Phil Drinkwater, a Film Studies Teacher at Xaverian College, has recently seen his creative writing turned into a must-watch film by Dark Sky Films.
Broadcast Signal Intrusion, written in collaboration with Tim Woodall, is a psychological thriller, following a video archivist in the late 90s, that unearths a series of sinister pirate broadcasts and becomes obsessed with uncovering the dark conspiracy behind them.
Based on the 2016 short, which was inspired by films such as The Conversation, The Parallax View and Klute, numerous real-life events and a series of unsettling YouTube clips, Broadcast Signal Intrusion puts you in James’ shoes and is a slow-burn that successfully builds a very tense atmosphere but doesn’t rush to unveil the answers.
Phil said: “As a screenwriter, the best thing is having your film made. When there is a sequence that is exactly what we originally wrote, performed by amazing actors, it feels great!
“I have been a teacher for 13 years and its honestly a dream come true. I remember the teachers I had back in school playing a vital role in shaping my thinking and I knew I wanted to be a part of the process that helps guide and inspire young people. My absolute favourite thing to teach is Hitchcock’s Vertigo. To take a film made 60 years ago and bring it to life, show students the possibilities of this medium peaking long before they were born – how exciting!”
Phil has written and directed numerous short films over the last several years in addition to television pilots for the BBC, NBC Universal and Working Title to name just a few.
When asked what he loves about the industry, Phil said: “What’s not to love?! At times it is really challenging but every so often you’ll have the opportunity to create something that will captivate and entertain others around the world, and that is truly amazing!”
Directed by Jacob Gentry, Broadcast Signal Intrusion stars Harry Shum Jr, Chris Sullivan, Steve Pringle, Justin Welborn and Kelley Mack and after seven years in the making, the film aired in cinemas across the UK on Friday 25th March 2022.
Behind every terrific tale, symbolism and subtext is an extraordinary director and the Film Studies course at Xaverian takes students on a journey inside the minds of those with a revolutionary story to share. Students have access to excellent equipment and facilities, allowing them to sharpen their skills in every part of the frame, including, lighting, sound, set design, composition and editing.
As one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the region, Xaverian College offers exciting opportunities to over 2500 students. To find out more, visit Xaverian.ac.uk – Explore Your Future!
