Director interview

Director Statement

When I first pitched the original script for Bricked Up, I expected to be told to jog on for its sheer absurdity. “A gritty action-comedy about a hungover, expired twink trying to return a kilo of cocaine to a notorious drug lord.” Our lecturers were certainly taken aback by the idea. To my surprise, I was met with enthusiastic encouragement from both peers and educators alike. Word quickly spread throughout the entire Film Production course at the University of Salford about the ‘cocaine comedy’, and suddenly, everyone wanted to get in line for production.

When developing the script, I drew inspiration from the grimy, bleak aesthetic of 2000s British cinema. Filmmakers like Guy Ritchie, Danny Boyle, and Edgar Wright — whose work balances chaos, humour, and visual flair — became touchstones for how to frame Milo’s increasingly ludicrous world. I hyper-fixated on their films, dissecting how their directing styles amplified storytelling through pacing, dialogue, and dark humor.

At the time of writing, my life felt wildly out of control: an identity crisis, a painful breakup, and the impending doom of university coming to an end. It left me feeling as adrift as Milo. Creating a protagonist trapped in this crazy nightmare somehow became a cathartic way to reclaim agency amidst my own chaos.

The result is a film that lead to many great things in my own personal journey — both within and outside of filmmaking.

Our crew is a godsend of talented collaborators. We shared a collective passion for cinema and a drive to create something bold and distinct among our peers. The buzz around Bricked Up became infectious, sparking excitement across our course and reminding me why I make films: It's not just to tell stories, but about creating experiences that unite people.

This project has been one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. To see it resonate so early in my career fuels my ambition for future work. If Bricked Up proves anything, it’s that even the messiest chaos can lead to something unforgettable.

Max James Walker