Chief among the excellent work done by BAFTA are the myriad resources and support they offer to up-and-coming talent in the creative industries. Using their impressive archive and rich collective of film industry professionals BAFTA are constantly striving to build and encourage a vital network of young people set on a career in film, TV or games.
We’ve written about their excellent BAFTA
Twitter Q&A with Ray Panthaki – UPDATED with full transcript.
On Friday the 6th of November at 12pm we were at BAFTA HQ to put your questions to actor, producer and BAFTA #BreakthroughBrits honouree Ray Panthaki on all aspects of filmmaking.
Question on film preparation, working with limited budgets and securing new roles were all put to Ray, whose success is a testament to hard work and BAFTA finding the right people to shone their considerable spotlight on.
This was where it all started:
We've arrived @BAFTA HQ for the #BreakthroughBrits Q&A at 12pm with @RayPanthaki pic.twitter.com/gbkg2cIxTw
— HeyUGuys Movie News (@HeyUGuys) November 6, 2015
.@RayPanthaki is here ready to answer your questions – let's go! #BreakthroughBrits pic.twitter.com/ZhCFI09f93
— BAFTA Guru (@BAFTAGuru) November 6, 2015
Richard Bond asks – who's your biggest inspiration? (inside and outside the filmmaking world) #BreakthroughBrits
— BAFTA Guru (@BAFTAGuru) November 6, 2015
Outside my Dad for his work ethic & industry wise I'd say people who aren't defined by genre/style eg Rich Linklater https://t.co/KckAdUDUQm
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
The eclectic nature of Linklater’s output is something the actor and producer is keen to emulate. Indeed the filmmakers whose work isn’t driven by genre or theme are sorely needed as pigeonholes expand and creativity is increasingly bound by expectation. To always be looking to improve, and try new things is a notion in the very DNA of BAFTA and their Guru offering.
Next question,
Questions for @RayPanthaki, @BAFTAGuru Q&A: What techniques do you use to prepare yourself for a new role? #BreakthroughBrits
— Pippa Irvine (@pippairvine) November 5, 2015
.To be completely well versed in the script first & technique wise it depends on the character (1/2)
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
.but I do find the emotion memory/method approach personally works best for me (2/2)
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
On the subject of new roles Ray talked to us about his joy at his next job working with Hans Rosenfeldt, creator and writer of celebrated drama The Bridge. Marcella is his latest venture, ITV have signed up to produce the show in which the actor stars alongside Anna Friel and Laura Carmichael. The series is set to be a massive whodunnit with a multi-layered narrative with each character a potential witness, victim or perpetrator. Look out for that one next year.
Ali Smith asks @RayPanthaki: how was it working on a limited budget? #BreakthroughBrits
— BAFTA Guru (@BAFTAGuru) November 6, 2015
Hardest thing I've ever done but the creative control was freeing! Limitations bring out the best in me creatively https://t.co/LcRlMPU5qM
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
What would you tell another first time director to do if they were just about to embark on a film? Q from Steve Southwood #BreakthroughBrits
— BAFTA Guru (@BAFTAGuru) November 6, 2015
Prepare, prepare & prepare more! The secret is in preparation which will help you be ready for any eventuality https://t.co/cJpq4YCC8B
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
This philosophy bore out well when you consider the four year journey to the screen for his latest film Convenience. But things have changed even in those four years…
@BAFTAGuru #BreakthroughBrits Do you think it's more difficult for aspiring actors/performers to get a job on screen or a role on the stage?
— Leanne Wells (@Leanne_Wells) November 6, 2015
.With the internet/channel expansion there's more screen work available than ever. I recommend actors starting out to seek out student films
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
.The quality of equipment they use now is ever increasing and you could well be working with a star of the future!
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
https://twitter.com/ThomasALX/status/662595153182531584
I was once told at a theatre audition to channel my favourite popstar while reading a monologue. I picked Jacko…
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
…Apparently the high voice wasn't enough, they wanted the crotch thrusts and all. True story.
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
Sadly we didn’t have a reenactment during the Q&A. Maybe next time…
Rob Williams – How do you keep everyone happy when working to a budget, especially as a producer? #BreakthroughBrits
— BAFTA Guru (@BAFTAGuru) November 6, 2015
Honesty and transparency from the off with everyone involved is important. https://t.co/PLHFECajrw
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
Everyone needs to be on board embracing limitations they're working with & prepared to go beyond the call of duty https://t.co/PLHFECajrw
— Ray Panthaki (@RayPanthaki) November 6, 2015
That question drew the Q&A to a close. It was great to see the diverse range of questions sent in, and the very positive take on them; getting noticed is one thing, but it’s clearly nothing without very hard work.
His debut film as producer, Convenience, garnered extremely favorable reviews, and being associated with BAFTA, as well as his mentoring from Bond producer Barbara Broccoli OBE and BBC Films’ Christine Langan, was a crucial step up in his career. He talks about the experience below.
For all of the #BreakthroughBrits news follow the fine folks at @BAFTAGuru and be sure to check back next Tuesday, the 10th of November, for this year’s event.
What is #BreakthroughBrits?
Here are some of the judges of the Breakthrough Brits in association with Burberry to explain what this program is all about.
And you can sign up here to be the first to know about this year’s event.
If you’ve not seen Convenience yet, you need to get on that – we loved it. Here’s our interview with Ray about his debut film.
and delving back even further into the HeyUGuys archive we’ve got this gem – Ray at the premiere of Dan Turner’s The Man Inside way back in 2012.