Transitioning from Front of Camera to the Director’s Chair

After 26 years in front of the lens, Emma felt a growing desire for more creative autonomy. The spark for Exchange Rate came during lockdown when Chloe Banks sent her a monologue adapted from a short story. Emma instantly connected with the character of Marie, not just as an actor, but as a mother. She had been thinking about making something for a long time but was not entirely sure what that looked like until this script arrived.

The transition involved navigating the unknowns of cinematography and technical setups. To bridge the gap, Emma relied on a visual language, often filming herself on her phone or creating storyboards to communicate with her Director of Photography, Sam Fabian Miller. Her long career provided a significant advantage as she already knew the language of a set. This allowed her to focus on the performance while learning the ropes of post-production, a phase of filmmaking that was entirely novel to her. Emma notes that sitting in an edit suite is a revelation for any actor, as it teaches you to be less precious about your performance and more focused on the overarching narrative.

"Normally as an actor, you work really hard and then they go 'that’s a wrap on Emma Stansfield' and you go home... but for me, the job was only just starting." - Emma Stansfield

Capturing the Isolation of Rural Poverty

Set in rural Devon, the film rejects the "chocolate box" image of the English countryside. When deciding how to shoot the film, Emma drew inspiration from the activism of food poverty campaigner Jack Monroe and rural poverty campaigner Natasha Carthew. She wanted to highlight the shame and isolation that often accompany financial struggles, as well as the toll on mental health that comes with the relentless stress of trying to make ends meet.

To emphasise Marie's isolation, Emma experimented with light and shadow. The film takes place over an afternoon and evening. When Marie’s daughter Emily is awake, the world is playful and light, but once Emily goes to bed, the light fades, leaving Marie alone with the cold reality of her bills. Emma used the convention of talking directly down the lens, inspired by the intimacy of Fleabag, to make the audience feel like an intruder in the home. This focus on craft over budget allowed the team to produce a film that feels high-stakes despite its domestic setting.

The £5,000 Challenge: Lessons in Micro-Budget Filmmaking

Exchange Rate was produced on a micro-budget of just £5,000, raised via a Crowdfunder campaign. This required Emma to wear multiple hats, lead-acting as Marie while directing a two-day shoot. She learned how to beg, borrow, and steal, reflecting on the practical hurdles of indie production.

One of her biggest takeaways for emerging filmmakers is the importance of investing in the right people. Emma prioritised her budget for high-quality sound and a skilled editor, knowing these are the elements that can make or break a micro-budget film. She also leaned heavily on her local community in the South West, with the majority of the cast and crew based regionally. The strategy paid off. The film went on to screen at over 30 festivals worldwide, picking up 11 awards including Best Narrative Short and Best Short Film at various international festivals. Emma’s advice to actors looking to direct is simple: do not wait for permission. Cast yourself in the roles you want to play and build your own chair at the table, the lessons you learn will be invaluable and the sense of achievement is definitely worth all the blood sweat and tears.

Join the Community

If you want to keep up with Emma’s journey, you can follow Emma’s latest projects and see her full portfolio by checking out her CenterFrame profile here.

NATHAN HAINES

Co-Founder & Filmmaker | CenterFrame Team

Check his profile on CenterFrame