Featured Filmmaker
‘The Regulars’: How to Make a Film When You Can't Afford to Change a Lightbulb
This month we spoke with Ben Rolph, cinematographer of The Regulars, a microbudget feature filmed in London’s Prince Charles Cinema. The conversation covers his unconventional path into filmmaking, midnight shoots, and how passion trumped budget.
I Messaged a Stranger About a Cinema—and Got My First Feature
Your path into this project wasn't traditional - how did you go from hustling for video jobs to landing your first feature film?
“I feel like everyone takes a different path. The traditional word is, you know, you start as a runner or a second AC and work your way up… I know it takes a long time to build your way up, and that’s probably the best way to do it, like financially. So i was basically trying to get any kind of video job in the meantime and then the feature film popped up on a crowdfunding site. I’d never met him [the director, Fil freitas], but because I’m a fan of the Prince Charles Cinema - it’s my favorite cinema in London - I messaged him and somehow, after some conversations, I managed to convince him that I could actually work on this with him and so then we just started planning.”
Black-and-White on a Shoestring
How did budget constraints actually lead to inspired creative choices?
“Obviously Clerks was a big reference. But the budget was under £10K so we were like, okay, let’s use what we have there already. We mostly used the cinema’s existing lights—only they weren’t the same colour temperature and it would have been a pain to change all the bulbs ourselves. Hence the choice for black-and-white.
We filmed on a digital camera [blackmagic 6k], but we wanted to have that little bit of a filmy look to it. I have a good colourist friend, so he came up with a LUT that we used on set and I had basically full control of the everything to do with the colour grade.”
Ref:
Trapped in the Frame
How do you feel these aesthetic choices best reflect the themes of the film?
“I think the black-and-white lends to the story because it’s about cinema - the experience of watching films and going to the cinema. So it just made sense in the end.
The 4:3 aspect ratio made it feel boxed in and, you don’t understand, the space is tiny. Like, in the staffroom, you’re crouching. I smacked my head 10 times. We shot it on 16:9 but we decided to frame it in 4:3 to add to the tightness of the space, because you feel like the characters are kind of trapped.”
Ref:
The Whip Pan That Nearly Broke Me
“There is this one shot in the cinema where the camera’s whipping back and forth between [the managers]. I was just sat on the desk, hand holding this camera—it killed, but it was worth it. We just put on a wide lens and decided, hey, this could add to the dramatic effect of these two arguing... It’s a comedy, so it’s kind of funny as well.”
On the shot’s physical demands:
The payoff of low-budget ingenuity:
“It’s a cool camera shot that, you know, if you had everything you want, you wouldn’t have done it that way. If you have a bigger budget, you’re going to light everything perfectly, you’re going to have the best lenses... but, it’s nice to look back and think, hey, I was literally sat on the stairs with the camera, lens on it, and just one light.”
lessons Learned: Trust, Streamlining, and the Power of Less.
“For me, working on ‘The Regulars’ was a really nice experience because we all really got along. That’s something that I realised - you want to work with people who you enjoy working with. Doing a film like this, we had a great time. Even though were all tired because it was all overnight shoots, we always had a laugh and got on with things. We were streamlined, we weren’t picky. I feel like I’ll take on those indie filmmaking principles, even if I had a bigger budget, a better camera, better lenses and stuff like that, because I think those principles allow everyone to have a good experience and not waste time.”
Rapid Fire: Clerks, Protein Bars & Cold Messaging
“Take a risk and contact anyone that is making a film. Why not? Just try and put your name out there and show your passion for films.
If you have a passion for films, no matter what angle you come from, just give it a shot. Whether you write your own screenplay or see that someone else is doing it, just take a risk and go for it because there’s no harm, really.”
Advice for Aspiring Cinematographers?
“They actually fed us well. But for snacks, because I’m vegan, just any kind of vegan protein bar or something to give you that energy. You need your energy to stay awake. It’s hard. ”
Go-To Snack on Set?
Is there a piece of gear that you just can't live without?
“My gimbal is probably my favourite thing. I really love using it because I think it’s a good in between. I personally would love to do steady cam one day, so that’s something I’m trying to save towards.”
