The debut feature film of a director who teaches at Farnborough College of Technology is out in cinemas tomorrow (Friday).

Dominic Lees directed and co-wrote Outlanders and has taught all elements of film production, from casting to post-production, as part of the college’s media production course this year.

The film is the story of two Polish brothers who move to London and have their bond tested by their time there.

Mr Lees, 44, said: “For quite a while I wanted to make a feature film. It’s always been a sort of harboured ambition that’s now come to fruition.

He added: “I went to film school in Poland, so I have a sort of cultural tie to it.

“But really the film is about brotherhood and taking brotherhood to the point of betrayal.

“I’d made a lot of short films about themes like betrayal which is kind of the flip side of the coin to this film.”

“It’s interesting because my co-writer Jimmy Gardner and I came at it from different experiences. He is the eldest of four brothers and I am the youngest of three.”

The pair took several years to write the movie and filmed it over six weeks in London and Poland — and then spent another year in the editing room.

“Editing is a very artistic process. When you have finished shooting you can do what you want with it,” said Mr Lees.

“You can change the rhythm of the story and you can play up bits of the story which work really well.”

Outlanders premiered at the 2008 Glasgow Film Festival and has gone on to win awards at festivals around the world.

After film school, Mr Lees worked for television in the 1990s, directing nine episodes of the Bill and 11 of Casualty, among others.

But he says creative power in television lies with producers, not directors.

After eight years of working in television he took a break to start writing.

After finishing Outlanders, Mr Lees was invited to teach at Farnborough College by film school friend Laurence McGee, who runs the course.

Mr Lees said: “It’s important to work in film. The department values experience — it’s what’s useful to students.

“They want to know the tricks of the trade of the art of film-making.

“It takes determination. People always underestimate how long it takes.

“There’s so much to it — financing, production and about a year of post production but I love working with young, aspiring film-makers.

“The students learn everything about how to make a film, like screen-writing, as well as all the things like casting and film financing, finding the location for the film, editing and post production.”

Students dedicate a lot of their time to shooting short films.

“There’s an awful lot to learn”, Mr Lees said.

“The short film is really good work. It’s the same principles as making feature films.

“It’s a lot easier for students to make their own films than when I was a student.

“Now students can take digital cameras and shoot without needing reels of film like I used to.”

Mr Lees is working on his second film, which he plans to write alone and direct.

He said: “This time it’s about two British brothers who go to Poland. I might take on some of my students to work with me on this one.” 

Outlanders opens at the Apollo Theatre in London tomorrow (Friday). It will then go to selected cinemas across the country.
Readers can view the trailer at www.outlandersmovie.com.