Featured Guest: One-to-One with Freddie Hutton-Mills

Every month we invite someone from the industry to give a small number of one-to-one sessions: a casting director, producer, director or writer. You book an hour, bring your questions and talk to them directly. Our first featured guest is Freddie Hutton-Mills, who wrote, directed and produced Rooted Out, which is in UK cinemas now.

Georgina Morelle, who runs Smile Casting, cast the film and co-produced it. Freddie is giving these sessions for two weeks only, to go with the release.

The Rooted Out trailer. In selected UK cinemas from 23 October and streaming on demand this December.

About Freddie

Freddie Hutton-Mills is an award-winning writer, director and producer who has worked across features, shorts, television and branded content. He wrote, directed and produced Rooted Out, a darkly funny drama set against the backdrop of the 2024 Southport riots, in which a trivial dispute between neighbours turns into a suburban cold war. It stars Jonas Armstrong, Olivia Grant, CJ Beckford and Nadine Mills, and has been described as topical, claustrophobic and riveting.

He produced the 2019 short film Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham and Jonas Armstrong and directed by Philip Barantini, which won Best Short Film at the Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival. His other film credits include Genesis and Devil’s Playground, and on television he worked on more than 160 episodes of Takeshi’s Castle. He has also made branded content for Red Bull, ExxonMobil, Virgin and Microsoft, and is head of film at the creative agency Yellow Fish.

Find out more about Freddie and his work at fhmfilms.com, and about the film at rootedoutmovie.com.

How Freddie can help

The hour is yours, so use it on whatever matters most to you right now. These are the areas people are most likely to want to cover.

Getting a script read

How scripts reach producers and directors, what makes a reader keep going, how to write a short pitch, and how to approach people without being ignored. Freddie can also tell you what he looks for when a script lands on his desk.

Funding and finance

How an independent film is funded, what a first-time filmmaker can realistically raise, how to build a budget that makes sense, and where the common mistakes are.

Producing

What a producer actually does from development to delivery, how to put a team together, and how to keep a production moving when things change.

Directing

Working with actors, preparing for the shoot, and making decisions on a limited budget and schedule.

From page to cinema

Casting, shooting, finishing, festivals and distribution, and what it took to get Rooted Out into cinemas and onto streaming.

His own route in

If you simply want to hear how Freddie built his career, what he would do differently and what he would tell someone starting out, that is a perfectly good use of the hour.

Meeting someone new

It is also a chance to be introduced to a working filmmaker. Many good projects begin with a conversation, so come ready to say who you are and what you are working on.

Who it is for

• Actors who want to understand how an independent film gets made and cast
• Writers, directors and producers working on their first projects
• Drama students and recent graduates thinking about their next step
• Anyone who would like an honest view from someone who has just taken a film into cinemas

Make the most of your hour

• Write down your three most important questions before the call
• Have a one-paragraph description of your project or your goals ready
• If you have a script, logline or showreel, keep the link to hand in case Freddie asks

Book your session

Sessions run on weekday evenings, starting at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm or 8pm UK time, from Monday 2 to Friday 13 November.

How it works

1. Choose a time that suits you.
2. Pay securely with PayPal when you book.
3. Meet on Google Meet. The link is in your confirmation email.

Good to know

• These sessions are advice and conversation. They are separate from casting and representation, and they do not guarantee work, funding or an agent.
• Under-18s need a parent or guardian to make the booking.
• To reschedule, please email at least 48 hours before your session.
• Questions before booking? Email info@smile-casting.com.