happy accident! Another location had one end occupied by a couple who seemed to be kissing for an eternity and the other side was being used by a few people filming a dance video. Bizarrely the guys filming were done first so we swooped in and filmed the last phone calls.

MobileMovieMaking: Can we talk about post production?

Leach: I used the free version of DaVinci Resolve for editing. It’s incredible what you can do there and it’s ideal for colour correction and grading.

MobileMovieMaking: Looking back, is there anything you’d have done differently?

Leach: As it was all filmed hand held I really wasn’t happy with how shaky some shots came out, but after stabilizing here and there it worked out. In hindsight I would have taken my OSMO Mobile 3 gimbal as the reveal shot of Jorge would have been so much easier to pull off and I wouldn’t have had to ditch a couple of reveals either.

MobileMovieMaking: Do you have any advice for filmmakers who are just starting out?

Leach: I would say binge watch Youtube channels for Smartphone Filmmaking and filmmaking in general and make a film now. Not next month or next year. Now. It could be about someone changing a lightbulb as long as it gets you practising framing/storytelling ect. Don’t listen to that doubting idiot in your head either. Failure is a part of success so learn to embrace it.

MobileMovieMaking: How can people learn more about your projects?

Leach: My YouTube channel is the best place to find my work. I aim to upload weekly videos on tips, accessories, Filmic Pro tutorials and of course my short films. You can also find me on Twitter.

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The editors of MobileMovieMaking have chosen “Caterpillar” as the Mobile Movie of the Week.