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Peer Review: Eros V
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A British-Greek writer director from London, MindsEye's Eros V is known for his high octane, all-killer, no-filler genre films. His recent horror-comedy spots for Quickbooks won Gold at the Young Arrows, and he was nominated for Best New Director at the 2023 shots awards. Here, he shares his influences from Terminator to Bresson.
Who are three contemporaries that you admire, and why?
Phoebe Jane Hart. Amazing LA-based animator and all round great human. Their work has such an idiosyncratic, insane sense of humour that I haven’t seen before. We immediately bonded over a shared love of puppets.
I love working with creative people, I love the energy of ideas pinging around, people smiling, it’s infectious.
Rodrigue Huart. French genre film master, I love the way he uses music to bring his work to life - that’s something I wrestle with but he has it totally nailed - it gives his films such a distinct edge. Plus he is a great dude.
Cecile Cournelle. A french musician, who directed her own music video - it’s a phenomenal piece, powerful, witty and it shows how inventive you can be on a small budget. It’s always inspiring to meet someone who can mix disciplines, create profound work AND be a total legend.
Above: JamieSonShine by Phoebe Jane Hart
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Please share 3-4 pieces of work that exemplify great direction.
This scene [below] from War of the Worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg, iconic. The reveal of the gun. It doesn’t get any better.
I had always written, and one day I decided to direct a short. I just loved it, in all the ways I didn’t love acting.
The opening scene of A Man Escaped, directed by Robert Bresson. A whole story told in a single shot of hands.
This scene from Terminator 2 might be best character introduction ever? Maybe. Maybe.
Above: scene from War of the Worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg
What do you like most about the work that you do?
The free food.
And the creativity, without a shadow of a doubt. Every day is a new challenge, a new idea, a new scheme. I love working with creative people, I love the energy of ideas pinging around, people smiling, it’s infectious.
I storyboard every cut, and quite often the edit turns out very close to the plan. It’s how I love to work, and I love to share it
What was your journey to becoming a director?
I started out as an actor, and I’m glad I did. It taught me a lot about a set. When you’re a director, you don’t often get to peer into other departments - when you’re an actor, you have all the time in the world to wander around on set. It’s like being an intern, only you’re in costume. I got to work with some incredible talent, some amazing directors, to observe them, see how they ran the set.
I had always written, and one day I decided to direct a short. I just loved it, in all the ways I didn’t love acting.
Above: Opening scene of A Man Escaped, directed by Robert Bresson
What is the most valuable skill you’ve learned in your career, and why?
Storyboarding. I storyboard every cut, and quite often the edit turns out very close to the plan. It’s how I love to work, and I love to share it - I find it can really help actors grasp the style and tone of a piece, if they can see it almost like a graphic novel.
My mentor is my old DVD collection from 2002-2009. It taught me everything I need to know.
What is one thing every director needs?
Coffee.
Above: scene from Terminator 2, directed by James Cameron
Who was the greatest director of all time? Why?
Impossible question! Spielberg for me, I love his films; the versatility and heart. Kurasawa for the way he edits and moves the camera. Leone for the music. I could keep going.
Did you have a mentor? Who was it?
My mentor is my old DVD collection from 2002-2009. It taught me everything I need to know, including a valuable lesson about one day being replaced by a new technology.
