Interview with actor and writer Steve Oram
Steve Oram is an actor and writer hailing from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire and has worked with Ben Wheatley in Sightseers, Edgar Wright in The World’s End and now stars as the co-lead in Mind-set, a feature shot in Lincoln.
As well as that, Steve was our guest jury panel judge at the 2022 Midlands Movies Awards, choosing the best short film that year and Mind-set won for Best Feature at our 2023 Awards.
We sat down with Steve to talk about his latest film, how he balances drama and comedy and what makes the Midlands so special.
Midlands Movies: Hi Steve, lovely to meet you. We appreciate your help with our awards and Mind-set is doing great so far with its release to date. Can you tell us how you got involved with the film?
Steve Oram: Hi Mike. Well, a while back the director Mikey (Murray) asked me to come to his university in Lincoln to do some discussions with students about Sightseers and Aaaaaaaah! (n.b. Steve’s own 2015 comedy horror). And after that he then went away and wrote a script and offered it to me and (Mind-set co-star) Eilis Cahill.
MM: And what attracted you to the script?
SO: In fact, he actually wrote it with me and Eilis in mind and so it was a very curated script for us knowing what kind of performances we might give and our compatibility together. That doesn’t happen often.
MM: The final film though seems quite “loose” at times, was there any improvisation once filming began?
SO: The script was very tightly written and the schedule was very tight too. However, we did do a lot of improv as well. He often left the camera running and the film does use quite a lot of those bits. They were a lot of fun, especially the dinner scene with the talk about the character’s own script.
MM: With your own extensive experience of acting and writing, did you bring much of yourself to your character who is also trying to write and sell a script?
SO: You always do bring things but I guess I was quite close to this role. A depressive writer though? [laughs]. Am I like that? Maybe. It’s a very believable script however, many people will relate to this couple – they’re very underplayed and I like those sort of characters.
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MM: Mind-set has very dark comedic moments, and scenes can flip between serious drama and gross-out comedy. Was that difficult to balance for the actors?
SO: Our job as actors is to make it feel natural and the way the comedy is written here fits into normal speech and interaction – as it does in real life. I get annoyed with the snobbery around what is funny. There’s a realism to humour, we laugh a lot in dire circumstances and that was why the script was wonderful. It actually made it easier to play around with character because of that and it’s just brilliant writing. It gives the audience empathy with both main characters if they’re not wailing and screaming – so we ended up using plenty of gallows humour.
MM: Mind-set also has some cringe moments, especially with your role. How was that?
SO: You have to do embarrassing things sometimes so we tried to have a laugh about it on set. As an actor you get through it, but importantly it was in service to a good script and good film.
MM: Given that you also both act and write. Do you have a preference of one over the other?
SO: I get joys from both, but acting is a lot more fun. Acting is hard-work but it is also playing. Writing though is hell. It does has a wonderful payoff at the end though, much bigger than anything you’ll ever experience.
MM: We’re very much focused on the Midlands filmmaking. Do you have any thoughts on the local community and what it brings?
SO: It’s places like the Midlands, rather than London or Los Angeles, where you learn your craft. Mikey made Mind-set in his house for very little money and it’s a brilliant start to his directing and writing career. It’s a great achievement full stop. I like working here as there’s less of that ‘poncey-ness’ around. There’s a can-do attitude where you can just make stuff with your friends which I think is brilliant.
MM: What projects are next for you? Anything in the Midlands?
SO: I’m doing a couple of writing projects including a TV one for Jed Mercurio’s production company. There’s also another movie script called Dregs and some acting projects including Sky Peals coming to the London Film Festival. There’s also D.I. Ray on ITV where I play a Brummie cop. Parminder Nagra stars in that too and she’s from Leicester
MM: That all sounds amazing and I like the Midlands connections too! We really appreciate your time Steve and wish you all the best of luck with the upcoming release of Mind-set.
SO: Thank you, it’s been a pleasure.
Michael Sales
Mind-Set is in select cinemas and on demand 6 October
