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Schemers interview with David McLean and Conor Berry
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Schemers interview with David McLean and Conor Berry

A big success at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, where it received its World Premiere, SCHEMERS is set in Dundee, Scotland, in the late 1970’s and is based on writer/producer/director David McLean’s early years in the fickle music biz.
Film-News met David (the management genius behind such mega rock acts as Placebo) and leading star Conor Berry (who portrays the young Davie) at Edinburgh’s Grand Hotel for an informal interview to find out more.
Film-News:
David, what prompted you to make a film about your early life as a fledgling club- and music promoter? Also, how did you find leading man Conor Berry?
David McLean:
Well a friend of mine once said “You got so many stories, you got such a great life, make a film about it”. And I thought to myself “Why not?” and that was that really. Also, the late 70’s during which the story is set was a good period for doing crazy things, and a good period for good music as well. As for Conor… someone left him in a basket at my doorstep and he was there, haha.
Film-News:
Conor, being the young age that your are and which the role requires, to what extend were you actually aware of the music and the bands featured in a film set in the late 70’s?
Conor Berry:
Not too much obviously. I had to do a lot of research and also during my conversations with David I learned a lot more about those bands. That said it wasn’t the case of everything being completely new to me, I mean I have favourite bands from that era but they’re more mainstream bands such as Fleetwood Mac. But yeah all the smaller indie bands in the film, I wasn’t so aware of them.
Film-News:
David, the film has really quite an authentic 70’s look to it – how much did you invest in achieving this so accurately?
David McLean:
Well, we were on a certain budget but that got blown overboard quite swiftly, haha. I mean we were still on a fairly low budget but the guy who did the camera and the wardrobe people and all that they had a real understanding of things. I mean it really looks great you know. So the people working on the project are more responsible for the look than the money really.
Film-News:
Conor, I take it you got a script to read from. How much did you actually stick to the script and how much, if at all, were you allowed to improvise?
Conor Berry:
We did stick to the script but during the first shoot we were constantly evolving it and finding new scenes. David was very good when it came to things like that, he was always open to new ideas. So it was a bit of both really – we did stick to the script but when there was room for it there was also a bit more freedom.
Film-News:
David, the music business and its tactics have changed enormously since the 70’s – if you were to start out nowadays how much would it differ from back then? Also, do you think that it’s harder for bands nowadays to make to make money?
David McLean:
Back in those days you didn’t have all your YouTubes and your Twittersyou’re your Facebooks and this and that, so it really was just a case of getting on the phone and talk to someone and convince them that what you had to offer was good. It was a lot of waffle of course but that’s how it was done. I do think that nowadays it’s harder for up- and coming bands, yes. I mean it’s all well when you have huge live gigs and huge exposure and make lots of money. But getting to that level… how do you get to that level? You almost need to make your own record and also promote your own record and once people take notice saying “Oh, that sounds interesting, let’s put some money behind it” you’re in luck. But when you need the money in the first place so you can make an album, no one will give you the money because they don’t know whether the record will be successful! It’s just one of those things.
Film-News:
Conor, what’s the kind of music you’re listening too and are you playing any instruments? What are you scheming next?
Conor Berry:
Yes I do, I just started learning piano and I play the drums a little bit as well. As for music, I like all sorts of different things to be honest, even older stuff. Obviously working with David he introduced me to bands I wasn’t familiar with before, like Placebo for example or heavier stuff. But yeah I’m quite open with my music and like listening to different things. I definitely wanna be an actor so yeah, it’s just finding the right opportunity and I wouldn’t mind going into theatre as well. There isn’t anything in particular were I would say “I wanna do this or I wanna do that”, I leave it open really.
Film-News:
David, what’s next for SCHEMERS – will it get a big distribution?
David McLean:
At the moment the film is being shown at various film festivals word-wide but after that we just need to wait for the overall response and see what happens.
Film-News:
David and Conor, thanks for your time and best wishes for future projects and of course for SCHEMERS!
Please read the review for SCHEMERS in our ‘Cinema’ section.