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Calum Murray: What will be, will be!
28 Plays1 month ago
With me this month is Calum Murray!
Join us as we talk about his films Batman Unmasked and Crush, his work with Unified Studios, his appearances in films such as Tobi and Don’t Touch the Tree as well as various other projects he’s been involved in.
We also talk about Mental Health and Jennette McCurdy’s book I’m Glad My Mom Died.
Theme Song: Adam Sams
Show Logo: Craig Pearson
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Transcript
Introduction to Podcast and Guest
00:00:20
Speaker
Hello and welcome to What Makes You Tick. This is an interview podcast where I, Ryan Watson, speak to actors, writers, filmmakers and a range of other artists from the northeast of England and sometimes beyond about what they do, how they make it work and the media that inspires them to do that work.
Callum's Current Projects
00:00:33
Speaker
This month on the show, I have Secretary of Unified Studios, writer, actor and bookworm, Callum Murray. Callum is currently in post-production on his films Batman Unmasked and Crush. He's also appearing in John Babs' upcoming film Toby, and he's previously appeared in a whole range of short films like Internal Vacancy, Don't Touch the Tree, It's Okay to Talk, and By Election.
00:00:53
Speaker
Callum, welcome to the show. How are you doing? I'm not bad, yourself? Yeah, all good, all good. I don't know, it's just one of them mornings, you know, where you kind of want it to be sunny. Oh, I know. It's like it's just been up and down. It's just typical British weather, isn't it? Did I miss anything in the intro, by the way? You had a Miranda podcast? I didn't mention that. Yeah, Miranda's fruit friends. Me and my husband did it because we're big Miranda Heart fans and such. And it was just basically us, like a goggle box, sitting at home, watching episodes and talking about how we would fix Miranda's situations that gets into and such and that. To be honest, I like to relate to her in many ways on that as well. Like when you get in an awkward situation, you're trying to get yourself out of it. Yeah. It's like, help.
00:01:39
Speaker
I like that you went with ah Fruit Friends as the name because... Oh, Vegetapals, does she call them at one point? That's the um that's the bit that i always remember about Miranda. Yeah, I've had someone called Mr. Butter Nuts or something like that. Yeah, yeah. This is the weird thing doing this
Podcasting and Researching Guests
00:01:55
Speaker
podcast. You sort of start flicking through people's Instagram and you feel a bit like you're stalking people, but it's for research.
00:02:00
Speaker
Yeah, it is. Yeah. So we're flicking through and I'd seen the Miranda thing. I briefly thought you'd actually done a podcast with Miranda because it were... Oh, for me, please....that were going to be how I started. I was like, did you do a podcast with Miranda? Oh, please, that be a dream come true it was like... Okay, okay, let's make it happen. Miranda, if you're listening.
00:02:18
Speaker
I also i wanted to start the show asking a question. I've only ever asked one person before, and I think this applies to you. Did I once see you get wrapped up in bubble wrap on stage? true.
00:02:29
Speaker
ah You did, yes, in a horrible cheap eBay mummy costume for the Frasier episodes where they're in a spa, and yeah, that was where you saw me get wrapped up in cling film playing miles.
00:02:43
Speaker
Okay, oh, cling film, cling film, not bubble wrap, okay. Does Ollie, Ollie Pages, do you know Ollie Pages? I do, yes. I've done a couple of things with him in the past, yes. Yeah, I'd met him, I think for the first time last year. think I was doing A Malevolent World. And I got mixed up and I was like, Ollie, were you the one who got wrapped up in Klingford? Oh God. So that's why there's only one other person I've asked that question, because I mistakenly asked Ollie that question. Yeah, I was actually in Malevolent World in a small role for that, actually, because I think originally I was going to audition for a big role, but was too busy with Batman on Master of Time. Ah, okay, right. Yeah, like, I think everyone, not even everyone I talk to on this podcast, just everybody I talk to anymore has been in a malevolent world. It's like the new Castle version, like B-side of 28 Years Later. Yeah. There were quite a few people know who were up for being in that as well. Yeah, it was quite funny because we did like a script read through and had to do it. can't remember what was doing, but were in town for some reason and I had to dive into a coffee shop to go on the call. But was the same night that the premiere of 28 Years Later were there and I'd like passed the Tyneside Cinema and I was like,
00:04:04
Speaker
What's going on here? And it was like the same night that we were all reading through malevolent world. And I was like, this is like ah a zombie synergy thing going on here. Yes. What a coincidence as well that was happening at the same time. It quite funny. um Yeah. um Okay. So ah I guess I really want to talk to you about about
Callum's Acting and Educational Background
00:04:24
Speaker
Batman. Okay.
00:04:25
Speaker
forest But first, um I think it's always important to start with, what is your background and how did you come to filmmaking and acting? Right, so from acting, I've been doing it since I was 12. I started off in youth theatre to begin with, in a local group I used to live in Stanley. They called Kappa Pi and then from then on, I just fell in love with acting from then onwards and thatts and and just progress from further on as the years went on, starting in amateur theatre as well, and with Washington Theatre Group.
00:04:57
Speaker
and ah And was also when I was at uni, studying animation and design, I did do a bit of filmmaking as well there. And we've been able to do my own voice overs on the work I did. And i think it was only a couple of years I went more into filmmaking.
00:05:13
Speaker
And just from then onwards, i've just done lot I've just done loads of things, and like from short films, documentaries, voiceovers, podcasts, you know, it's just all been a ah level of different experiences really once the years have gone on. So you said you'd been acting since 12, but you'd studied animation and design. Yes. Did you need to just say it? I did, yes. Did you consider studying acting or were it um is it sort of a separate thing you've seen? It was just like a like a backup really just in case and that. I think ah because I've i've ah ah always been like my second talent I've always had and I didn't want to waste really so I thought I'd get a degree in arts just so it's a backup in case the acting side doesn't work out in the end and I've got to do something to do is like if I want to do teaching in it really so yeah it's it's just always best to have a backup plan in case the the one thing you love doing like which is like acting or such as it's always best to have that backup plan Do you do anything with animation or anything now? or yeah No, not as much, but it was just like, I think I'm, I think I've expired on that now, actually, really. And not but I mean, I always have little ideas of things just in case I write anything and I'd need people on board, like who are animators and other filmmakers to help us
00:06:24
Speaker
like but ah get it to put together if need be. Yeah, I'd just ask because animation's always been... I've always said if I if i if if i just reset everything, like my entire life, I feel like I'd just put everything in there and then be an animator. But it seems very stressful. I've met people who are animators who are like, I don't sleep. Yeah, they're reset. Some people I know could be up until four in the morning and then they've got to go and do their actual full-time jobs during the day as well. Yeah, some of them are very exhausting. Yeah, yeah. it seems quite quite the tiring job it's not as easy as it looks either yeah but it's all changed now because and for me i've always loved hand-drawn animation stop motion but all that's like really in the past now it's all cgi that's taken over a really and not actually i'd seen in my uh in my instagram research i'd seen you'd uh you'd done a post a while back about the iron giant and that's the that's one that i always always think of when i'm just like man they should have just kept all animation like this yeah i totally agree anything like that film is one of my favorites and i love anything by don bluff like american tales the name anastasia but classic and just and when you just watch them as well you can feel the magic and like talent in the work and that it's just so beautiful and it's just such a shame it's all like being like quite forgotten now Yeah, it's it's quite sad. It's like if if something is hand-drawn, it's probably not entirely hand-drawn. And also it's like it's like a really ah rare project that's probably got to be some kind of passion project or something. It's not ah it's not making not making all the money these days. I know, it is really a real shame. So I guess I want i wanted to ask you about your Batman film, Batman Unmasked.
Creating 'Batman Unmasked'
00:08:05
Speaker
So, I mean, what what's the deal with Batman Unmasked? So it's ah a Batman fan film you're making. I mean, is it is it a straight Batman film? Is there a sort of angle to it, I guess? um I mean, the the the costumes and stuff I've seen in the photos, they seem to set a certain vibe that makes me
00:08:23
Speaker
I guess curious about what the what the angle on it So first off, it's not going to be like what everyone else expected, a big blockbuster hit because we did on no budget. It was a passion project, like I said, fan made film. And it's going to it's gone in so many different directions, the style we were going for. Because originally when I wrote it, and it was a 64 page script and based on the Schumacher references that I grew up with and Tim Burton. But as over the course of time, as we've been filming, was like using a lot of references from like Burton and Schumacher, the Batman animated series in the 90s, the 60s series. And just also when you watch it, you're like, you're going to walk into a comic. It's going to have that feel to it as well. So yeah, it's a lot of different references from what we were originally planning. and that But that's the fun of it as well, and that you want to use all the references of what you like love about Batman into that. It looks like it's been a lot of fun to to film, I noticed, because it was quite a while into filming it, you'd put out the extra casting thing for Clark Kent and Lana Lang, wasn't it? Was that something that just came about as you went, or...?
00:09:32
Speaker
Yeah, because when we started um editing the film together, me and and the team at Unified Studio that I'm a part of, and we were like trying to see if the story flowed. Because obviously, like I say, it was originally a 64-page script, and we had to cut it down a lot to 39 pages because, which for well, the cast that we had involved, it was just due to availabilities and such. So we wanted to try and make it as easy as possible to just make it...
00:09:56
Speaker
less complicated and and less time as well but and as we were watching we were thinking something's missing here and we're in talks of doing a sequel and next year possibly called bad point and we thought if we throw a couple of characters in who will have a small part of that in the first one and then develop more into the second and that's when we thought we were talking about getting like Clark Kent and involved in that so you know there's a little build up there for the next for the sequel Yeah, is this, because you'd said it's a bit more recent, you've moved into the actual filmmaking side. Is this the first film you've made or have you done other other films before this? I would say this is actually the first feature I've done. I mean, like say, when I was at uni doing animation, I did do littlel little footages from there and such, but I'd rather keep them in the past, really. I don't like to i don't like to look back at some of my projects I've done a long time ago now because I've come along with. I think from that since then. I know the feeling. I didn't, I studied a script writing at uni, but every now and then some of the filmmaking students would get me to be in their films. And I'm like, now that I'm doing acting a little bit, I'm like, I don't consider them part of my acting.
00:10:58
Speaker
No, definitely not. But with Batman en masse, this is like the first like full feature I've been like co-directed for. and And it's like, think I've took on so much throughout it. I've done co-directing, co-presenting, writing, co-producing and starting it. So I think i didn't at the time I didn't know what i was letting myself in for and that, but it was a learning curfew. like so But it was loads of fun. And I just like I say, i' I've been a big fan of Batman for forever. little reference there, Schumacher, Batman for Forever. there Everyone take a drink. Everyone take a shot.
00:11:33
Speaker
and I think if if you love make if you want to make something that you're so passionate about, do it and just have loads of fun with it. I'm really curious about the, like a few things about actually making a Batman film, but specifically like, how did you come to go in?
00:11:47
Speaker
I'm just going to make a Batman film. I feel like a lot a lot of the time people go, oh I want to make this and I want to make this. Make something smaller first, but but you've just gone. I'm making a Batman film. Do you know what? and I've been talking about it for a couple of years now when I met them.
00:12:03
Speaker
Phil Routledge and William Scott Johnson through Unified Studio and they were saying how much they were Batman fans and wanted to do one. And we were like it was like we've got loads of things in the pipeline at the minute and that and we're always saying we'll do this, we'll do that. But and it wasn't until last year when sadly, Fowler Kilmer passed away.
00:12:21
Speaker
who like he was the first live action Batman I ever a watched. And I remember the post like yesterday, itain Batman Forever advertised all over cinemas. And he played a big part of my childhood growing up. And and he was such an underrated actor. So brilliant. I've seen him in so many other roles over the years. But after he passed away, I was just absolutely heartbroken. And I just texted me. I just texted Unified Studio and just said, like, we need to do this. We need to do a film dedicated to him and that. And we need to do it now. It's now or never. And I i think after his death, I was like, think I spent two, three months writing the script and with the help of them. And then before we know it, come June and last year, we started filming. Has it been a fun project? It seems like it's been quite a fun. You know what?
00:13:03
Speaker
Throughout it, it's it's like, it's always been, everything's up for me, it's a learning curfew. But yeah, and throughout, everyone involved had an amazing time and I just had a right laugh of it. And our remember people were like, when I advertised, they were like saying,
00:13:16
Speaker
oh, when's the audition's coming out? We want to audit audition for any roles needed. And and and i was I was just amazed. I was thinking, well, of course, it's Batman. I don't think anyone wants to turn down that opportunity just to be involved in something like that. It's such an iconic like comic to be involved in. Seems like a really good way of getting getting people's attention as well. Like like I say, I loosely knew of you from seeing the 90s thing and stuff, but i'm I'm like, I mostly know who you are because I've seen all the stuff around you, around you, Batman. Yeah. casting and shooting and stuff. um
00:13:47
Speaker
do yeah Do you have to worry that the DC Comics might come and shut you down? Do you have do worry about things like that? Well, that's the thing. We've been fan-made and that as long as you're not making money off a project. Oh, okay. Is that is that how it works? Yeah. There's a lot of people I know who've done fan-made Batman films and have managed to like be secured from... like As long as you don't read make a budget out of it, then you should be fine. But that's the downside of it, really, and that you want to be able to pay your actors, your crew and such. But unfortunately, we're all in the same board. We just can't make any money off it. But like I guess say again, if you if you love something, do it. even if it's if you do
00:14:27
Speaker
Again, it's it definitely draws attention. um So you play the Joker. I do. Green roll. Did you just fancy you were like, I'm going to the Joker. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big fan of the Joker. He's my ultimate favourite villain. And even as a child, I would always, like, interpret and Mark Hamwell or Jack Nicholson. And I just love their performances as the character. And he's just so, like I say, psychotic, but he's theatrical. He's just, yeah, totally in your face. And i just love him so much. And then... And I always said, like, if I'm going to do a Batman film, I've got to play the Joker.
00:15:06
Speaker
And I've done it. It's not the case for me. Nice. that is that's That's something you now always have. You've played you've played the Joker. Like I say, I've not seen much from the actual film itself. But based on... I was watching Don't Touch the Tree ah this morning. And I'm like, I could see i could see you in that definitely translating to the Joker.
00:15:27
Speaker
Yeah, well, that was filmed before we actually did Batman. And people who watched it even said, like, and we can see a little bit of hints of the Joker in that performance, like theatrical i again and that. And again, that was another fun role to play. and Well, he was named a tree spirit and we didn't have a name from in the script originally. And that was with Smuggy Bloom films at the time. And...
00:15:51
Speaker
Yeah, people were saying like when i was acting in the character, they said ah i came across like Rumble Silskin. i've I've pronounced that right. I never get it right. i always say Rumble Snakeskin. Yeah, people said I looked like I acted like him. And I thought, well, that's the name the character. Then world credit me as that instead. But again, it was another fun role to play. Yeah, it was a good, fun, fun watch um this morning. I just sort of went through the films linked on yeah on your Instagram. I feel like I've mentioned your Instagram more than I've ever mentioned Instagram. I'm going have loads of people bombarding now and a lot of filmmakers. But, you know, I'm all for meeting new people, new filmmakers, actors who might potentially might want to work with in future. You know, I'm open to the idea and it's just nice to meet new people because you never know who you're going to be working with in future. can you tell us a bit about about Unified Films? I ah i i mean, I basically copied your Instagram bio. that's a lot no No one's allowed to mention Instagram anymore. no But yeah, I copied your bio into the the introduction and it lists you as the secretary of Unified Studio. What what' secretary specifically and and generally what is Unified Studio?
00:16:59
Speaker
So Unified Studio, like as I first got to work with them three years ago on an upcoming spy film that they've also been working on called John Ghost. And they got me on board with that. We're playing one of the the assassins in that, which was amazing.
00:17:13
Speaker
Again, just amazing. I didn't think I'd be able pull up a role like that. But just over time, I've just gotten to know the people involved. Like I said, Phil Routledge, William Scott Johnson, Neil Armstrong and Aidan Armstrong. And then we've just been collaborating on different things together. And then before we knew it, like just knew how well organized I was, especially working on Batman with me. So like I said, I planned all the auditions and the schedules and everything. And they just, from last year, they asked if I would be interested in taking on the role of secretary for Unified Studio, which we're trying to get on board by once we get all our films edited together and out there on streaming services and hopefully make budgets out of it, we'll be able to get more money in to actually start paying actors and crews in future for other projects we want to work on. And they were just amazed by my organising skills, really. And damn yeah, the like i said
Role at Unified Studio
00:18:05
Speaker
they just asked us to be secretary and that was it sorry i'm jumping around quite a bit but i guess we are mentioning so the skills you use to be secretary but also the arranging all the auditions and doing all the the planning and things for batman like that's obviously quite an increase in responsibility from say some of the acting work you've done how did you how did you find that i mean were it were the stumbling blocks did it go smoothly For me, I think because I'm so passionate about being, I'm an organised person in general and that I don't like to not be be come across as laid back. that If there's something I've got my mind set to, just do it straight away. and that It's just the way I've been brought up as well. And finally, we're all such an organised community, really, in a way. And that we don't we just love to have something to do.
00:18:49
Speaker
and And to be honest, the audition process for things went... really well and like very like again smooth and that and it was such a hard it's so hard when it comes to auditions because and when you see all the people who bring their videos in and you watch them all it's just so many so much talent in the North East and you just think I want to use all these actors but sadly I can't and I said I'm sorry but with as we you might not be successful for this one but we will keep you in mind for other projects in future as well and that's just such a shame because it's just like I say again there's just so much talent
00:19:22
Speaker
How is it being on the other side of things? Because presumably you've been for auditions yourself as an actor and both got and not got parts. what How has it been on the other side?
00:19:33
Speaker
Um, like, again, it's just learning curfew, really. I mean, and always i I'm such a big critic on myself anyway, regardless my performances or anything. But I always just think, like, you know, it's not the end the world for me. And that is, like, you can't be good for everything. It doesn't matter what you look like, how you act and that. You just might not be just sued for that role. And once you've done the audition tape, move on and just... look just do something else really and that's like I say in them in the meantime i I try to write my own stuff it's just like as a backup to start writing my own projects if because the rules I'd love to do is like slapstick comedy or something and not like I grew up on things like Loll and Hardy but that type of comedy doesn't exist practically anymore and and so if you need if you want to do things like that it's best either write it yourself ah or team up with someone who's got the um the expertise in it and basically go from there Weirdly, in contrast to that, I watched the trailer for Toby
Portraying Challenging Roles
00:20:35
Speaker
as well this morning, and ah your character seems to be, at least from the trailer, seems to be quite the opposite of Slapstick. He seems to be a right little... ah nowhere we Yeah, seems to be an unpleasant person. Yeah, I must admit that was a very challenging and different role from anything I've played. But that's the thing you've got to push the boundaries when it comes to acting and that. If you want to like show up you're not like limited, really show us. I think because for context, so it's um it's John Babs' film and it's inspired by his experience of racial abuse with the matches.
00:21:10
Speaker
yeah The racist marches a few years ago. yeah And what I'm curious about is um the experience of allowing yourself to portray someone awful, but it's in service of presenting something positive. Can you tell us a bit just about the experience of doing that? Like, yeah, you're kind of a bad dude, but it's ultimately with positive aims. Yeah, I must admit, it was it was terrifying to play. and and Like say I say, I put myself forward for and one of the roles in the film when I saw it advertised on Northeast Casting. And um it was a different role. It was ah another one of the folks called Mikey. And...
00:21:49
Speaker
John got back to me and said, hardly that role had been taken, but he had written another role for me called Jason, who's the brother of Lily, who's one of the main ones in the film. And thought, right, no problem. i'll I'll take on anything. And that's just to be a part of is very important message that needs to be really out there to hopefully change society for the better. Because I said with the racist attacks that went on, that was absolutely horrendous. And it was... so traumatizing and hearing and john's experience of what he went through it was heartbreaking and and um on the day we were filming i was in the park with them in middlesbrough and um my character had to confront the main lads as played emmanuel sheeter
00:22:31
Speaker
who played there Toby and he, like as I said, the bit where had to confront him, it was so hard for me to do that because like say I said, I'd never played anything like this before and it was again, terrifying but we but but what I loved was that everyone involved, the crew and cast were so supportive of each other and that really took a big weight off my chest as well knowing that we all just clicked. um It sounds like quite a ah quite a safe safe environment even if it's portraying something that's quite horrific yeah because you never it's just the world that we live in you never know who's going to take offense and such but you gotta think this is art this is like what actors do and filmmakers and that they want to create something like really special and and and important yeah yeah and i guess to reflect the the real world there has to be
00:23:25
Speaker
at least within the film that has to be some of the negative aspects of the real world yeah but i mean it seems like is it only the trailer that's out so far because i i was quite invested from the trailer yeah so the trailer came out in january but we did have our premiere in march march 13th and and at the moment i think there is talks of another premiere at some point but it's also going to go into film festivals and then after that i will be on streaming services after that yeah i mean like i said it seems like a Definitely one to keep an eye out for because it it looks very interesting as a film. um I guess I just wondered, I've not really, i sort of skipped from your background, uni, straight to your more recent projects. But so what what sort of things were you have you been involved in sort of over the years? started off in youth theatre, Kappa Pai in Stanley, where I used to live.
00:24:15
Speaker
And, um yeah, I performed for them for like three years. I did loads of different things. I think the first production I ever did was Christmas Carol, which is one of my favourite books. I got to play Mr. Fezziwig and Tiny Tim. So it was just, i was just really chuffed to be involved in one of my favourite books, really. And then throughout, think I was with them for a couple years and we did loads of different things. I played Colonel Mustard and And then... I did school productions as well, performing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Chord, Our Day Out, being either in the chorus or I had a little role, supporting role in them. And I think after once I left school, I decided to take a little break to go off and do art and design, which I mentioned previously in animation.
00:24:55
Speaker
through uni and just to give myself a little backup plan in case the acting side just faded but in the end like said when i started doing my voice overs in animation at uni it made me miss acting and I am joined a an amateur theater group in Washington called Washington Theater Group. And I was with them for a good 12 year and we did pantomimes. I was always getting rules in pantomimes. And the last one I did for with them, I got to play the villain, which again, that was just a a good way to finish off pantomime. The years of pantomime I've been doing and such, because I played multiple characters and that from henchmen to a genie. while I was in the chorus. I didn't mind. is it was just loads of fun. And then I did and couple of the summer shows with them, like Alloa Law. I also directed a couple of the players there, like Great Gatsby, The Haunting of Hill House. Yeah, so ah for me, it's all about exploring ah different roles, really, and that. And, you know, it's just an experience at the end of the day. Do you have any advice for people ah people who are wanting to...
00:25:53
Speaker
i guess pursue acting slash filmmaking do you know what for me like because i've learned a lot over the years and that and i know a lot of actors wanted like try and break out and get their big breaks and such and some do some don't but i always think now from learning from my experience it's just like don't like push yourself too hard uh because it's like it is stressful but you don't want to like lose the passion of what you love doing and that and for me it's just basically just have fun doing it still and that and as long as you enjoy doing it just keep doing it that is really important advice i think um i've been recently i've been um trying to do some writing uh i've got this idea about writing some radio drama uh Oh, ah Because it's a lot of fun to write. But it's like, it' it's remembering that thing. It's like, you know, like it does matter, but also it doesn't matter. But brackets positive. Yeah. Like it's it's this thing where it's like, sometimes I get so stressed with it and then I'll have like these giant stages are like, oh my God, what's the point in any of this? And it's like, Ryan, it is important that you do the thing that is important to you. But also like,
00:27:06
Speaker
if this is If this is the worst thing in the world, it's still okay. It's fine. Yeah. It was it was only like like for years I've had like little ideas to throw in other people's projects if I can and that. But then just only just last year, out of nowhere, I just had this big inspiration to start writing something. It was another horror. Yeah.
00:27:25
Speaker
and um i wanted to do and um yeah it like it was just it was the start for me of writing and and then all sudden other ideas have just come along the way and that and i just start drafting them out and i always think like it if it doesn't come to anything at least i just if i've got the idea quickly write it down and if it comes nothing it's nothing but if it does keep going with it it takes time enough And that, and that, but because you want to like keep developing. And I always say to people like, you've written the first draft, but you might want to go back and tweak things as always, as you do. And that, cause you might be not happy something. You might have a different idea to change things and all that, but that's the fun process of writing really. And that some people find it stressful a bit, which it is. There's always moments where I like when I write something and i' I've written so much, I've got the the beginning, in the middle, and it's always the end for me thinking, how can I finish this without being so cliche? And I wanted to give that the audience something like, oh my God, I didn't see that coming.
00:28:18
Speaker
And that's, it's building suspense. I mean, I love like writing horror or black comedies, like one of my top things to write as well. So yeah, it's always just trying to find something that's just not, I think I have a slightly different problem. I'm like, usually have beginnings usually come to me quite solidly. I'm like, usually like there's a bit of pace in there, a bit of a nice introduction. And then I usually have a decent idea where it's going. But then I'm just like, what hell do I do in between?
00:28:46
Speaker
i'm more i' more I'm always like, and for people who I know who are writers themselves and got years of experience, I'm always like, can I email us over to you just to get a little bit of feedback, criticism? I'll take it on board and that. If if they think it's rubbish, then I'd rather to be honest about that. It's like I say, how how you expect to learn if people don't give you criticism. Because one thing I'm not but very keen on is when people just say like, I mean, maybe it's because they're not experienced with the same thing as me, but they'll say like, oh, it's really good. And that I really like it. I think, please be up like, just please be full. Don't just say that to make, keep me happy because it's not going to help me learn. And I'd be as critical as possible because I'm my own, I'm my own worst critic really, because even if anything I've acted in or written or directed, i always look back and think,
00:29:31
Speaker
could have done better. It's a learning curve for you. like um If you don't succeed on the first, try, try again. Yeah, i like i think it's this, yeah you always want the thing you're doing to be the best thing, how ah how do you say, the best thing you've ever done, but also like,
00:29:47
Speaker
you want everything you do in the future to be better than that. So you're always, yeah. So it's like the best thing you've ever done, but the worst thing you'll ever do going forward, if that makes sense. Yes. I just think like looking back at any like professional filmmakers that we've grown up, like, like people like James Cameron for one, he's always going back to his old projects and changing something like Terminator 2. He changed the CGI stuff. from what it was originally or something. And it's like, it just goes to show people are not always fully satisfied with something. even if it's a big Yeah. I think it just, I mean, unless you're James Cameron and you have all of the money to spend 20 years developing blue people. I just, I don't know, like 10 years, 20 years. I'm like, wow, you really got a big, like it's a, you must really want to do this project to be able to like develop it so long, but it just goes to show.
00:30:40
Speaker
but Yeah, but i guess I guess if you're not James Cameron, it's sort of like also important to just go, right, this is this is the best I can do on this project. And then you learn your lessons and you move on and you do you do better based on those lessons next time. um tell me about crush crush is your other film that you so you wrote crush and you're you're in crush as well i am yes i play one of the main characters chad and it's been um it's it it changed over the few months when we started like developed like uh planning it all locations such and originally meant to be four characters involved but then it went down to three because one of the actors was sadly unavailable but that just happens over time things change um but um yeah it's just basically a couple of friends get together and it's just um
00:31:31
Speaker
just talking about like rather as i say the titles the clues in the title really and that's um about i don't want to this is hard because i don't want to give too much away to it and that because um it's like i want people to watch it and that but it's like i say it's a rom-com let me try it that again it's a rom-com with a twist it was great because i got to uh collaborate unified studio with green lane productions and green lane productions is found by curtis j burnett uh rory norton and Rob Heselton and they were just so great to work with. and I recommend it to anyone to, if they want to get a project made or help with writing anything, ask them and they'll be well up for helping with anything. And I just love their organizing skills. That was what I admired about them as well. Cause it's like they were on the same wavelength as me and yeah, we all just got on so well and it just really brought my vision of the script to life. And i'm really looking forward to seeing it all being edited together and get,
00:32:28
Speaker
get it out there for everyone to see. And that'll be my first solo project that I've written. Because obviously with Batman Unmasked was co-writer for that one. So, but this one, I actually had my first solo writing credit. What's the difference in the process then between co-writing and writing? Like, obviously there's one person, there's two people, but I mean, in terms of...
00:32:47
Speaker
having someone to bounce ideas off versus it being fully your idea? Well, for Batman Unmasked it was mostly my idea to like develop the script and such. and But in over time, we like am Phil Rallich, who helped me like tweak things as well adding things that we thought might work better, And that was, said I was willing to take on his ideas as well, not just my own.
00:33:13
Speaker
I wanted it to be a like a team effort. And that's what I like with everyone. It's like, if anyone's got an idea for something, don't feel, but don't feel like you need to hold back. And that's, I mean, i like I say, for me I might be the writer or the director, but if anyone else got an idea to help change something to make it better, go, like, I'm all for the ideas. Let's try it as well. You know, if you don't try it, you don't, it's it's nothing in the end.
00:33:36
Speaker
Yeah. It's like, ultimately, you're all working together to make the best best product. If someone has a good idea, then... Yeah. And I've worked on some people's projects where they just they make you feel like you just, you can't have your say.
00:33:50
Speaker
and And it's like, we're all here to do the same job, the thing that we love. but we just and they make you feel limited because they're just uh controlling of their work and they just don't want to open up to people's ideas and that's i think it's because they want to make sure it's it's all them the credits but it's like if it just needs to met i done for me i'm just thinking i'm like just like wanting to make sure everyone has a great time works as a team and you and you come and you think we've done something great yeah want to have a good time doing it are you planning to work um as writer director on any films in future are you planning to do a bit more acting what what what's how do you see things going forward
00:34:31
Speaker
Do you know what? i just so I'm just more like what will be, will be. um Let's say um I have been developing a few other projects again. say I have been writing a couple of things recently. I'm hoping to get them in development by next year. And like with Unified Studio, we have got other projects in the works the moment. Like we've got um a film called Therapy Gone Wrong coming up. and It's about and the education system failing with mental health.
00:35:00
Speaker
supporting it and it's written by Aidan Armstrong who's a part of Unified and um yeah it's it's a very again that's another very important topic to really ah really get out there because there's a lot of us who have all suffered mental health, I've suffered it over the years and that and's like I say it's it's ah it's very hard to admit that you ah like a suffering in silence but when you admit it to someone it's a big it's it changes everything it makes you look on a different perspective of life after that because and and but you feel relieved at the end when you when at first you felt scared but when you admitted that you've got a problem it's just yeah the big weight off your chest completely and that's your first big step to get the recovery that you need and i just feel like there's not enough support
00:35:48
Speaker
as well in general with when it comes to mental health because of budgets and such being cuts and it's just like people are reaching out for help when they need it but they're in wait it's all these cues you're waiting in and that's which is not really helpful because of like the the want the experts to like help them really and that's and it's hard to admit to your close ones who you love so much that you've got a problem and that's because you really care about them but when And like I mean, you know, when you they day come up to you and they'll say, why can't you tell us that? You could have told us, but it's it's not as easy as it it is.
00:36:21
Speaker
And you because you keep denying it and wearing the mask for so long. And that and then and for me now, now that I've like removed that mask and opened up about the problem I've had with my mental health, it's like I say, um i can just stand proud of myself in a way.
00:36:38
Speaker
to say that I shouldn't be ashamed, I shouldn't be judged, and neither should anyone in that situation. At the end the we're human, we're getting on of our life, which is, was it's a battle every day, to air but it's, we do the best we can to survive, really.
00:36:53
Speaker
And that's, and it's like say, yeah i always say to people, like you're not alone. And that's, we will all go through it. People just don't show it because they feel ashamed. But to be honest, like I say, it's nothing to be ashamed. It's exactly the thing you're saying, where it's, you go through these things and you think, I'm a freak for thinking like this and and nobody else could possibly think like this. And then when you are able to say those things to somebody else and they don't immediately, I don't even know what, what I'd expect to happen. Like, My my my crazy image is always a hole is going to open up in the floor and devour me. And then suddenly you tell someone about something and that doesn't happen or whatever the real life version of that would be. And and it's exactly that thing you say. It's relief because it's it's you're not alone. You're not the only person who thinks like this. And you're not a like you know a freak call or whatever whatever word is going on in your head with with um your particular mental health issues. yeah it's like even people who say that like they don't um they've never suffered it and i'm like well at one point you might but i say you have no right to judge against still and that's until until you go through it but um like say mental health is something i'm very passionate about talking about really as well on top of things because it's like i said not many people open up about enough so i've seen a lot of people who have suffered really badly with it
00:38:09
Speaker
even worse than me. And i've but for what say now is that I've reached out, I'm getting the help I need, and it's like the end of the tunnel. And now ah it's just basically reinventing myself now.
00:38:22
Speaker
And that could you do feel lost at times. because You create your creativity with an actor as well. And it's like you put on a show. youre You're developing all these different characters and that one after the next. And then sometimes you forget your own identity underneath. And it's because you've worn that mask too long to real.
00:38:42
Speaker
And then it's like a time bomb, really. Just it's a matter of time before it just goes bang. Yeah, it's a really interesting subject because I like It's one of them I've never sort of formally looked into, the idea of like you
Mental Health and Acting
00:38:55
Speaker
know like masking. um I mean, I've Googled it, but never sought a spoke to anyone about that particular thing. But also, it's from reading up on it, i'm like, I so recognize this idea in myself.
00:39:06
Speaker
um that in In a lot of situations, it's like masking. It's it's not one in to be seen like a certain way or putting on a mask to make sure that you're like you want to appear normal. I'm doing the quote unquote. And so yeah, yeah you it's almost like you create a character for your real life. um But then In a way, you are doing the same thing when you're acting, but I've always seen acting as a positive thing. And I don't i don't know if that's because... like An escape route. it's ah Yeah, an escape route or an intentional... It's like an intentional masking and the rules the the rules you're placing around you are...
00:39:45
Speaker
this is not me and you know that it's not me. Yeah. and and as I definitely see where you're coming there. And i'd like I say, for years, I've just like really, ah I've just worn a mask too long and that. And there was moments where, when I was like taking that step back, when people were like asked,
00:40:02
Speaker
like, torn to me normally off stage or off set. And there was moments I was like, who am I? I've gone from being this character and then I've forgotten who I am. i did value yeah and that's And that's another thing at the time with my mental health, I had to take that step back to like, rediscover myself again and find myself of who I am and that. But I say, would like when you said about being normal, like no one's normal, no one's perfect.
00:40:30
Speaker
we're we're we're all different in many ways and that and like I say it's not it's not no one should be judging for that Yeah, no, I quote-unquoted it.
00:40:41
Speaker
and Ah, yeah, I know what you mean. You can't it on the on the on the podcast, but yeah. But it is, though, it is that iss the it's the fears that that sort of set in that spiral around your brain and cause cause a lot of mental health issues. And, you know, everyone always has certain words around things. Like, for me, a lot of when I've talked to therapists, a lot of it's been anxieties about whether I'm a good person or not. and But then it means you're thinking about being a good person more than any any normal person is, and it's just...
00:41:07
Speaker
you're doubting your actions. Yeah. And there's a lot of sort of, I guess, o cd OCD, OCD. Yeah. Yeah. That's another thing I suffer with as well. That and anxiety. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. um And then, but then i don't know, ultimately it's like the thing I always say is if I've ever talked to anyone about talking to a therapist and they kind of go, Oh, sorry, I don't mean to pry. And I'm like, I'm fine. We're talking about going to a therapist. I think everybody should be talking to a therapist its all the time. yeah well it's saying they're there to help and that so don't feel like you need to hold back say what is on your mind and that not there to judge you they're there to help you and help you like find light at the end of the tunnel and it's the nicest thing just to have someone who will unjudgmentally like they'll call you out on things if you need calling out but they're not doing it in a judgmental way and it's just a nice thing that i think any person could benefit from It's like you say, what makes you tick. It's like that's what, in a way, you're trying to find. with your met the back There's something at the back of your head. It's like a big, massive concrete. Something that's really traumatised you or something from, like maybe from childhood. And you've just got these like little things, like little picky things on top, piling and piling up over time.
00:42:19
Speaker
And it's like, they're not bad enough the main things. It's that thing at the back. And then all a it just goes... I don't know if someone is mean to you, like bullies you as a child, and it's not necessarily that you think everybody else is bullying you, but it's the thing they've put in your mind as a child and you're expecting other people to to react like that. And exactly the thing, it's a small thing that then builds and builds and builds until 20 years later, yeah you've had like an expectation of people set, even if that's nothing to do with the person you're actually talking to.
00:42:49
Speaker
But the the damage has been done. Yeah, but that's another thing as well. Like with bullies, like when you look back at that school and everything, they probably have been going through something traumatizing and as well that you weren't made aware of and that. And they're just looking for someone to take the anger out, but they were just doing on the wrong person. No, exactly. And and to be fair, like the the way you bring it back to so what makes you tick, part of the actual thought process in starting this podcast is I've gone to things like the Actors Forge. I've done sort of creative things, but there's always this sort of weird anxiety and like, I don't know that jealousy is the right word, but this thing that,
00:43:22
Speaker
Anyone who's any good at anything means that I'm not good at anything. And I eventually came to this realization last year, like, that's not true. And so part of actually doing this podcast is to see people who I think are good at things and seem to be doing things well that might have once...
00:43:44
Speaker
I had this effect in me where I were like, I'm not good enough. And going, actually, talk to them people, understand what they're doing and why they're good at things. and And it's almost like trying to reverse that natural reaction in me to go, you're good. That means I'm bad. And to go, actually, we can all be good together. Yeah. Do you know what? I've had like people in the past who said who were like that as well, who I was like, i did come across like a little bit jealous and obsessed with war but just because I was like, I loved what it is.
00:44:10
Speaker
and that and i wanted to be like them but it's like i say we're all different in so many ways and that everyone's got their own style to things like when it comes to acting it's like you see someone do like a really great dramatic performance i think oh my god i wish i could do that but like i say that's their what they're good at you've got something else just as good but it doesn't mean like you should be jealous of it really or that and no one should come up to you and say thinking they're better than you because in a way no one No one really is. And that would, like, again, that's just meant that's the point I make, why I we're all different people, different personalities. not Don't expect to get on it with everyone, but that's just life. I think ultimately it's to me realizing like, it's not about being the best. It's like, you don't need to be better than anyone. All you need to do is be the best version of you as everybody should be. And then everyone can be the best. Yeah. As long as you just enjoy doing what you do in life and it's no one else's business really. And that, and you can just look back and say, I've done all this. I'm pleased. I'm happy. um Okay, so I usually end the show by asking for a piece of media that is important to you. I actually kind of wanted to ask you specifically just about books. you've you've ah
00:45:28
Speaker
Bookworm is in your bio on the website that i'm not allowed to mention anymore. And you seem to to read quite a bit. was actually particularly curious about, oh, I'm going to have to mention Instagram. going to have to do it. I've just sort of noticed a few books while flicking through. um The Jeanette, Jeanette McCurdy. Oh, yes. I've not read either of them, but i was quite interested in the Glad My Mum Died book that came out a few years ago because she's from, it Icarly she wrote? Icarly or Nickelodeon, yes. Yeah. yeah um So that was quite a interesting story because, you know,
00:46:00
Speaker
I watched Icarly back in the day. Yeah, like said, I watched a lot i lost a lot of things on Nickelodeon, like Drake and Josh. And yeah like there was either things like Suite Life of Zack and Cody or Ned's Declassified School Survivor Guide. Oh, I totally forgot about Ned's Declassified. I used to love that. we Honestly, like what is become of thoses asked some of those actors, what they went through and all that, and either ended homeless or, and again, like Jeanette McCurdy with I'm Glad My Mum Died. when i was reading it it was like interesting but it was a very tough read but you just couldn't help one to keep going because you were like learning a lot again when it comes to the acting industry of what she went through and that like she had a controlling mother who wanted to be an actress herself but she didn't make it so she threw her own daughter into it who didn't want to be an actress and basically she had to please her mother but And that, otherwise she'd be very disappointed.
00:46:57
Speaker
And like, she was like telling her, twilight um if like, if she, like say, she went in for an audition and didn't get it her mum would be on to the agents, having a right go at them saying, why is my daughter not good enough? That sort of thing. And then she was she was very critical of what she wore, what she ah what she ate, and getting on like anorexia diets and all that. It was mental. And even when she was two, I read, she ah When she was two, her mum had cancer and she survived it, but she led made her chunf, living guilt.
00:47:29
Speaker
If they failed her, she would say something like, the cancer will return if you fail me, like that sort of thing. And I think, wow. When her mum passed as well, she didn't who she was because she relied on mum to sort that for her.
00:47:42
Speaker
And so she had it messed with her mentally throughout it all, really. And I was just like, whoa. After I finished, put the book down, i was like, whoa, that was like a lot to take in that. But I couldn't help not want to keep reading to find out more. But and it just opened my mind to what the acting industry is really like.
00:48:02
Speaker
as well. and there's more And there's more about Nickelodeon as well. But like said, i don't want to give too much more away than that if you're interested to read it. But I do recommend it to all actors to give that one a read. I think it's coming in a TV series he's very soon as well. really Jennifer Aniston's going to play and her in this, which I'm very intrigued to see that because, i mean, she can't I can see it away because ive I mean, I've watched her in whole bosses where she's like, robert but like insane and not really a bit. But it's like I said, it's just like what goes in the world when it comes to being a child actor. And I said to myself, I am so pleased i was not in that situation myself.
00:48:37
Speaker
and having my childhood robbed of me and become completely messed up yeah it's just weird like because to me looking back at some of those like nickelodeon shows and things uh they're nice and they're comforting because they remind me of being 14 and like yeah i loved drake and josh i had a proper drake and josh stage but um because some of the stuff with nickelodeon it's the guy who made all those shows it turned out to be a right ah Yep. Bad guy. dude. That's all Jeanette McCurdy refers to in her book, The Creator. But and I think if I recall when she wanted to leave Nickelodeon, they offered her $300,000 to keep her mouth shut.
00:49:16
Speaker
And she didn't take it. And good on her for doing that, because that's guilt money. I mean, it happens more and more with things. On the last episode I did, I started talking about Neil Gaiman and how I used to love the guy, and now... Yeah, I love these books. I love, and I think after that, I stopped wanting to read any more of his. I just like, right, yeah, it's a shit it's its and it's horrible it's it's a shame as well because you grew up like admiring their work and such and then all this comes out, but you know. Yeah, and then it's it's this thing where it's like having to establish...
00:49:46
Speaker
how you relate to a work that you've you've loved when you know that the people involved in it are bad people because bad people yeah like like neil gamen's one where i was so obsessed that now i'm the same i just i won't touch his stuff now but that's partly because of how into his stuff i was where there's there's other things where it's like i don't know there's so many things now that i might just not not watch anything if i if i stay away from anything where a bad person's involved yeah i would I mean, I loved Ocean at the End of the Lane. I saw it on stage and it was phenomenal. I mean, I love anything about the National Theatre. you see it in Sunderland?
Theater Experiences and Upcoming Projects
00:50:20
Speaker
Yes. Oh, I did as well. I saw it in Sunderland and I went to see it in Newcastle as well. My mum said how much she wanted to see it after I saw it in Sunderland. right, when it comes to Newcastle, we'll go see it there. And I just loved it even more the second time. was just like so in love with it. It had Janine from EastEnders in, didn't it? It did, yes. But she went really good as well. She scared me. Well, I was going to say, bless her, she can't get away from playing like a so-bitch type character, but she plays it so well. I was terrified of her as well.
00:50:49
Speaker
And that, like, walking through the door sequence. That's exactly what was thinking. Oh, yeah. I don't know what was going to happen there, but it gave Stranger Things vibes from watching that as well. And I've said to people, if fair that ever comes on to again and you haven't seen it, go watch it. Yeah, unless you're boycotting old Neil Gaiman things. Yeah, but switch off from that for the sort of National Theatre. They take it to a new level. Yeah, it is it was a very good show.
00:51:15
Speaker
Yes. Yeah, well, um I mean, do you have anything else you want want to mention? I think I'll just throw in the bits about like the upcoming projects for Unified Studios. Are all right? Oh, yeah, sorry. Yeah, of course. Yeah, yeah. I think it's because but when we're having a good conversation like this, we're going off into another world here. But yeah, with Unified Studios, we've got and upcoming projects like Fairy Gone Wrong. We've also got the Millbridge Cases, which is like a film serial.
00:51:38
Speaker
The first one's called Snakes and Letters. That's a bit like an assassin series that we're in the middle of. We've got the first one, Snakes and Letters, in production now, and then we've got the second one coming up comic. um And then we've got something called The Pandora Expanse. It's basically and about a test flight that goes wrong, and they end up in this like alternative dimension.
00:51:59
Speaker
And I've got to find a way to get out of. Yeah. So I'm involved with those projects and then they're in development at the moment. And I guess lastly, um can you tell us where we can find you? And do you have anything else you'd like to plug? air So like I say, all on my socials, my Instagram especially, and Callum Murray Official. Yeah, there's like Facebook as well. And ah like i think there's a YouTube link on my Instagram to see some of my previous works as well. Great. Thank you very much for talking to me and I shall see you there. Yes, no problem. Thank you very much.
00:52:29
Speaker
What Makes You Tick is hosted, produced and edited by me, Ryan Watson. Thank you to Adam Sams for the theme music and to Craig Pearson for the show logo. And of course, thanks again to Callum for speaking to me for this episode. The next episode of What Makes You Tick will be available on Wednesday, the 1st of July. Keep an eye on at Makes You Tick Pod on Instagram for an early preview.
00:52:47
Speaker
Thanks for listening.