Guru

Debs Paterson: Brits to Watch

Posted: 10 Nov 2011

Debs Paterson is known for directing short films We Are All Rwandans and Home, as well as her feature-length directorial debut Africa United. Named as one of our ‘Brits to Watch’, here Paterson discusses her career highlights so far and shares her advice for emerging directors…

Debs Paterson. A woman with shoulder length blonde hair wearing a black dress, standing in front of American and British flags.
Credit: BAFTA/Barry J. Holmes

BCongrats on being selected as one of BAFTA’s Brits to Watch. What’s been your career highlight of the past year?

DPMy greatest career highlight ever has to be our red carpet Leicester Square premiere [for Africa United] last year at the family gala of the London Film Fest. All of the kids who starred in the film were dressed up to the nines, and the atmosphere was amazing.

BWhat single piece of advice would you give to a young person trying to break into your discipline and get noticed?

DPDon’t wait for a big opportunity – keep making small things. The small things will teach you loads and build up a body of work. You have to make your own luck – waiting around never got anyone anywhere.

BHow important is knowing people? Is raw talent enough?

DPRaw talent is really important, but so are other people. Having good working relationships is critical – it’s a mixture between knowing what you want, and being good to work with.

BWhich of your projects are you most proud of?

DPI’m proud of all of them for different reasons. Each film is this unique labour of love, and when it finally exists and goes out into the world, and you hear back from different people who have seen it, it’s amazing.

BHow do think the UK film industry will change in the next few years?

DPThe film industry seems to be changing really fast, in the UK like everywhere else – technology being more accessible and also word of mouth / social media impact increasing all the time – and this is really exciting.

The human need for a good story won’t ever change – but the way we consume, expect and receive stories is changing all the time. We’ve lived through a revolution in many ways – technology means we’re global now, not just British – and the consumer has more power than ever. So it’s all about playing with what that will mean over the next few years – and Britain has a great reputation for innovation.

BGive us some insider info (shhh): Who would you chose as your ‘Brit to Watch’ in the coming years?

DPThere’s a wonderful cinematographer called Kate Reid who shot the indie feature Blooded this year – she’s seriously talented. Ivana Mackinnon will probably become one of the great producers of our generation. Our UK actors Roger Nsengiyumva and Sherrie Silver from Africa United are such rising talents – I would love to see them on the list in future.

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