Making Zak The Ripper

In Episode 3 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Co-Producers, Writer & Director Warren Dudley and Director of Photography Matt Cotton take a deep dive into the casting process behind the film.

From reviewing self-tapes and working with agents to balancing schedules and preparing for rehearsals, they discuss the realities of finding the right people for every role.

The conversation explores how casting has evolved, the overwhelming volume of applications filmmakers now receive and why trust between filmmakers and actors is so important. Matt and Warren also explain why every role matters, regardless of screen time, and share their excitement as the cast comes together ahead of production.

In this episode:

• How the Zak The Ripper casting process worked
• The rise of self-tape auditions
• Working with actors and agents
• Why every role matters
• Scheduling and casting challenges
• Protecting performers through contracts
• Discovering new talent
• Preparing for rehearsal day
• Bringing the cast together for production

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

In Episode 2 of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast, Producer and Director of Photography Matt Cotton and Producer, Writer and Director Warren Dudley discuss one of the biggest challenges facing any independent film: financing.

With Zak The Ripper moving towards production, Matt and Warren share how they approached raising a £250,000 budget, building investor confidence and turning the project into something far more substantial than a script and an idea.

The conversation covers teaser trailers, budgeting, planning, casting developments, location scouting and the realities of preparing a feature film for production. They also discuss the lessons learned along the way and why persistence, preparation and professionalism are essential when seeking investment.

In this episode:

• Financing an independent feature film
• Raising a £250,000 production budget
• Building confidence with investors
• Why the Zak The Ripper teaser was so important
• Budgeting and production planning
• Recent casting and location updates
• Lessons learned from the fundraising process
• The realities of getting a film made

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

Welcome to the very first episode of the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast.

Join the Producers of the movie, Writer & Director Warren Dudley and Director of Photography Matt Cotton, as they introduce Zak The Ripper, the brand new British comedy murder mystery currently in production.

In this episode, Warren and Matt discuss their filmmaking journey, how they first started working together, the making of their previous feature film Fright, and the experience of screening at FrightFest. They also reveal where the original idea for Zak The Ripper came from and how a simple concept grew into a feature film.

Whether you're a film fan, aspiring filmmaker or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes, this is your chance to join us at the beginning of the journey.

In this episode:

• Meet Warren Dudley and Matt Cotton• The story behind their previous feature film Fright• Getting selected for FrightFest• The origins of Zak The Ripper• What to expect from the Making Zak The Ripper Podcast• A behind the scenes look at independent filmmaking

Subscribe and follow as we document the making of Zak The Ripper from production through to release.

Something is coming...

Zak The Ripper is currently in production, and we're busy behind the scenes.

With filming fast approaching, podcast episodes, behind the scenes content and plenty more surprises on the way, we thought we'd share this teaser scene to get you in the mood.