Read our inspiring interview with Caroline Spence. Caroline is a film producer and prolific screenwriter, working on a slate of original movies with Raya Films.
Tell Us About Your Career So Far
I started making films in 2004 with director, James Smith. In the early days, we concentrated on documentary filmmaking. This proved to be relatively successful with some award wins, theatrical screenings and DVD distribution.
Anything in this field is super competitive. So, to earn a living, we worked in the corporate video sector and did reasonably well until 2007 when the recession hit. Many companies pulled their marketing budgets. As a result, we re-evaluated our career goals and found our true passion: feature film.
My screenplays were very well received by industry professionals in LA and Hollywood. We came close a number of times to raising the finance necessary to go into production.
We were, however, ‘unknowns’ with no track record in feature film production, and so ultimately money was not forthcoming. To address this, I partnered with a couple of allegedly experienced producers who turned out to be rogues – they not only tried to steal our project, but also our company name!
In the end we decided that, to gain a credible track record, we would have to go out and make a movie on, literally, zero budget. The result was Do Something, Jake, which has been an incredibly successful project with packed-out theatrical screenings, a ‘Best Feature’ award, and five-star ratings. The film has now been picked up for global distribution by Meridian Releasing Group in the USA.
What Are You Currently Working On?
We are working on our fourth feature film, the first for us in the horror genre. Surveilled is a ‘smart’ horror movie, which is less gore with more humour and story originality mixed with fascinating, complex characters.
I’d describe this film as a TransAtlantic production, since we are working with both American and British actors.
What 2 Things Do You Do To Build Your Confidence?
I’ve never been what I would call super confident, however, as I’ve grown older, I’ve learned to combat any feelings of shyness or self-doubt. It’s mainly in the mind – you must believe in yourself and acknowledge your capabilities and talents.
I’ve worked in many different industries, have a rich background in sports and outdoor pursuits, and have always endeavoured to be the best I can be in these disciplines. This has helped me to build confidence in my own abilities and enabled me to tackle problems head on.
What Has Been Your Biggest Life Lesson So Far?
My biggest life lesson is, unfortunately, not to put trust in people until they have proven themselves. I’ve been far too trusting in the past and, as a result, have been burned or taken advantage of many times. Particularly in the film industry, there are many ‘blaggers’ who exaggerate their experience and background, or even lie about their intentions or abilities.
There’s a lot of jealousy out there as well, particularly I find in the UK – where the industry is smaller and more close-knit than one might expect – so it’s important not to let the doubters get you down. In my world, there’s no such word as “can’t”!
How Do You Feel About Getting Older?
Growing older doesn’t bother me. The danger of not living my life to the full bothers me, so I attack each day with optimism and a positive attitude.
What’s Your Purpose In Life?
My purpose in life is to keep healthy, fit and active, and build a successful career in the movie industry!
How Do You Balance Work And Life Responsibilities?
I am an organised person and work methodically. I work every day, but as I am effectively freelance and self-employed, I can slot my responsibilities relatively easily into my schedule.
What Sacrifices Have You Made?
I’ve made many sacrifices to break into film work. I actually believe that this is often necessary. Many people seem to think that they can walk into a nine-to-five environment with stability, all of the perks of a steady job, and so on. Although this might be possible in certain sectors, it’s generally a very speculative endeavour with many risks involved.
In the past, I had steady employment and what one may consider the usual day-to-day essentials – a car, a steady income, and so on – but this has now effectively been sacrificed for a rather gypsy-esque lifestyle with many ups and downs. This is in no way a complaint. It’s exciting, creative and unpredictable, and sometimes with great rewards in a very glamorous industry.
What Are Your Top Self-Care Tips? How Do You Relax?
A healthy diet, outdoor activity and exercise is key for both healthy mind and body. I favour a Mediterranean diet and am increasingly moving toward vegetarianism.
To relax, I watch movies and read, and I sleep a lot!
What Advice Would You Give The Next Generation Of Girls?
My advice to the next generation is to concentrate on your education. Don’t let anyone say that you cannot do something. If they do, use it as motivation – go and prove them wrong.
Follow your passion and be the best you can be. And don’t live your life through social media! Get off your phones and develop your own experiences and memories.
If you enjoyed reading this interview, why not check out all our others, including our one with Kate Pankhurst.
More About Caroline Spence:
Caroline is a film producer and prolific screenwriter, working on a slate of original, commercial movies with Raya Films.
She has received high praise for her screenplays from established industry professionals in London and Hollywood and is also an optioned screenwriter. Caroline has written screenplays and commercial scripts for clients from all over the world, including Louisiana, Hong Kong, Canada and Australia.
Photo by James Smith.
