How I funded my film & how I feel about it now: an honest conversation with Keris from The Ladybird Purse

I was delighted when

Keris Fox

kindly agreed to talk to me in this unvarnished chat delving deeper into the money stories behind my debut film - a companion piece to my recent tell-all post on the true financial numbers from its production/release:

I sold my film around the world. But I'm still in debt.

In this wide-ranging and intimate conversation, Keris and I covered so much, mostly focusing on my own financial journey with the film, but also finding many points of comparison with her own experience in the world of books and publishing and, earlier in her career, working in the music industry in London.

Here’s an overview of what we talked about:

• My experience of secrecy around earnings in TV

• How I went about raising the money for my film & the differences to the mainstream broadcast model I was used to

• How I knew how much money I needed to raise

• Co-producing, working with investors, tax relief, the 'waterfall' of payments (in the event the film ever actually makes a profit!)

• How I used credit cards to fund the film

• Getting hired in TV with small children

• Radio vs TV budgets

• Diversity issues in the media

• Class issues, privilege, buying a flat in my 20s, class confidence & entitlement

• The impossibility of living in London doing a creative job now

• How I got my first ever job in TV

• Use of archive footage - cost, fair dealing, AI

• How I really feel about what I spent making the film

• What films I want to make next

• Where my fascination with nuclear stuff came from

• Noticing and appreciating what you HAVE achieved

I really hope you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did - and if you do, I’d highly recommend delving into

The Ladybird Purse • Opening up about money

where you’ll find many more revealing and honest financial conversations Keris has had with her guests. The more we talk honestly about this stuff the better, right!

Lastly, please do forgive the rather abrupt ending - this is the first conversation like this I’ve recorded and I was having such a lovely time I didn’t think properly about wrapping it up nicely on the recording! I thought I’d spare you the slightly inept tech chat that we actually ended on and next time I do one of these I’ll try to remember to finish things more professionally, promise 🤣

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Watch my film on Netflix & Disney+ (UK/Europe only) or Vimeo-on-demand - or see trailer, reviews & bonus content HERE

Find me on Bluesky & at LinkedIn