There’s been quite a buzz around busy bee Chris Balmond is an up-and-coming director at Red Bee Media whose viral film for PG Tips tea netted him a gold at the 2009 British Television Advertising Awards. Chris speaks to Laura Swinton about comedy, creativity and his dream of making a sequel to Twins.
A video camera would have been about 13. We made a 5 minute comedy horror called THE BLENDER. It was about a boy who turned into a serial killer after eating a Cadbury’s fruit and nut bar. All edited using the press play-and-record method on a VHS. It was a critical success.
Talk me through your directing career to date?
It started at Red Bee Media directing tiny shoots, trails for TV shows, for no money, but getting to meet some interesting people along the way, Ray Mears, Graham Norton, that aggressive woman off the first series of The Apprentice. I’m still making trails, but now with slightly bigger budgets, and other people are letting me direct their scripts too. I’m currently shooting an ad for Sport Relief, breaking the golden rule of never working with children or animals or fun runs.
It’s appealing because there’s no sure way of getting it right. Great visual directors never fail to make something look beautiful, but even the best comedians, comedy actors and directors make things that just aren’t funny once in a while. It’s a nice combination of skill and luck.
Outside of filmmaking, what other interests do you have?
I like to draw. Badly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkHwhz-3yJg What do you think are the biggest influences on your work and style?
I don’t know if they influence me but my favourite things in the world apart from certain people are sitcoms. Rising Damp, Seinfeld, and Alan Partridge.
Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
Directing the long overdue sequel to Twins. Same cast plus Hugh Grant. Triplets.
