After 30 years in the music industry, Manchester native Ged Doherty was looking for a new challenge. So he called up actor and longtime friend Colin Firth and they decided to start a film production company, now called Raindog Films. Their first film was the British thriller film Eye in the Sky (2015) starring Helen Mirren about military personnel facing legal, ethical, and political dilemmas presented by modern drone warfare against those using terrorist tactics, and civilians who are endangered by it. In his first interview since entering the film business, Doherty talks about Raindog’s mission, how film biz should learn from the music industry’s mistakes and the minor miracle of a finished film.
You started out in the music business, correct?
Yes, I was in the music business from the age of 16 when I was playing in bands. I was a drummer, but by the time I was 18 I realized I was terrible – but I love music, so I became a promoter. This was when punk exploded in 1977, so I booked all the big punk bands of the day – Siouxsie And The Banshees, The Damned, The Adverts, whoever it might be – and then I got into the music business for 30 years.
So why go into the film business?
I wanted to go into something completely different but that involved a team which is finding a concept, a creative team. I enjoy putting teams together, and to me that was exactly the same. You need to find a good script then put the right team around it; that’s what I enjoy doing.
You can read the whole interview in today's Festival Daily.
