SELF-FUNDED HULL FILMMAKER TO SCREEN LATEST FILM AT VUE CINEMA

'Hustle & Cuss' is the third feature film from Hull filmmaker Jack Grewar, which follows a group of creatives over the chaotic week leading up to the premiere of their play. The film was shot over 8 days in Hull, by Hull's award winning film production company Astor Productions, with the Adelphi serving as it's main location. The eclectic cast originate from Hull, Sheffield, New York and LA. Following a short theatrical and festival run, the film will be available to stream online next year. 

Jack Grewar, filmmaker.

INTERVIEW: Emily Lidgard spoke to Jack to hear all about his latest creation…

Could you tell us a bit more about your upcoming film?

It's called Hustle and Cuss, and it's a comedy which follows a struggling playwright over a chaotic week leading up to her opening night. There’s also a love story running through it, which explores the strain being creative has on a relationship. There’s also a crime sub plot, which adds some comic value.

There are some nice moments in the film when it slows down but in general, it’s quite fast-paced, a lot is going on. The characters are fast-talking and they’re always up to no good. The quick pace reflects not only the script but the way that we had to make it. 

Where was the film shot?

80% of the film was shot in the Adelphi which works because the majority of the story is about this group of actors. It's about their rehearsal time in the week leading up to the play.  

Because I didn't have any money, I thought I need to try and keep the story condensed in one location. I've got a mutual friend with the guy that owns the Adelphi and he gave me a decent price. He let me have it for eight full days.

We planned the shoot to within an inch of its life and we actually shot the film in Adelphi over seven days and then we had a couple of other locations for small scenes in the HU5 area. We kept it all in that neighbourhood. We just got it done. It was a stressful week.  

A scene shot in The Adelphi Club

How did you come up with the idea? What was your inspiration?

I wrote it fast last December in about 10 days, and then in January I started getting the team together. I saved up a few grand, and then we filmed it in June over eight days. 

The whole idea for this film and this story came from the fact that I've been developing a US based drama for over two years. It’s got a couple of decent actors attached to it and a million-dollar budget. For me, it's a huge thing. I've been back and forth to the States, developing it for years. Everything just takes so long and I'm constantly having meetings. Everything's getting pushed back and it just gets so frustrating. 

After two years, I thought to myself, all I’ve been doing is begging for money, going to meetings, and not really getting anywhere. There’s nothing really creative about developing a film project. It’s just hustling, begging and looking for a bit of luck. 

It got to a point where I thought, fuck it, I’m just going to make a micro-budget film; I’m going to get my friends together and I’m just going to make a film about what I’ve been going through - it’s quite meta. But it’s been fun because most of the actors I’ve worked with before. Everyone’s kind of enjoyed the project because it’s about us, it’s about struggling artists. That’s why I managed to get the cast and crew together really quickly. 

Over the years I've developed good relationships with actors and crew in Hull. Even for this project, a friend of mine from LA flew out to Hull just to be in this film. She liked the script, and the idea of a bunch of artists trying to do something constructive under the pressure, faced with all these obstacles and barriers.

You’re screening it in VUE cinemas. What made you choose to screen it in a cinema?

I've been going to the cinema since I've been a kid so that's why I've always tried to get my films on the big screen. My independent filmmaker friends will just hire a venue with a decent screen and get a few chairs down. But I prefer going to a proper cinema with proper seats with popcorn and trailers.  

It’s predominantly for the cast and crew. It’s crazy how many projects actors and crew work on that don’t see the light of day. For example, the sound guy in this film worked on a project before mine and it just got scrapped. He got paid for it, shot the full film and then it never got released and no one knows why. I just feel sorry for everyone involved. When you’re making a film - whether you’re an actor, crew, just come in for a day to help out - it’s hard work. You’ve got to give it your all. For nothing to come of that – to not even get to see the film – it's just fucking mad. That’s why I always try and organise at least one decent screening. To see your work on the big screen, they’re going to get something back.

Were you inspired by any other films?

Birdman. I mean, I wish it was as good as Birdman. But Birdman follows this group of actors and characters. And it’s building up to their big opening night. I guess initially that’s probably where the idea came from. 

Some of my favourite films are films like Pulp Fiction and Inherent Vice with Joaquin Phoenix. They’re kind of films where you’re just hanging out with the characters. That’s what I wanted to do with this. Even though there’s a chaotic element to it, I just wanted to feel like we were just hanging out with these guys and seeing what they’re getting up to. 

How involved in the project were you? What was production like?

I wrote, produced, directed and edited it. I didn’t physically film it and our crew was very small. On all my own films, I’ve always kept a tight crew. I’ve worked on other projects with massive crews and it’s mad because you’re on set and there’s like a hundred people there and seventy of them are doing nothing. On a couple of the busy days, we drafted some extra help, but it was predominantly just a small crew. There’s a few of us and we get the job done between us. 

I prefer it as well because a lot of film sets can get quite intense and claustrophobic, especially if you’re filming indoors. Adelphi is tiny and there were only four of us and even then, it felt busy just with us. 

I’ve always worked on independent projects where everyone’s mucked in and get the job done – no egos, just whatever works best for the film.

What’s the next step after screening ‘Hustle and Cuss’?

I’m going to focus on getting it distributed. I’d like to get it on an accessible streaming platform. My last film ‘Low Rollers’ is on Amazon Prime – the only thing with that is you’ve got to pay for it. I wanted it on there for free but Prime wouldn’t agree as it didn’t have any bankable stars.

I’ve got two Americans in ‘Hustle & Cuss’ too, so they’re going to push it Stateside. It’s going to be more accessible to an American audience. ‘Low Rollers’ was a crime comedy based in Hull, all English actors, most of them were from Hull and it struggled in America because they didn’t understand all the humour and the accent! ‘Hustle & Cuss’ has got a different vibe to it. Hopefully, I can get it distributed and get it out there for everyone to see – for free. 

TRAILER

Do you have any advice for aspiring filmmakers?

I don’t feel like I’m in a position to offer advice because I’m not where I want to be. But I’ve made a lot of films and I think the bottom line is you just need to go out there and make something. I’ve never done it but you can make a film on your iPhone. Everyone’s got an iPhone. You could go out today with your friends and just shoot a little story. You can get creative with it, and you can make it look cool. You’ve got to put the effort and planning into it. 

But I think the bottom line is you just need to go out there and make stuff. Or if you’re a writer, just write stuff and get it out there. I know that many talented writers that write stuff and it just stays on their laptop forever and they don’t know what to do with it. I’m like, ‘Fuck that, get it out there.’ Send it to your friends, send it to your family, send it to your ex-teachers, and submit it to websites or competitions.  

Just get it out there because if you don’t, you can guarantee nothing’s going to happen. If you do, you’ve just got that little bit of hope that something might happen. And if it doesn’t, you just do it again.

Hustle & Cuss will be screening at VUE CINEMA in Princes Quay on Friday 4th October

Show your support for local, independent filmmakers by purchasing a ticket for the screening below.