Ali Cocks
She is the woman behind Vinton’s Lot Dollar Baby Film.
SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?
Ali Cocks: I run my own Aerial fitness company in Aberystwyth and guest lecture on a theatre module in Aberystwyth University. I have a long history in theatre making and performance mainly one woman shows. But have appeared in a few feature films and TV productions… this is because I’m very old ha ha!
SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become a filmmaker?
Ali Cocks: I have made a couple of documentries and one other fiction film in the last 10 years. I have always been involved in film theatre TV and performance, one way or another!
SKSM: When did you make Vinton’s Lot? Can you tell me a little about the production? How much did it cost? How long did it take to film it?
Ali Cocks: We made Vinton’s Lot over the Summer of 2019 and I have just finished the edit. We had no budget at all. My X boyfriend who is a very sucessful actor provided the money to buy the so needed Porto loo and fortunately I have friends in very beautiful locations who allowed us to film in and around their homes. There’s a scene involving me being soaked in human excrement within the toilet. We made this pooh mixture from porrige, cocoa, soup and earth. It was cold and unpleasent on my skin! But I survived!
SKSM: How come you picked A very tight place to develop into a movie? What is it in the story that you like so much?
Ali Cocks: J D Dearden choose the story and I think he made a great choise as it is deliciously dark and quite funny.
SKSM: How did you find out that King sold the movie rights to some of his stories for just $1? Was it just a wild guess or did you know it before you sent him the check?
Ali Cocks: J D Dearden can answer this better than I.
SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when you made the movie that you would like to tell me about?
Ali Cocks: Many! But one that comes to mind is that in one scene myself and the other leading actor Sam Christie had to act out him jabbing me with his rifle. We are both very polite people and after the nastiness of that scene he was very concerned and polite he may have hurt me. My reaction was equally polite and he hadn’t… Such a lovely out take as we go from being fictionally horrible people to actually delightful in 1 second. I think this shows how British we are!
SKSM: How does it feel that all the King fans out there can’t see your movie? Do you think that will change in the future? Maybe a internet/dvd release would be possible?
Ali Cocks: Yes that is indeed a shame. Hopefully it will change, afterall theres a great deal of time and commitment involved in film and it would be good to get public reaction.
SKSM: What “good or bad” reviews have you received on your film?
Ali Cocks: We are not at that stage yet.
SKSM: Do you plan to screen the movie at a particular festival?
Ali Cocks: We should do that!
SKSM: Are you a Stephen King fan? If so, which are your favorite works and adaptations?
Ali Cocks: I am actually. As a young person I read a lot of his books. Misery is amazing.
SKSM: Did you have any personal contact with King during the making of the movie? Has he seen it (and if so, what did he think about it)?
Ali Cocks: Not yet it only got posted yesterday!
SKSM: Do you have any plans for making more movies based on Stephen King’s stories? If you could pick -at least- one story to shoot, which one would it be and why?
Ali Cocks: I haven’t thought about it really but I certainly wouldnt refuse…
SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?
Ali Cocks: Having only just finished this film I am catching up with the rest of my life! When I have the time I will think of a new project… I would like to work with Sam Christie again he is a great actor.
SKSM: What one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Ali Cocks: I had my car blown up by Scotland yard on the Strand in London in 2001 they thought there was a bomb in it but it was just my stereo speaker!
SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?
Ali Cocks: Vinton’s Lot is worth a watch! Believe me.
SKSM: Would you like to add anything else?
Ali Cocks: Anything is possible in this life and lack of money doesnt have to be an issue. Imagination is everything! And possibly better equiptment than what we had ! ??
