‘Bluff’ - the upcoming undercover cop film set on the streets of Birmingham

Former Coventry University student turned film director, producer and screenwriter Sheikh Shahnawaz screened his debut feature film ‘Bluff’ at the university on the 5th November.

 The film deals with themes of drug addiction and homelessness, and it is set in Birmingham, where Sheikh grew up.

There is mystery surrounding the full plot and cast of the film as the film trailer hasn’t been released yet. The film isn’t due to be released until next year, so anyone who saw the film at the university or in any other premium screenings have caught a very early glimpse.

 “I came across a Vice documentary about an undercover police officer in the UK, and what he did was he would go undercover as a heroin addict and basically infiltrate drug networks in the Midlands areas, stuff like Birmingham and Nottingham, those sorts of areas, not London”, said Sheikh. “It’s my backyard basically, and I thought ‘okay, here’s a world for me to film’. And then I spent the next few months researching about undercover policing and spending time with drug dealers and heroin addicts”.

Sheikh highlighted how he had different interests before entering the world of film production, such as music – he even became a qualified audio engineer. He eventually picked up a camera while studying media production at secondary school.

 “That’s the first time I used a camera and edited the video… I remember I made this little short film when I was fifteen. And every film has gotten bigger and hopefully better. As time went on, I realised this is what I want to do”, said Sheikh. “This is what I love doing. I love telling stories. I love making films, and I love entertaining audiences because you make films for people, not just yourself.”

Behind the scenes of film production. Photo credit: ESRL

Sheikh cited Christopher Nolan and his movie ‘Inception’ (2010) as key influences, along with Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick.

 “What he’s done with his career (Kubrick)… and the creative freedom that he has given to the studio systems, that’s something I’m incredibly envious of”, Sheikh said. “That’s something I’d like for myself one day, to be given that sort of creative freedom and making films of that scale and released that wide”.

 Sheikh said that it felt “crazy” to be screening his first feature film at Coventry University, where he had studied and graduated from in 2015.

Inside Square One at Coventry University

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, write a feature length screenplay for the first time, and I remember when I finished writing the screenplay, it was the best. I was the most happy I’d ever been in my life, it’s like climbing the biggest mountain in the world”, Sheikh said. “But then five days later, my father passed away, and I was going to postpone making this film for at least a year or two now that I had to look after the household, my mum and my little sister.

 “But during the week of my father’s death, we were going through the family photo album, and I found a picture of him and me from when I was a child.

 “And in the film, the protagonist actually keeps a photo of him and his father from his childhood. I thought ‘I’ll use the photo of me and dad in the film’ and we started filming. A month after I buried my father, I was just driven to finish the film.

 “And even though he never got to watch my debut feature film, he’s in it. So, his legacy has been immortalised in my film”.

Sheikh described the film industry as being like a “corporation”, with each floor having its own department. Not everyone that works in the film industry is a creator.

 “There’s plenty of opportunity there, especially with film and television being on the rise, more content being produced”, he said. “But if you want to be a director; my biggest tip would be to have a life outside of film.

 “You really have to have other interests, like I was saying, I was interested in music. As well as that, I’m interested in nature, photography, all sorts of dance… everything influences you. You never know what will ignite you as an artist.

 “My other biggest tip would be just, if you really want to be a filmmaker, just pick up a camera and start shooting. With every film, you will get there and find your own voice.”