By Paola Bassanese
An interview with BAFTA-nominated Director Piers Thompson.
Q: What do you do to keep fit and healthy?
A: I feel it’s really important to find what works specifically for you and your body. I’ve swam, jogged and hired trainers at the gym but I found I never totally got into it. It never really clicked with me. Luckily, I eventually stumbled upon Bikram – I find its the right balance of physical dexterity, mental focus and determination which keeps me hooked. Plus on a cold winter’s morning its great to work out in the heat. It sounds blatantly obvious but the restorative power of sleep is also very important to me. Living in a city and working long hours it’s easy to forget that if you don’t have regular and consistent sleep as your foundation then it’s difficult to build a fit and healthy body.
Q: When did you first try massage therapy?
A: I started a couple of months ago and haven’t looked back since. In a previous session with Paola she mentioned that she sees her clients bodies like puzzles that she slowly figures out. Everybody has their own way of holding onto stress which then manifests in their body. I’m going through the process with Paola right now and as I do so I am starting to feel an alignment in my body. Thankfully, I have begun to let go of the stress and anxiety I’ve been holding on to.
Q: How does regular massage help you in your day to day life?
A: It’s touched upon most areas in my day to day life. I feel centred, balanced and calmer.
Q: How important is it for you to manage stress and tension as part of the work that you do?
A: During the process of filmmaking there can be a lot of physical and mental stress – in many ways this can be self-inflicted. I guess it can be seen as a positive kind of stress which keeps you pushing things forward. The danger is that you can hold onto that stress which can then have a negative effect on your body. Through yoga and regular massage therapy I find that I can let go of that stress rather than store it up in my body. For me, directing is all about making decisions. If I’m under pressure but can beat the stress by making the right decision calmly and with clarity then it often means the difference between success and failure.
Q: You work in the creative sector: how do you maintain the right work/life balance?
A: Filmmaking is like long distance running, you have to keep lean and determined – to keep going and not give up. This takes quite a lot of will power and physical determination. Luckily film incorporates everything that fascinates me – story, human behaviour, visual aesthetic and travel so I find that the work/life balance is quite blurred for me. The process is pretty all consuming so its important for me to create time for myself. Fortunately I have Paola - when I see her we seem to unlock something that allows me to carry on with an open mind and a centred, balanced body.
About Piers Thompson
Piers Thompson is a BAFTA and Berlinale Golden Bear nominated writer/director. In 2005 Piers set up his production company, Hector Films where he completed the multi award winning short films; ‘Waverley’, ‘k’ and ‘LIN’. He has also produced a selection of video installations for galleries in London and Paris. Piers is presently developing ‘It’s Later Than You Think’, his debut feature project.
Website
http://www.hectorfilms.co.uk/
LIN trailer
Tags: bafta, bafta finalist, bafta nominated director, bafta short film finalist, bikram, director piers thompson, filmmaker, films, health, hector films, massage, wellbeing, work life balance, yoga
