shots Unsigned: Joshua Armstrong

In our latest chat with unsigned directing talent we hear from Last Dog Films founder and director Joshua Armstrong. We talk about his latest short horror film inspired by the internet hoax Momo.

Captured over two days, the short film MOMO revolves around an unexpected delivery, that brings an unusual being into the spotlight... and it's not friendly.

Armstrong is a multi-disciplined filmmaker who straddles directing, screenwriting, camera operation and VFX, and has recently launched a dedicated YouTube channel, alongside friends Alex Arnold and Michael Southgate.

Last Dog Films are a UK based, award-winning production team intent on creating unique shorts in a variety of genres, including drama, sci-fi, horror, and comedy. 

Can you tell us a little about your background and your route into directing?

I've worked in every field of filmmaking. I started out as a camera operator, but over the last 20 years I've mostly enjoyed screenwriting. 

After making films for others, I decided it was time to create my own content, which is how I started directing.

Would you say you have a directing style? How did you arrive at it?

For a long time I've been all about slow burners, but since moving my craft to Youtube I've learnt the importance of quick cold opens. It's a different beast from film. But ultimately, I encourage everyone on the team to collaborate their ideas, because a happy set is a productive set!

Did you study filmmaking? How did you learn your craft?

I completed my BA (Hons) in Film Studies in 2010, but learnt my craft through sheer practice. 

I owe everything I've learnt to my wife, if I'm honest. She's supported my passion for over a decade, which has helped me to concentrate.

What was the inspiration for MOMO?

We were looking for an age-old trend, and this is going to sound crazy, but she came to me in a dream! We wrote the piece but never expected it to be that well-received. I guess that's why I'm so looking forward to the sequel, because we know what Momo is capable of.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in pulling this project together?  

The one thing we don't have in our team is a CGI artist. I do VFX myself, but it's not my expertise and I'd much rather be writing or directing. Momo's face is actually a mask that I had custom-built, and then I painted. 

The hardest challenge was having her eyes move correctly in post-production. The sequel will give her way more control of her anatomy though, but we're still yet to find the right CGI artist. (Anybody out there?!)

ABOVE: Some BTS shots on the set of MOMO.

How long was the shoot and what was the most challenging aspect of the project? 

We only had the location for 11 hours. This short was a two day shoot. I had to run a tight ship, but we somehow managed it. To be honest, I'm not sure how! But there was a pretty unhealthy amount of caffeine involved. Locations are always so expensive to film in, but from this we've struck a deal with the owner so I can't wait to create bigger and better stories there.

...there was a pretty unhealthy amount of caffeine involved.

What have you learned during the process of making the film? 

Passion is the most powerful tool there is. It doesn't matter what you're filming with, so long as there's passion your team can pull off anything. Well, that and a lot of hard work!

Where do you find the inspiration for your projects?

I'm asked this question a lot. I'm never sure what the answer is. Delusion maybe? I probably need therapy for the amount of horror concepts that pop into my head at any time. 

We made a fun short called SHIFT which is a supernatural thriller set on an ice rink right before the pandemic hit. But I've learnt so much again I'd really like to revisit the concept. We have short films released every three or four months. This year's line-up is so exciting too!

We have short films released every three or four months. 

What other directors' work do you admire? 

I love Edgar Wright! My style isn't the same, but his ability to be playful with comedy is inspiring. I'm also a fan of Olan Rogers, who can really blend deep emotional conflicts with light-hearted comedy, and Brian Duffield who isn't afraid to just go all out there!