Trivia

He was rejected by the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in Beaconsfield, UK. In 2003 he went to the private Los Angeles Film School.

His first job in the film industry was as Ismail Merchant's assistant for Merchant Ivory Productions: "I sent a CV and badgered them and said please give me a job and they paid me - it is illegal now, thank God - £50 a week." But he admired their "personal, passionate way of working". [2015].

Directed one Oscar nominated performance: Charlotte Rampling in 45 Años (2015).

Shot his first feature Greek Pete (2009) himself on an inexpensive HD camera for a micro budget of about £ 5000. His second feature Weekend (2011) had a low budget of £ 100000 to £ 120000 and was shot primarily using a Canon 5D Mark II, with outdoor scenes shot on a Sony PMW-EX3, because of its zoom lens. Both films were completed in a fully digital workflow.

He spent a year at the Los Angeles Film School, "basically to get equipment in my hands" before directing his first feature, Greek Pete (2009).