My first cut that I showed the studio was probably 2hrs 20min.

I went to comprehensive school in North London and left without any qualifications [diploma]. And I was doing bits of acting and improv in a drama club in the evenings. Then I discovered you didn't need qualifications to go to art school, you just needed a body of work.

I like the idea of doing something outside my comfort zone.

I couldn't be a cameraman or a designer or an actor - I have to be a director because I learned how to do that from my dad.

I'm quite spontaneous in my decisions often. Your career is kind of what happens whilst you're busy developing other screenplays, and so it came out of the blue.

Pride' is my first film with a happy ending. Before, I naively thought they were a cop-out, but now I've come to believe that happy endings and wish fulfilment are an incredibly important part of our cultural life.

I see the job of directing as being one of creating the right atmosphere, creating an environment where people can realize their full potential.