Was that your aim?
Its funny you say that.
Apologies then, for having to start with the basics as Im going in blind.
How would you describe it?
How would I describe it?
Tony Grisoni [Red Riding,The Unloved]wrote the script.
Were you familiar with his work onRed RidingandThe Unloved, for instance?
So his name on the script made the decision for you?
Getting it down to the minimum of everything?
Yeah, I think so.
Did you find Tony quite open to suggestions and cuts?
Understandably, sometimes writers are very protective of scripts and dont welcome alteration.
No, no, from day one we were very much on the same page from day one.
Did that complicity extend to the casting process?
How involved were you in that?
Oh yeah, entirely.
The casting director, Shaheen Baig, and I worked very closely and it was great.
Yes [laughs].
I mean, you dont have to do… they make your job easy in a way.
Who did you end up spending the most time with, working on their character?
Sean [Harris,The Borgias] and I spent a lot of time together talking about Stephen.
So you managed to have a fairly loose approach then?
I guess it sounds loose when I talk about it, but I wouldnt… Its not really loose.
Its about you trusting their performance as much as them trusting you as a director?
For me its all about performance.
Thats why I make movies is watching people perform.
For me, that always comes first.
How did you first become aware of most of your actors then?
Some, youll have seen their work over the years.
Ive seen Eddie in things for years.
Youve finally cast Eddie Marsan as a nice guy!
[Laughs] Yeah, well he is one.
You filmedMartha Marcyin around four weeks for not a great deal of money and with very little rehearsal.
That, presumably, was good preparation for coming to England and working on television?
Everything is good preparation for whatever you do next.
I sort of dont think about things like that.
Yeah, but this isnt really television like that.
I dont really believe in that.
I dont really believe that there should be a difference.
There are some moments inMartha Marcythat are very difficult to watch, in the cleansing for instance.
Can the audience expect similarly difficult-to-watch scenes fromSouthcliffe?
Its not a feel-good romp.
No [laughs].
Its based, presumably, on the Cumbrian shootings in 2010, or Hungerford?
I know Tony did lots of research and things, but its definitely not based on anything.
I didnt involve myself in that side of it.
Do you watch much UK television?
What did you see when you were over here filming?
What kind of thing?
Inspiring for this particular project?
How about contemporary TV drama, what do you admire?
For me, thats just (makes insensible noise and laughs)
I feel the same way.
Itd be fascinating to hear from a writer/directors perspective what it is that makesMad Menso bloody good.
Youve seen this season?
Yeah, Ive watched everything.
I just find the writing and the characters so inspiring.
The show just surprises you so often.
The writing just strikes you.
Its things like that that no other shows, not even just TV shows, but no other…
I cant even think of movies where the writing hits me in that way.
I just think its always exciting and pushing forward.
I think Id just stand there in awe!
Last question then, I have to ask this because its about fifteen minutes from my house.
What was your experience of filmingSouthcliffein Faversham and Seasalter?
I was really excited when we first went there.
Youll have got a good pint of cider round here too.
[Laughs] Yeah.
Sean Durkin, thank you very much!
