Sean McAllister
Over the past twelve years the British independent filmmaker Sean McAllister has made films for both the BBC and Channel 4; working in the UK, Israel, Iraq and most recently Japan. His films are intimate portraits of people from different parts of the world who are survivors; caught up in political and personal conflict struggling to make sense of the world we live in.
McAllister is the pioneer of the ‘one-man-crew’. Filming with just a camcorder is the only way for him to make the intimate films he has in mind. McAllister about his debut: “I made the first film to escape from the factory. I had got the story there. I sent it to Bournemouth cinema school. They admitted me on the spot and wanted to make the film. They offered a whole crew with cranks and all. I refused. They insisted. I left and went back to the factory with a camera in my bag. I would film whenever the supervisor was out of sight. I would get my camera out. The supervisor would clock me and shout. I once shot him as he was screaming at me and I understood what makes drama. I did that film from my mates’ point of view. My camera was nestled in my arm; I took it out from behind my back whenever I could. I would film all I could from my spot. That was the only way I could make a film that was real to them. What kind of a story would I have done if I had turned up with a whole crew on the shop floor? No way.”
Filmography
The Liberace of Baghdad (2004)
Hull’s Angel (2002)- Shadow Festival 2002
Settlers (2000) - Shadow Festival 2000
The Minders (1998)
Working for the enemy (1997) - Shadow Festival 1999
Shoot out in Swansea (1997)
Just People (1995/1998)
Hitting (1995)
Life with Brian (1994)
Crematorium (1993)
The Season (1990)
A Passing Thought (1989)
Flyingdales (1988)
Toxic Waste (1988)
Hessle Road (1988)
McAllister is the pioneer of the ‘one-man-crew’. Filming with just a camcorder is the only way for him to make the intimate films he has in mind. McAllister about his debut: “I made the first film to escape from the factory. I had got the story there. I sent it to Bournemouth cinema school. They admitted me on the spot and wanted to make the film. They offered a whole crew with cranks and all. I refused. They insisted. I left and went back to the factory with a camera in my bag. I would film whenever the supervisor was out of sight. I would get my camera out. The supervisor would clock me and shout. I once shot him as he was screaming at me and I understood what makes drama. I did that film from my mates’ point of view. My camera was nestled in my arm; I took it out from behind my back whenever I could. I would film all I could from my spot. That was the only way I could make a film that was real to them. What kind of a story would I have done if I had turned up with a whole crew on the shop floor? No way.”
Filmography
The Liberace of Baghdad (2004)
Hull’s Angel (2002)- Shadow Festival 2002
Settlers (2000) - Shadow Festival 2000
The Minders (1998)
Working for the enemy (1997) - Shadow Festival 1999
Shoot out in Swansea (1997)
Just People (1995/1998)
Hitting (1995)
Life with Brian (1994)
Crematorium (1993)
The Season (1990)
A Passing Thought (1989)
Flyingdales (1988)
Toxic Waste (1988)
Hessle Road (1988)