In The Spotlight: Actor and Producer Chris Sanders

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Chris Sanders is a British film producer, screenwriter, director, and actor. His first novel The Thief’s Son became a Kindle bestseller in 2012. It was consequently read by Weiwei Si who worked as one of the assistant directors on Skyfall the James Bond film. They became friends and collaborated on a screenplay about the World War two spy Robert Van Gulik. Having always wanted to write and direct a horror film, Chris consequently penned the script for She Summoned Him during the summer of 2018. Chris recently finished shooting Demons At Dawn. He wrote the screenplay and produced and played one of the lead roles in the movie. We caught up with him to discuss the film and his forthcoming production called Bring Me A Skin For Dancing In

Chris, congratulations on your career to date. How did you get into the industry and were you always destined for a career in film and television?

I quit my day job as a marketing executive eight years ago and started Black Coppice Films Ltd. We produce independent horror films that make a profit. We follow the same successful model as Blumhouse.

Who are your biggest industry influences, and why?

Charles Chaplin – A great actor, writer, and director.

Orson Welles – A maverick who turned his back on Hollywood to shoot movies on his own terms.

Roger Corman – An astute artist and savvy businessman.

Your first novel ‘The Thief’s Son’ became a Kindle bestseller in 2012. How much of an impact did this have on your writing career?

The novel opened a lot of doors for me. I met influential artists, producers, and investors.

The Thief’s Son was read by Weiwei Si, an assistant director on the Bond film Consequently, you collaborated on a screenplay about the World War two spy Robert Van Gulik. How did this meeting and collaboration come about?

Wei Wei bought a copy of The Thief’s Son. I was promoting the book on LinkedIn at the time. We met in central London and decided to collaborate on future creative projects.

Your project, titled Demons At Dawn is set to screen at the 2022 Austin Film Festival and the 2022 Whistler Film Festival. Please tell us more about working with director Randy Kent and what audiences can expect.

I enjoy a very good working relationship with Randy. He’s an experienced horror movie director. Audiences can expect a creepy, classic British horror movie.

You’re currently working on a new feature-length horror film called ‘Bring Me A Skin for Dancing In!’ Please tell us more about the project and its origins.

I wrote the screenplay end of 2021. I would describe ‘Bring Me A Skin for Dancing In’ as a folk horror movie. The film explores witchcraft, paganism, and mythology and the relationship these themes have with the countryside. It’s a rural horror film.

You’re the founder and CEO of Black Coppice Films Ltd. Please tell us more about the company and projects you’re currently working on.

My third feature Werewolf Cabal is due for release later this year. My fourth feature is a comedy-horror called The Haunted Studio. It stars Bai Ling who played Myca in the original Crow movie opposite Brandon Lee. It’s in post-production now. We start shooting my fifth feature ‘Bring Me A Skin for Dancing in’ in January 2023. The movie stars Vernon Wells from the original Mad Max movie.

Where can our readers find out more about you and your projects?