NFTS students enjoyed an inspirational Masterclass from Gareth Edwards, award-winning director of Monsters and Godzilla, just before he goes into production on Star Wars: Rogue One.
The BAFTA nominated, British Independent Film Award winning director’s hit first feature, Monsters, was produced by NFTS graduate Allan Niblo of Vertigo films. Vertigo offered Edwards the chance to make a feature after seeing his Sci-Fi London 48 hour film challenge winning short, Factory Farmed. Critics hailed Monsters, made with a minimal crew, with Edwards shooting and doing the VFX himself, as “An amazing achievement for a ‘first-time’ filmmaker, which measures up to the finest indies for performance and character-work, and the biggest blockbusters for jaw-dropping effects” and “A stunning piece of work that packs a devastating emotional wallop.” Edwards was Executive Producer on last year’s follow up, Monsters: Dark Continent directed by NFTS graduate Tom Green and produced by Vertigo.
His blockbuster hit Godzilla was described by critics as, “A summer blockbuster that's not just thrilling, but that orchestrates its thrills with such rare diligence, you want to yelp with glee.” and “That rare breed of blockbuster that emphasises character over spectacle and slow-burn tension over relentless action sequences, Godzilla rewards patience with strong performances and sparing, spine-tingling set-pieces.”
Edwards kindly gave a screening and Q&A at the NFTS with Monsters when it was first released and the NFTS was delighted to welcome him back.
During the fascinating Masterclass, hosted by Empire Magazine Features Editor Dan Jolin, Edwards talked warmly and generously to students about his approach to film-making, storytelling and VFX. He advised students to push the limits and experiment with their work: “You have a middle that’s safe; you can go a little to the left or the right of that and it’s more interesting, but if you can go all the way to the extreme left or right - to where it fails, and then come back a step at a time from there to something that succeeds, you reach a place you’d never have got to, something more inspired.”
Pictured: Empire Magazine Features Editor Dan Jolin, who chaired the masterclass, with NFTS Executive Producer Venetia Hawkes and Director Gareth Edwards.
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