Chris Jones Filmmaker Blog

Feedback for the 2026 Online Screenwriters Festival

Chris Jones — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:35:23 +0000

‘Chris, you were a fabulous host and every guest had something useful and inspirational to share. Great diversity in sessions, too.’ Melissa Baumann Siebert / Screenwriter, journalist, author ‘Real people kept it real, no Hollywood intimidation, no filler, and real information. Loved it.’ Susan Holgate / Screenwriter ‘Amazing programme of high quality talks and engaging speakers.

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#ShitHappyPodcast with Toni Powell

Chris Jones — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:46:46 +0000

I recorded this podcast a few weeks again and its finally gone live! Show notes below too… Filmmaker Chris Jones shares the wild, gritty, and deeply meaningful journey behind his Oscar-shortlisted short Gone Fishing, his early guerrilla films, dawn raids, near-catastrophes, and the self-development quest that reshaped his life. A brutally honest, funny, and inspiring masterclass in creativity…

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Writing Without Shame: Lessons from Erotic Author Helène Noire

Chris Jones — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:56:05 +0000

Helène Noire did not set out to become an erotic writer in the conventional way. There was no market research, no calculated leap into a lucrative genre, and no desire to shock for the sake of attention. Instead, her work emerged from a deeply personal place: a need to write honestly about desire, fantasy, and the private interior world many people experience but rarely articulate.

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AI Rights For Writers: Real World Case Study

Chris Jones — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 14:47:49 +0000

The Publishers of The Guerilla Filmmakers Handbooks series have approached us about AI licensing. Right now it feels like we need to decline their new addendum to the contract. I don’t think what they are asking, in principle, is unreasonable. I think they NEED to ask or be left behind. The basics are this. We agree to let them license the books for AI training and we get 20%

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Timelapse Of Ealing Studios Redevelopment

Chris Jones — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:55:53 +0000

For the last, what feels like two or three years, Ealing Studios has undergone a huge transformation. As you may know, I have been based at the studios since 1997 when we made Urban Ghost Story here, and I just never left.I have seen huge staff turnover, with the exception of the legendary Lorraine on reception, and now the final phase of site redevelopment in complete and everything feels shiny…

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How Chris Jones’ Filmmaking Programmes helped bring my new documentary to the big screen by Nick Horrell

Chris Jones — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 15:10:27 +0000

My first experience of Chris Jones at full speed was in a crowded training room at Ealing Studios and stunned to silence by his assertion: ‘You are all filmmakers. Get on with it.’ I am instinctively cautious so naturally I did not, but the stone had been thrown. The advice and skills from Chris’s Filmmaking Programmes over the next few years helped build a foundation of confidence and rigour that…

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Making A Micro Budget Movie as a First Time Director by Eric Garson

Chris Jones — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 09:57:36 +0000

I’ve written this blog for a filmmaker who is embarking on making their debut micro budget feature film. My name is Eric Garson and I am a British Film Director. My debut feature film ‘Trophy Wife’, was released last summer 2024 and is available to watch on AmazonPrime, Tubi, Fawesome, Google Play and YouTube Movies via film distributor Indie Rights. The film has made it’s budget back and I’m…

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What Can Indie Film Makers Learn From A 15 Year Old Found Footage Sci Movie From South Africa?

Chris Jones — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 13:08:59 +0000

It’s been some time since I saw ‘District 9’, it was in 2009 the cinema when it was released to be accurate, so there’s been distance. I rewatched it a few nights back and it has really stuck with me. Not just as a great film, but for many other reasons too. What really hit me between the eyes was that directly after it finished, Amazon played a trailer for one of its very successful shows.

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AI: A Writer’s Secret Editorial Department

Chris Jones — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:38:17 +0000

In the evolving landscape of modern writing, artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful ally for authors, particularly those navigating the challenging waters of self-publishing. Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with Don McVey, author of the dystopian sci-fi novel “Karakorum,” who shared his journey of discovery with AI tools and their transformative impact on his writing process.

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One Day… THREE EVENTS!

Chris Jones — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:57:42 +0000

December 14th is turning into the BEST day of the year! We have three very cool things happening, and YOU should really dive in and get involved. First, our Christmas Super Meetup For Film and TV… Tickets are free, and it’s happening at the Ealing Project in the evening. You can get yours HERE. Second, BEFORE the Networking Xmas Party, we have a special screening of ‘The First Film’…

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