Road

I met up with David Mullet recently. He is a director I worked with throughout his RCA (Royal College of Art) years. He is now signed to RSA (Ridley Scott Associates). It's a top production company that as an up coming director, one wants to be working for. I once knew such a director called David Slade. He was and still is, a small quiet guy. When we met he was doing £5000 videos at the time. He moved on. 7 years later, he went to South Africa to shoot Rob Dougan's, 'Clubbed to Death' that cost £100,000. It is one of the best videos I have ever seen. Even now. So far, he has shot features, 'Hard Candy' and '30 Days of Night'.

He was my best friend's partner. Who he subsequently left in a cowardly fashion after 10 years of being together. It was a dramatic moment of 'our' times as they were the couple that seemed destined to be together. That was only 6 years ago. How life changes so quickly.

David Slade spent 7 years shooting for various production companies before he got to RSA. He didn't drink, he didn't smoke, he barely had any friends. He would shoot photographs and write endless treatments. He showed me his sketchbooks and lomo photographs. Both him and my best friend inspired me enough to reslise that one could make it in the film industry or at least getting paid to do what you love. For that, I cannot fault him for.

After 6 years of doing doing Cinematography, I am still chugging along and doing ok, not great, but i cannot complain. I shoot music videos and corporates and features, budgets ranging from £2000- 30,000. I do have other preoccupations and life goals. And the next step is only a beat away.

At some point in time, David let go of what seemingly was the most important thing in his life- the love and support of my dearest friend- and left to LA, never to return. He now has child and a seemingly promisng career.

I feel I am coming to a point where my decisions are going to be pivotal to development and road as a person. Not only do we follow our hearts at such times, but we must consider the significant other people in our lives who made everything you are today, possible. I don't believe in sacrificing for film anymore. Life comes first. You have to ask yourself why would you...

- J