Making Zak The Ripper

In Episode 13 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton and Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley look back on the production of Zak The Ripper now that filming is complete.

From the adrenaline of those first few days to the challenges of keeping an independent feature film moving, Matt and Warren reflect on the highs, the lows and the moments they’ll remember most from the shoot.

They also talk about what they learned along the way, what they would do differently next time and the things that could have made life on set a little easier, from scheduling and crew numbers to having more time for rehearsals.

And with filming wrapped, attention turns to what happens next. They look ahead to editing, post production and the crucial next stages of sales and distribution as Zak The Ripper moves another step closer to the screen.

In this episode:

• Looking back on the Zak The Ripper shoot
• The adrenaline of the first days of filming
• The biggest challenges during production
• Favourite and memorable moments from the shoot
• What Matt and Warren would do differently next time
• Scheduling, crew numbers and rehearsals
• Lessons learned from cast and crew
• Moving into editing and post production
• The importance of sales and distribution
• What happens next for Zak The Ripper

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In Episode 12 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton and Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley reflect on the second week of filming Zak The Ripper.

With two weeks of the shoot complete, they talk about some of the challenges that come with making an independent feature film, from potentially losing a location and quickly finding a Plan B to reshoots, problem solving on set and keeping the production moving when plans change.

They also discuss finding the right workflow, the value of quieter moments when decisions need to be made and the importance of creating a collaborative environment where everyone can contribute to solving problems.

With week three approaching, the conversation turns to maintaining energy, preparing for another busy week and keeping the whole team connected to the progress being made.

In this episode:

• Navigating unexpected location challenges
• Finding a Plan B when filming plans change
• The importance of reshoots
• Problem solving on set
• Finding the right workflow during production
• Creating a collaborative environment
• Keeping the team motivated and connected
• Maintaining energy through a feature film shoot
• Preparing for week three

Subscribe and follow as we continue documenting the journey through filming, post production and release.

In Episode 11 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton and Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley reflect on the first week of filming Zak The Ripper.

After months of planning and pre production, the cameras are finally rolling and the film is starting to come to life. Warren and Matt talk about the excitement and nerves of stepping onto set, beginning the shoot with Richard Herring and seeing Sy Thomas bring Zak to life.

They also reflect on finding their flow as a crew, watching everyone work together to solve problems, dealing with the physical and mental stamina of a busy shooting week and the adrenaline that keeps an independent film production moving.

In this episode:

• The first week of filming Zak The Ripper
• Starting the shoot with Richard Herring
• Seeing Sy Thomas bring Zak to life
• Moving from pre production into production
• Finding a rhythm as a film crew
• Problem solving and collaboration on set
• The stamina needed for a feature film shoot
• The excitement of seeing the movie take shape

Subscribe and follow as we continue documenting the journey through filming, post production and release.

With production about to begin, Warren Dudley and Matt Cotton reflect on the journey that has brought Zak The Ripper to this point.

They talk about the emotional highs and lows of filmmaking, the challenges of collaboration and scheduling, the sheer volume of work involved and the self-doubt that can creep in along the way.

They also look at what they’ve learned from the process so far, why reflecting on a project matters and why, despite all the stress and challenges, creative people somehow finish one thing and immediately want to make another.

What could possibly go wrong when you’re about to shoot an independent feature film in just 20 days?

In Episode 9 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Matt and Warren look at some of the things that could derail production before the cameras even start rolling.

Bad weather. An actor dropping out. Crew problems. Equipment failures. Locations falling through. A schedule that suddenly gets away from you.

With no budget for pickups or reshoots, preparation and contingency planning are everything.

“One day of horrid rain can kill it.”

Zak The Ripper is an independent British comedy feature, heading into principal photography in September 2026.

In this episode:
Introduction to Production Challenges
Actor and Crew Reliability
Location Lock Ins and Roadblocks
Conclusion and Future Insights

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In Episode 8 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton and Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley discuss the constant process of compromises and rewriting that comes with taking a film from script to screen.

Warren has spent years with the whole film in his head, but bringing it to life means adapting that original vision as the pieces fall into place. Locations may not be exactly as imagined, actors bring their own qualities to characters and practical challenges can force scenes to change.

Some rewrites happen because they have to. Others happen because a new location, performance or idea offers an opportunity to make the film better.

In this episode:

• Why compromise is an inevitable part of independent filmmaking
• Rewriting as locations and cast are confirmed
• Adapting characters to suit the actors playing them
• Making creative changes when challenges arise
• Knowing when a compromise can actually improve the film
• Protecting the comedy through the rewriting process
• Balancing the script with the realities of production
• Scheduling a film down to the second

Subscribe and follow as we continue documenting the journey from pre production through filming and release.

In Episode 7 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley and Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton go behind the camera to explore the people who make a feature film possible.

The conversation covers the many roles within a film crew, how they recruit the right people, why attitude and communication are just as important as technical ability, and how creating a calm, collaborative environment helps everyone perform at their best. They also discuss budgeting, hiring local talent and the importance of building a team that shares the same vision for the production.

In this episode:

• The key roles behind the camera
• Building the right crew
• Why soft skills matter
• Recruiting and hiring locally
• Budgeting for production
• Creating a calm film set
• Team culture and communication
• Preparing for production

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In Episode 6 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton and Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley take you behind the scenes of one of the biggest challenges in pre-production: location scouting.

The conversation explores how the right locations shape the story, the practical and technical considerations involved in filming in real homes and businesses, and why building trust with property owners is essential. They also discuss the importance of planning ahead, solving logistical challenges and why finding the perfect location is about much more than what appears on screen.

In this episode:

• Why location scouting is so important
• Finding the perfect locations for Zak The Ripper
• Working with homeowners and businesses
• The logistics of filming on location
• Creative and technical planning
• Preparing locations for production
• Collaboration and problem solving
• Five weeks to filming

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In Episode 5 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton and Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley explore the creative thinking behind the film's visual style.

The conversation covers visual references, storyboarding, camera movement, lighting and the collaborative relationship between Director and Director of Photography. They discuss how careful planning, trust and intentional creative choices help shape every scene while keeping the story moving with energy and pace.

In this episode:

• Developing the visual style of Zak The Ripper
• The Director and Director of Photography relationship
• Visual references and inspiration
• Storyboarding and pre production
• Camera movement and pacing
• Intentional cinematography
• Creative collaboration
• Preparing for production

Subscribe and follow as we continue documenting the journey from pre production through filming and release.

In Episode 4 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton and Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley take listeners behind the scenes of pre production.

They discuss storyboarding with modern 2D and 3D tools, scheduling a large cast, preparing shot lists and breaking down the script ahead of filming. The conversation also explores costumes, props, catering and the countless creative and logistical decisions that shape a feature film before cameras roll.

In this episode:

• Storyboarding Zak The Ripper
• Using PreViz Pro
• Scheduling a feature film
• Shot lists and script breakdowns
• Creating costumes and props
• Production planning
• Catering and crew logistics
• Preparing for principal photography

Subscribe and follow as we continue documenting the journey from pre production through filming and release.