Charlie Clapham. Photo Credit: Bjoern Kommerell
British actor Charlie Clapham chatted about his film “English Estate,” which premiered on Great American Family.
‘English Estate’
“Honestly, I had a blast,” he said about filming “English Estate.” “Amazing actors, incredible crew and extremely beautiful locations. I’m very grateful for the experience and treasure the memories and friendships that have blossomed from it,” he acknowledged.
He worked opposite Spencer Locke as his female lead. “Spencer was a joy to work with, from start to finish. The first days can be quite intimidating, like starting a new school, but I quickly realized I had one of the best dancing partners in the business! Any stress or nervousness vanished as soon as we started working together, a true pro as well as a wonderful human being,” he said.
Clapham had great words about acting alongside such esteemed actors as Juliet Mills and Maxwell Caulfield. “That was the icing on the cake and the cherry on top… They elevated the entire production. Juliet brought such a calming presence to set, along with the kind of class money simply can’t buy, probably one of the most remarkable and kind human beings I’ve ever met and that’s no exaggeration,” he said.
“Maxwell was the perfect gentleman, the quintessential British leading man, such care for the craft yet so personable and easy going all at the same time, it’s an absolute privilege to call them dear friends now,” Clapham added.
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, at a time when streaming and technology are so prevalent, he said, “When I first started making films and TV in the UK, Instagram was really taking off. I was barely out of my teens, without much guidance on how to best navigate it, ten years on and I’m still figuring it out.”
“Streaming wise, the end of the VHS tape and the short lived DVD (RIP Blockbuster) era, had a double edged sword effect. On one side it cut off an entire revenue stream, however it’s also opened up many different possibilities for how film and TV is made and viewed, world over,” he said.
Clapham continued, “Shooting digitally has afforded many projects to be made that maybe wouldn’t have stood a chance once upon a time. Personally I’m a bit of film snob and would always opt to shoot on 16mm or 35mm given the opportunity, and budget! The biggest silver lining of all of this, is now anyone with a phone can shoot a movie, which is really exciting for the next generation of film makers and audiences alike.”
Future plans for Clapham
Regarding his plans for the future, Clapham said, “I would very much like to continue making films both sides of the pond as well as wherever this journey takes me. My next project to be released is called ‘Miss The Kiss,’ a UK independent dark comedy gangster film with Fugitive Films, who I’m due to team up with again on another film shooting later this year.”
“I’m also extremely excited by a small cameo I have in an upcoming Zack Snyder Project… Apart from that, I’m very focused on writing and directing a couple of my own projects in the near future, so watch this space as they say!
On his dream acting partners, he shared, “Wow, where do I start? Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro, Brian Cranston, Christian Bale, Morgan freeman, Dame Helen Mirren, Jeff Bridges, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, and Julia Roberts… The list goes on, changes from time to time and gets longer year after year! It’s mainly made up from my favorite films, characters, performances and interviews.”
Success
On his definition of success, Clapham said, “Personally, success to me is creating/finding meaning and purpose within life. Whether it’s career, personal, romantic… Making the most of what you’re dealt to bring meaning and purpose wherever possible.”
Clapham concluded about “English Estate,” “I hope the fans enjoy it and know that there was a lot of love and care put into making the film. Hopefully, they will have just as much fun watching it as we did making it.”
To learn more about Charlie Clapham, follow him on Instagram.