“As a director, keep looking, keep listening, ask what’s the thing that’s going to bring this film alive and do that.”

Sally Potter OBE, acclaimed director of Orlando, gives her advice as guest speaker to audience of BA film students at Middlesex University. 

Inspirational British film-maker Sally Potter OBE was welcomed to Middlesex University this week (2/10) to speak before an audience of BA Film students about her illustrious career and offer advice on breaking into the industry. 

Sally, a director / screen-writer, shared a reel of her diverse work from early shorts through to her well-known feature-length films Orlando, The Tango Lesson and The Roads Not Taken. This was followed by a rich and inspiring Q&A session with students from all three years of the BA Film programme.  

She was particularly supportive in offering advice to students as aspiring new entrants into the film industry. “Lack of confidence is something everyone feels, so be kind to each other. Learn to live with the discomfort of being unsure if you’re any good, live with the feeling, don’t drown in it,” she said. 

Sally revealed how one of her most acclaimed films, Orlando, was repeatedly rejected from being made. When the film was eventually released in 1992, starring actress Tilda Swinton, it received accolades. “Keep faith in your ideas, work with them and refine them,” she said. 

Addressing student screenwriters on the course, Sally advised them to embrace revising their work rather than be “precious” about the process. “Your work is robust, it will take the changes”. Sally talked about her own writing routine, how she wrote every morning and learned from the writers she most admires. “Having an infrastructure helps. I sometimes write ideas as a short story so as not to get caught up in the script format, then adapt what I’ve written, thinking about scenes, dialogue, and settings.”

Sally discussed the art of directing and how the role is about creating a space to build relationships and bring out the talent of each person you work with rather than telling people “what to do”. “Build your relationships ahead of the shoot, it’s too late when you’re on set,” she said. Meeting and listening to every actor ahead of a shoot will reduce any anxiety about the project. 

Sally’s talk also examined the close working relationship between the director and the director of photography which involved adapting to different working styles and collaboration on the technical and aesthetic aspects of film making. Luca Buonomo, a budding cinematographer in his second year, reflected afterwards: “I totally agree and appreciate what Sally said about the director of photography role -  you must be the eye and the one operating the camera.” 

Regarding the topic of film budgets, she discussed how sometimes large budgets were not always necessary; her films Rage (2009) and The Party (2017) were made with the minimum budget to achieve her creative aims. 

Student sound designers on the course were interested to hear Sally’s comments on how sound can change the pace of scenes. Finally, Sally commented that the editing process involved only her and the editor as far as possible to the finished film before it is shared with a wider team. 

Vron Harris, Lecturer in Cinematography who organised Sally’s guest talk, said: “Sally is an incredibly charismatic speaker; very supportive and encouraging to our students."

"It was great for us all to hear such a well-respected director and screenwriter speak so articulately, both about their work and its context.  This is so relevant, especially to our students studying for and pursuing careers in the screen industries."

Vron Harris, Lecturer in Cinematography

Vron added: “It was also great to hear about ethical and respectful practices from a director. She told our students to ‘learn all crew members’ names, greet everyone, make sure everyone is valued’. This might sound straightforward, but it makes for a healthy working film set and are welcome words for our students as they embark on their next projects.”

First-year BA film student Sage Salamat said: “The talk was very inspirational; Sally’s insights seemed unique and she has such a different approach to some other directors. It was good to learn from her.”

Second-year student Edward Fincham reflected: “I found it interesting how Sally said you discover your film as you make it. It was a really useful talk.”

Fellow second-year student James Alflatt summed up the morning with Sally Potter. “She was engaging and inspiring,” he said.

Find out more about studying Film BA Honours at Middlesex University.