Regular readers of Den Of Geek will well know that were sizeable fans of the comedyBill.
Its available on DVD now, and we cant recommend it highly enough.
In particular, the problems that most didnt see, about simply getting the film released?
Can you take us through what happened?
When did the release date start to wobble?
Ad content continues below
The easiest way to explain all this is to go back a bit further!
The original UK cinema distributor came in early, and all credit to them.
I didnt know Larry [co-writer and co-star] then.
I didnt know much aboutHorrible Historiesat that stage, but one of my kids was watching it.
She was a very early adopter, and she said that youll like it.
Ben brought Larry in, so it was the three of us [who pitched the film].
Then [Roland Emmerichs Shakespeare movie]Anonymoushappened.
Quite entertaining, but a weird and flawed film.
Lots of good stuff.
The secondBlackadderperhaps did a little on him, but even then they didnt really go near Shakespeare.
Larry and Ben and I worked out a plot.
BBC Films got involved, and made a commitment at that point to developing the script.
The BBC said thatPython, isnt that for grown-ups?
I remember theLife Of Brianvideo being handed around at school, like it was the dirtiest thing.
And its now all over YouTube!
What happened once the BBC got involved?
Suddenly, we had a film financed.
Production-wise it was great and went very smoothly.
No freak weather conditions or acts of God!
Then we started to cut the film.
We shot in early 2014, we cut in the spring and summer of 2014.
It took quite a long time.
It started to work, and it was the film we wanted to make.
We were excited too.
Then in early 2015, the release was put back until August 2015.
Wed been looking at an August release.
Thats what we were told, certainly.
Vertigo did an amazing job we ended up opening on 300 screens, including all the main cinema chains.
Odeon, Vue, Cineworld and Empire all loved the film and are big supporters.
Was that a bit frustrating?
August wasnt great for family movies.
It was very wet the end of August too!
I looked out the window and thought it was perfect movie-going weather!
That said, by that stage we were already looking forward to the September release.
Its only looking back now I wonder if that was an opportunity missed for us.
But then youre always wondering what if!
Weve outpacedA Walk In The Woods, weve ambled past that!Everestcame and went.
We saw that off!
I thinkInside Outis still going, but why not, its a fantastic film!
Weve done lots of kids club screening.
Myself, Ben, Larry, we go along to our local cinemas and do intros…
The film comes out then, it gets good reviews.
How close were you all to that response, and how was the fanbase of it?
It generated a huge amount of loyalty and warmth.
Chris Addison was nothing to do with the production, and hes tweeted about it several times.
Paddy Considine did too.
Even James Corden all the way over in LA!
We get nothing but terrific feedback from fans on Twitter and Facebook.
And not just in the UK, but in Australia and from other territories really keen to see it.
I even bought drinks at my own premiere!
Its generated warmth but I think are we allowed to say things like its a peculiarly British film?
Its a little bit quirky?
Its got an intentional DIY feel to it?
Its meant to be like that.
I think maybe thats something people have picked up on.
Superhero films arent so much our cultural history, but we do that kind of comedy really well.
I hope that what weve done is something thats wearing its learning on its sleeve.
TheresStar Warsin there too, because we love those movies.
These things do have happy endings.
Universal will give us a platform.
Possibly thats what we achieved with the theatrical release.
That people know about it now.
How does that compare to your previous projects, Cuckoo and The Gigolos?
Because if Ive got the maths right, you put five years or so of your life into this?
Pretty much, yes.
Five years since realising that theres a great movie, a great Python-style movie in it.
And to talk about the making of this one.
I didnt get too involved in the release.
With smaller films, its really hard, and if you miss that window, its gone.
Do you feel that?
There were 21 films released in the UK last week.
When we screenedThe Gigolos, we were on a Monday afternoon, a 4pm slot.
I was told at the time that its a slot for films that people really didnt know much about.
We were lucky with that slot.
I do think its still an opening weekend business.
I think distributors are on the phone to exhibitors on Monday mornings, begging for more slots.
Where does this leave you?
Do you personally want to try something different?
Are there other projects youre close to realising?
There are other projects Im close to realising at the moment.
I really love comedy.
What I love about it is its either funny or its not.
Nothing else really matters: whos in it, what it looks like, how its realised.
If its funny, its funny.
If its not funny, no amount of money on screen is going to store your ass.
I like the brutality of it.
Ill concentrate on comedy, British comedy.
Im developing a comedy set in austerity Britain.Brassed OffandThe Full Monty, I loved those films.
ButBrassed Offwas so brave, and I think were in a world that needs that sort of film.
We wish you the best of luck with it!
One quick final question, then: whats your favourite Jason Statham movie?
Im probably not allowed to saySpy, am I?
Of course you are!
I think theres a new Jason Statham genre.
Where its as if hes performing in another film.
I think its great.
Every film should have Jason Statham that way.
Certainly in every film comedy!
Two thumbs up forSpy.
Maybe he plays the dad!
[Laughs]
Richard Bracewell, thank you very much.
Bill is available on DVD now.
