ROWAN WALLACE
FLOOR RUNNER AND CAMERA TRAINEE 

The award winning short film director (Paul Holbrook) has created another short which is now in the post production stage. This new short film named 'Five thousand stars' is funded and partnered with Pitch which guides this film to be based on a religious story from the bible.

Story: Guided by a mysterious chef, a once renowned food critic, now struggling with alcoholism and homelessness campaigns for her local soup kitchen to be saved, despite it being her complaint that shut it down in the first place.

A bit about Paul: 
Paul Holbrook is a multi-award-winning writer and director.
A proud working-class Bristolian, he was born and bred in Hartcliffe - a council estate in the South West of England. Despite a lack of any formal education, Paul started his career as a screenwriter, advancing through various industry-backed screenwriting competitions including Page, Shore, and Screencraft. In 2018 he made the final 1% of The Academy Nicholl Fellowship (The Oscars) and was also selected for industry-backed career development through Creative England, Bafta, and the BFI.
As a self-taught director, Paul has been prolific in the world of filmmaking, and his work has been selected for numerous Bafta, BIFA, and Oscar-qualifying film festivals around the world including Palm Springs, BFI London, Encounters, and Aesthetica, winning many awards along the way. His short film 'Shiney' which was funded by BFI Network has also racked up over 2 million views online and 'Old Windows' was released in 2023 via Directors Notes, to a host of critical acclaim. (Read more here) 

After finding out about this position of being an extra on this short film online though both twitter and Instagram I was about to contact the production team where I was briefed about the Location, dates, times and costumes that I would need to be wearing and bring with me thatI would need to help play the role of a homeless character. 

On September 6th I found myself on set bright and early at the local Bristol homeless shelter 'inHope' where we where filming for the day. 
Unfortunately due to bad weather, the shoot was delayed however this did mean all the crew and crew were able to have an early lunch and final checks were done on all the rest of the extras clothing. At the point I was able to talk to other extras who were there that day to help with the filming and met Nathen Hardie. Nathen is a film critic and script writer which a massive passion in film and entertaining others. He has reviewed many films and explains then in incredible detail carefully pointing out what works and what doesn't.(more here)
When the rain had passed we were all brough outside to the front of the building where we could see the street had been closed off as well as a dolly track had been laid laid down in the road ready for the scene. We were all briefed by Paul as to what this scene was about and where we can stand and props to be holding. When we were rolling we were working alongside actress Julia Hills who is well known for playing the role of Rona in the BBC sitcom '2point4' children as well as Holby city and doctors. 

After multiple takes outside all of the extras were brough back inside and given snacks as the rest of the crew were doing the rest of the close ups with the main actors which gave us time to have a brake before being required to be back outside to do another scene. While filming outside, as we were standing next to a main road that runs through south Bristol, we did occasional get a good few stairs and photos taken of us filming from members of the public walking around and on the bus which was very strange but just another perk of filmmaking. 

Before we knew it, filming was all wrapped for all the extras and they were going to continue filming with all the actors last bits outside and inside the shelter where all lighting was already set up. 

After a few months I would bump into the director again at the opening party of out university's new film studio where we talked and he showed me the rushes of the film on his phone where I would surprised to see a close up of my face in the scene. 
He also mentioned to me that they were in need of getting more pick up shots to help explain the story so asked if I can come back to help out. A few months later in November I found myself back to the same location again along side Nathen Hardie doing the same thing which was a wonderful experience. 
I loved trying out being an extra for the first time because I was able to get onto set and explore all the different departments and what they do on a set through a shoot. 

Paul Holbrook website
Paul Holbrook IMDB
Five Thousand Stars film IMDB
Nathen Hardie