My Biggest Lesson: George Jaques

George Jaques is a multi-talented creator who dominates the art of storytelling through directing, acting, writing, and producing. Unrestricted by medium or format, George moves seamlessly between the worlds of TV, feature film, commercials and music videos and leans on his successful acting career to direct performances that resonate in British culture. George’s debut feature film ‘Black Dog’ is set to premiere at the prestigious BFI London Film Festival and is nominated for the ‘Best First Feature’ award. George was recently named Screen International’s Star of Tomorrow and directed a number of short films supported by Sony, Sky and Warner Brothers as well as multiple sell-out theatre shows.

As an actor, George starred alongside Jude Law in HBO/Marc Munden’s ‘The Third Autumn’, played Francis II in Justin Haythe/Lionsgate’s series ‘The Serpent Queen’ opposite Samantha Morton, and a lead in Sky/Nick Love’s gangster show ‘A Town Called Malice’.

The one piece of wisdom that's always stayed with me, was from actor Jason Flemyng (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) telling me to “take the work seriously but don’t take yourself too seriously.” I still think about that today.

I was 16 years old. I had just started my production company, Athenaeum Productions, in 2017 and I didn’t know anyone in the industry… But I somehow ended up staging a sell-out show (Dilate) in some abandoned railway arches in London Bridge that started with a rave! It was after this I met Jason. I was so lucky to have him mentor me (he even made Chilli Con Carne for the whole crew of my first short film) And last year we starred together in a Sky comedy-drama (A Town Called Malice). He played my Grandad… come to think of it, I’m not sure how fair that age representation is, as his kids are a lot younger than me!

I think I had just sent Jason the script of my first short film… Lucky for me he loved it. 

And I was having a bit of success in the theatre world, having staged two shows in London that sold out: Dilate and Breathe, and my writing performed at the National Theatre. Jason read the short and told me we could do it, as long as we kept it small... So we shot it over a weekend and the incredible Mark Patten BSC was the DoP.

It was the best bit of advice because I was just starting out and it underlined that this isn’t about me. It’s about the work, and the stories that we are telling. It sounds cliché but it puts staying humble at the centre of my process. I try to have it in front of my mind no matter what I do, whether it’s as a commercials director or a feature-film director; acting, writing, or producing… “Take the work seriously but don’t take yourself too seriously”.

I’ve always utterly admired Jason, he is now like family to me. I think the best thing about him is that even though he’s really successful in the film industry, he still runs with excitement whenever we arrive. It’s such a source of inspiration for me seeing people who’ve been in the creative industry for years that still love it like I do.

I think it struck such a chord because he’s right. And for the reasons I already mentioned, I really feel keeping your focus on the work and being able to have a laugh whilst doing it is the best way to create things that are special. I think you can tell when the people on set enjoyed making it.

It’s funny even now as I’m developing projects with Stink Films and Stink Studios, whilst also prepping my second feature and leading up to the premiere of Black Dog at London Film Festival (where it is somehow nominated for Best First Feature), I still always think of that advice. It’s so important, the work has gotten very exciting and a lot bigger but I still don’t take myself that seriously because how can I? It genuinely feels like I’m living my dream and I’m so grateful to everyone who has been a part of it.

This advice has been relevant recently when pitching for commercial work. Everyone knows that’s not always easy; you put in days of work, thinking and creative exploration to try and win over an agency or a brand and convince them that you totally get them and know what their audience needs. I think of that advice and again, it strikes a chord. I know it’s the work and the idea that has to show that I can deliver. It’s barely about me.

In the Film and TV world it’s also been relevant. I recently starred opposite Jude Law in a 12 Hour Live Show for HBO/Sky, which was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as an actor…. I had to dig my own grave for two hours and be buried alive!!! It was challenging mentally and physically. I was freezing, exhausted, and I just had to remember everyone else here is also working their heads off, I can’t turn into a d*ck.

This advice is 100% something I now share with others. I think it’s so important. It’s a big responsibility to direct and tell stories, but that doesn’t mean you’re granted any allowances to be unkind or cross lines. I think people forget that. It takes an army of people to make any film be it a commercial, a short or feature. We’re really all just cogs in a machine. My job on set as a director is to get the best people around me and let the experts be experts.