Catching Up with Alumni - Harrison Toward

What was your filmmaking experience before applying to Broadway’s BFI Film Academy Short Course Programme in 2017-18?

I started the BFI Film Academy Short Course delivered by Broadway in 2017, before then I made a film during my time in sixth form when I was taking media studies.In our first year, we focused on film theory and I made an opening scene for a possible psychological thriller feature film. The story involved a serial killer killing his hostage with a hand drill and taking the corpse to a children’s playground and playing with it on a round-a-bout, slide and swings… very student film-type stuff.

The crew was me, my classmate Ryan (who also played the hostage/corpse) and my dad (who also played the killer).  The only equipment we used was a Canon 1300D and a small tripod that we borrowed from our Sixth Form. This was the only film experience I had going into the BFI Film Academy Short Course at Broadway but alongside the Film Academy short course, I was making a music video for my second year of sixth form – using the same ‘crew’ and equipment and we shot it at home and around Hockley/Sneinton. 

What was the difference between making a short film at sixth form and working on a short film collectively with BFI Film Academy Short Course participants?

The other BFI Film Academy participants on the Short Course at Broadway were more serious about making films as the Short Course is solely all about filmmaking. So coming into the BFI Film Academy Short Course, I was meeting people like me who were more invested in learning about filmmaking. 

There was still a fun and light feel to it, it was just another level of commitment as everyone there was going into it knowing that this is the career they wanted to pursue. I was also spending time with people who I may cross paths with again in the industry. 

Everyone who took part had their own personal interests in different aspects of filmmaking and the course catered for everyone. It was helpful to have a wide range of interests among us so that when it came to working on the film we knew that each person cared about whatever role they were in and was taking it seriously, you could relax knowing that it was being taken care of and that meant you could focus on your own part of the overall film.

What was the experience of joining and participating in the BFI Film Academy Short Course at Broadway like for you in general? 

Overall the BFI Film Academy Short Course at Broadway was a fun and eye-opening experience. Getting into film and filmmaking wasn’t something I considered would even be an option for me until my parents pointed it out at an open evening event. I enjoyed having the time to spend solely on filmmaking.

We were dedicated to just filmmaking for five months, creating the short film and learning together. We spent over 150-60 hours in total together and at each session we learned something new.

I appreciated the industry support from the likes of Rachel Robey, a Producer from Wellington Films (based at Broadway Cinema) who was very refreshing and to the point, there was also Al Clark from Wellington Films who was an inspiring person to learn from.

I loved being around Roger Knott-Fayle the Course Leader who was such a flamboyant character. I truly benefited from being around these industry professionals who had so much to offer and the other participants who were equally as invested in the short course. 

What impact did BFI Film Academy Short Course at Broadway have on your approach to the screen industries?

Taking part in the BFI Film Academy Short Course at Broadway helped to give me an essential insight into how a set works and who does what role. Having this knowledge was an advantage when I did eventually start working in the industry because I was able to come in and hit the ground running.

Adam Robertson, my team's production Tutor was a great mentor who taught us how the hierarchy of a film set worked, who to approach for individual issues and what the chain of commands to follow are, just by setting the structure up that way on set while we were on the short course.

It made me feel more confident going into the industry and meant that I was a step ahead. I’ve since worked with lots of people who have never worked on film sets before and had that experience. I still at times find that I can get overwhelmed by it all but I feel more equipped to deal with it now.

Since leaving the Academy in 2018, I’ve been to university and studied for a BA in Film at Middlesex in North London. Throughout my first and second year of university, I was implementing the skills learnt on the BFI Film Academy Short Course at Broadway which allowed me to explore and try the different skills, roles and departments available.

I look back fondly on working with props during my second year of studies, as that is when I became interested in the Art department. 

By my third year of uni, I had accumulated a large amount of knowledge and skills in all areas and that's when I dived into directing our final year film because I felt like I had a good grip on a wide variety of filmmaking.

In our final year, we made a film called ‘Ryan’s Quest' which took place during the pandemic and was filmed on Whitby Beach. All the preparations right up until filming were done on Zoom with my peers as we were studying during lockdown too which was a whole new way of making films.

With my three years of learning the varied roles and skills needed, I felt confident as a team that we could make the film. Which we successfully did, despite the global pandemic and huge limitations against us at the time.

Ryan’s Quest has since gained official selection from Short Stack in 2023 and screened at the short film night hosted by Broadway, I’m grateful to of been able to show my film on the big screen in front of friends, and family and meet other filmmakers in the area. 

What are the highlights of your career so far? You’ve worked on many music videos and adverts for international stars and brands. How does that feel?

It is so strange being in London, in this huge hub of creativity and being amongst it all. It feels miles away from anything that I have experienced before and expected to be a part of. 

I did work on the music video for Jungle - Back on ‘74 and I’m down as a standby art director for it. It blows my mind as it was such a big contribution to popular culture and I’m really grateful for the opportunity. It is such a funky song and the dancers were all amazing, it’s something I look back on very fondly. 

The Jungle music videos are a highlight for a few reasons. We shot a video for every song on the album, and 13 music videos were shot in 4 days at Alexandra Palace. I knew a lot of the crew beforehand so there was a comfortable familiarity. My job was to dress each set under the instruction of the Art Director, Sam Storey and then ‘Stand by’ on set to make sure everything was to the Director’s and DoP’s liking – sometimes making adjustments to the set. 

I do love being involved in big things that a lot of people are going to see, like music videos, films and TV shows, quite simply because it feels cool to be able to point at a scene and say “I put that desk there”. Adverts are fun but can feel very corporate with the presence of the brand clients and there is less passion felt by the crew, to be honest. Whereas I feel that the crew cares more about something like a music video or film.

One more highlight to share that I’m proud of is my work as a Junior Prophand on Netflix's 'Black Doves'. Plus my recent work as a props dresser on an indie film called 'A 100 Nights of Hero' directed by Julia Jackman. 

On that note what was it like working on Luna Carmoon’s very recent debut feature, HOARD?

It was so much fun, Luna is a proper geezer, she’s like Amy Winehouse in that she has so much personality. It was just really, really cool, a lot of people on that job were just cool in their own way, Luna set such a nice vibe for everyone just by being herself. 

It was common knowledge the film was going to be good after we all read the script because it was just such a high standard and that set a precedent going onto set that meant we all were all giving it 100% and our best shot. For Hoard my role was a Base Runner in the Assistant Director department.

What does a Base Runner mean and what is their job responsibility?

I was essentially looking after the talent. There would be 6-10 actors each day coming onto the set, who were all so lovely. I’d get the call sheet when I came in and I’d see from there the cast members involved on the day and their leave for set time.

I would need to ensure I was there as they came in and then they knew where they needed to be for when. Sometimes it would be difficult as multiple people would come in at the same time and usually, it was early in the morning. After coordinating getting the actors in the right place, I’d have a cup of tea with the team before I was needed by the Assistant Directors. 

Whilst on Hoard I was working around 11-hour days, starting at 8 am and leaving around 6 pm each day. We were filming in Bromley (London) so this was an hour and a half away from my house. I usually stayed until the last actor finished for the day, so I could make sure they got home okay as part of my role and responsibilities.

I didn’t mind the long hours at times because of Luna’s personality, she was bonkers but the film she was making, and her zest and creativity for life and film were what I loved! It was a real highlight for me to work on Hoard, personally and professionally.

Thank you for explaining the role of a Base Runner, it's interesting to learn all the different roles that are behind the scenes. Talking about being behind the scenes, how is it that you manage to keep your cool when you work with such huge stars like Joseph Quinn and emerging talent, Saura Lightfoot-Leon?

Joe Quinn came on set just before the series of Stranger Things he’s in had been released. We knew that he was part of the show somehow as other crew were talking about him having his makeup department during the series, but I thought he was just a side character so seeing him after it was released and off doing what he is now, is nuts. 

I was seeing him every day and chatting to him casually about football and work and having no idea he was such a main character in Stranger Things is truly mad.

It was cool to work with the actors every day, including Samantha Spiro, she was someone I recognised and had previously worked with on Sex Education. Samantha plays the adoptive mum in Hoard, the actress who was originally meant to join us originally withdrew.

As I'd already worked with Samantha, I was so happy to see her again, and I remembered her coffee order which I made ready for her each day. It was sweet on her last day to share a quick goodbye.

I hear you have a cameo somewhere in Hoard, is that true?

Yes! My cameo is right at the end, spoiler alert - when Sara is on the bus during New Year’s Eve and she's watching the other people on the bus having fun longingly. I'm one of the people on the bus.

I stepped in at the last minute as an extra as they asked lots of crew to come in at the end. We each sent images of our clothes to the Costume department that we already had either from or based on the 90s fashion.

When we arrived on the day with our costumes, we each were sent to the Hair and Makeup teams who did lots of different 90s styles and they even straightened my hair into curtains!

Do you have any advice or tips for anyone who might be thinking about taking part in the BFI Film Academy Short Course at Broadway? 

If you're nervous about applying or going on the course, you haven’t much to worry about, because you are in good hands. You're not expected to have all of the knowledge going into it, you are there to learn things. So don’t think you are not good enough to be there.

I remember going in and feeling intimidated, but then I got to know my peers, there were things I did know and could share with others and we were all able to learn small bits from each other. At the end of the day you’re not there to be tested, you’re there to be taught. 

You’re treated as adults by the course leaders and the industry professionals but you have the support of staff. There can be a sense that the film industry is exclusive and scary, but at the end of the day you’re on the course to make a film so it’s not life-saving surgery and having that mindset has helped me stay calm when I have started to overthink.

To sum it up, it's just fun! We all took it very seriously at the time because we wanted to make films, but it was fun and loved every second of it.

Before we wrap up, is there currently anything you’re working on and do you have any goals set for the future?

I’m hoping to make more films, being able to direct is my goal. I’ve been applying for BFI NETWORK funding to make the shorts that I’ve been writing over the years.

In the meantime, I've joined forces with my friend, who is a Director of Photography (DOP), to make smaller-scale short films together while we try to gain funding for bigger-budgeted short films.

I’m still working on sets where I can so that I can be around other Directors who are more established so that I can absorb their knowledge and watch what they do and how they work. 

We are currently working on an advert for our friend who runs a couple of businesses. The hope and plan for the near future is to make commercials and music videos for business owners and music artists we know to build our reputation and experience on set.

Thank you so much for your time Harrison, it’s been lovely speaking to you and we wish you all the best for the future. We know that you’ll do great in whatever you go on and do next.