An Interview with Director, Coz Greenop
Coz Greenop is a Leeds-based writer, producer and director. He spoke to Roger Crow about his new movie, how he got his break in the film industry, and advice for new film makers…
Coz, tell us about your new movie.
So my new movie is It All Comes with the Cold Water. It’s a romantic drama about a young couple struggling to juggle their love and careers amongst rumours of infidelity; they wonder whether they’d be better off without one another. Set in the harsh and stunning landscapes of Iceland.
How did you get your break in the film business?
I started in the industry as a runner on Emmerdale, and carpet commercials, basically making hundreds of cups of tea a day and learning the craft. After graduating from The Northern Film School, I began making music videos and shooting documentaries for the likes of The Discovery Channel and History Channel. For a few years I travelled the world, shooting TV shows and honing my storytelling skills. In 2012 I had a really bad rock climbing accident and was stuck in bed for three months. I’d always wanted to write a script for a feature film, so I knew, if I didn’t write it then, I’d never do it. I’d always been a huge horror fan. Some of my earliest memories are watching Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street films and traumatising myself [laughs]. I got the biggest telling off from my mum.
I always loved the low budget, B-movie horror, but it also gave me a confidence. While some are quite bad, they were still out there and got released. I spent a month watching films and created a checklist. They often had small casts, they had an isolated location and other conventions you could replicate cheaply. After three months I had a script and shared it around with people I knew or had worked with. I even took to my local film council but since I didn’t know anyone in the industry, they turned me down. I believe that if you’re a plumber or electrician, you invest in your tools, so I had to invest in my tools as a filmmaker. During university I saved £20,000 to put a deposit on a house and I took a decision to possibly live with my parents for the rest of my life and use the money to finance my first feature. I got my own crew of about six people, we went to the Scottish Highlands, stayed in a lodge and shot my first film, Wandering Rose. The film was later bought by the Hollywood distributor eOne.
What’s been the biggest hurdle you’ve overcome as a filmmaker?
The biggest hurdle I’ve had to overcome in the business is the lack of help from local film councils and finance in general. Film is a huge risk for any investor, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to raise finance for film. Even after making five feature films and even having a number one film on Amazon Prime, every film project I do is like starting a brand new business again.
If you had tips for aspiring filmmakers, what would they be?
My biggest tip for any aspiring filmmaker is just to go out and tell your stories. It doesn’t matter what equipment you have, cast and budget. Go tell your story on your iPhone. Don’t wait for things to happen and create your own opportunities.
What are you working on next?
I am heading out to Vietnam to shoot another romantic drama early next year as well as having a couple of scripts optioned by some Hollywood Studios, so hopefully 2025 will be a fun year.
‘It All Comes with the Cold Water’ is currently on the festival circuit and will be released in spring 2025
