From 'One Day' to Feature Debut: Molly Manners & Producer Sarah Brocklehurst on Adapting Short Stories, Sundance and Making 'Extra Geography'
The Filmmakers PodcastShow Notes
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Filmmakers, welcome back to the podcast! Today we have an absolute treat for you, especially if you love fiercely authentic, character-driven British cinema.
We are sitting down with BAFTA-winning director Molly Manners and powerhouse producer Sarah Brocklehurst to talk about their brilliant new coming-of-age film, Extra Geography, which is out in UK cinemas right now via Vertigo Releasing.
Now, you will definitely know Molly’s work from directing the massive Netflix global hit One Day, as well as the BAFTA-winning series In My Skin. Extra Geography marks her feature film directorial debut, and what a debut it is. Alongside her, we are thrilled to welcome back to the pod the founder of Brock Media, Sarah Brocklehurst—the producer behind phenomenal indies like Animals, Black Pond and the multi-BIFA-nominated The Outrun.
Extra Geography premiered to sold-out crowds at Sundance earlier this year and has been sitting comfortably at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Written by Miriam Battye and adapted from a short story by Rose Tremain, the film follows two teenage best friends at an English girls' boarding school who launch a summer project to fall in love with the very next person they see.
In today's chat, Molly and Sarah break down the transition from high-end television to indie features, the art of expanding a short story into a ninety-minute script and how they discovered incredible newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear to anchor the film.
Also, remember that you can watch the full video version of this interview over on our TFP YouTube Channel—so make sure you head over there and hit subscribe! Let’s dive straight in. Enjoy the episode!"
Title: Directing Extra Geography: Molly Manners & Sarah Brocklehurst on Sundance, Teenage Obsession & Feature Debuts
On this week's episode, we are joined by BAFTA-winning director Molly Manners (One Day, In My Skin) and acclaimed producer Sarah Brocklehurst (The Outrun, Animals) to break down their critically acclaimed new coming-of-age drama, Extra Geography.
Fresh off a sold-out run at the Sundance Film Festival and a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, Molly and Sarah take us behind the scenes of bringing Miriam Battye’s sharp, funny and deeply relatable screenplay to the big screen.
🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
The TV to Feature Leap: Molly discusses stepping onto the set of her debut feature film after directing massive television hits like Netflix's One Day.
Adapting Short Fiction: How Sarah and screenwriter Miriam Battye took Rose Tremain’s original short story and expanded the world into a full feature arc without losing its intimacy.
Finding the Leads: The casting process behind discovering newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear, and how to build raw, unbreakable teenage chemistry alongside Alice Englert.
Producing Authentic British Indies: Sarah shares insights into packaging, financing and championing distinct female-led stories in today’s independent market.
Capturing the Boarding School Bubble: How the production design, cinematography and pacing worked together to capture the claustrophobic, intoxicating intensity of teenage friendships.
Extra Geography is out in UK cinemas now via Vertigo Releasing.
🎧 CATCH UP ON RECENT EPISODES:
Directing the Silence: George MacKay on Sense and Sensibility, Ripped Trousers & Trusting the Director.
Adapting Austen: Georgia Oakley & Fiona Shaw on 35mm Film, Subverting Costumes & Sense and Sensibility.
Bad Apples: Jonatan Etzler on 17 Shorts, Character Arcs & Directing Saoirse Ronan.
The Business of Film Special: The Hidden UK Indie Boom, Sales Agents & Surviving the Box Office Market.
ALL AT thefilmmakerspodcast.com
📲 SUPPORT THE PODCAST & CALL TO ACTION:
🎥 Watch on YouTube: Head over to the TFP YouTube Channel to watch the full video interview with Molly and Sarah, and don'
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