Q&A with Charlie Budden

Final year film production student, Charlie Budden came to my school, Tanglin Trust School, to give a presentation of his movie, Oh Little Spark, which he directed. 

The film centers around a boy named Gabriel and his Grandma, showing the bond and relationship those two have. The film is also largely inspired by the relationship Charlie and his Grandma share, who too played in the movie. Gabriel's Grandma explains her wartime memories to Gabriel, creating a rift in their relationship as tragic secrets are revealed. 

Charlie chose to create this movie as it shows the increasing disconnect between generations in modern society and the enduring familial relationship between a grandma and her grandson. Charlie wanted to establish an authentic and emotional resonance with the audience through its personal story. This is due to the fact that Charlie has an elderly Grandma, and the relationship they share is similar to the one that is presented in the film. Charlie's aim was to give each audience member their own personal experience through the narrative, assuming that they'd want to call their grandmothers.

With a budget of 1500 pounds, loaned by the University, they had to raise another 8500 pounds. Their goal was to create a very realistic and authentic film. With the budget they had, they were given the opportunity to hire professional actors without having to worry about pay checks. The audience was Charlie’s highest priority. Adding professional actors in would allow for the performance to be excellent. He also wanted it to make it easier for everyone to see, as well as share it with their friends. With their extended budget, they had the opportunity to distribute the film to a wider audience by film festivals and to get the film recognized.