But what happened next?
How was the release period, and how did that impact on you?
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Well, from the very beginning really.
Apart from testing it, the first time we ever had a public reaction was the Cannes Film Festival.
That was interesting, as we arrived and it was a weird thing.
The screening was at 10am, and there was a slightly gloomy atmosphere.
People were saying they didnt know how it would play.
And we walked in, and it was this extraordinary atmosphere.
There was this incredible response to everything.
They were laughing, which was unusual.
And as the final credits rolled, they started to applaud the individual card for each character.
It was like they were watching a play.
Then it ended, and they just stood up.
They stood up for 15 minutes.
We walked on the stage, and stood there with all these people applauding.
In the end, its a really weird feeling.
In the end I remember saying to George MacKay, I like your shoes.
Because there was nothing you could do!
We ended up having a conversation on the stage.
That was the first, biggest, probably most extraordinary event.
From then on, we got told a lot that people applauded the film in cinemas around the country.
The story had an effect.
Throughout really, we had some extraordinary fans of the film.
People who have come along and really loved it, unexpected people.
Did you experience any of these audience rounds of applause yourself?
I certainly saw it happen.
I havent seen it, no.
So I did walk up and down to see if anyone was watching it, but nobody was!
Mind you, I watchedGone Girl.
You seem to have had a strong reaction from two sides here.
Many people didnt quite know what they were going to get, and were coming out hugely impressed.
Were you around at all in the UK during the release?
So how closely did you monitor that, then?
Because this is your first film?
I did monitor it, because it was my first.
I remember my first play was at the National Theatre.
It had Julie Walters, Helen McCrory and Taron Egerton in it, it was his first job.
I remember we were sitting at lunch, and we talked about reading reviews.
And everyone said that none of them read reviews.
Taron looked crestfallen, and Helen said that you will read reviews, because its your first job.
Youll stop reading reviews on your second job.
Its sort of true.
The same things happened to me here.
I read the reviews because it was my first film.
Its a trap, reviews I think.
But I did see what was happening.
The things I find really incredible is powerful response people seem to have to it.
That was my favourite thing to read about.
Watching people on Twitter talking about it was nice.
And in all that, then you get Russell Brand going mad about it, which was nice!
But its all crazy really.
The night after the London premiere, we were at the Paris premiere.
Then it was America, Germany, Italy, all over the show.
I believe I predicted your BAFTA success for this one before the films release.
But what do you remember?
Was it all a blur?
And how much do you hold with awards?
I remember almost nothing of the experience of standing on stage!
Its extraordinary that its completely vanished, like it didnt happen!
Its an interesting thing about awards.
Im slightly of the no prizes, no punishment school of thought myself.
They are exactly what they are, they mean no more and no less.
Thats a politicians answer!
It doesnt make any difference to that.
It doesnt make you any better at it, it doesnt make you more confident at it.
I thought it might, but it doesnt.
Although my agent said afterwards, now we can put the prices up!
The point about confidence is an interesting one.
Confidence is a huge thing, not least for a writer.
You have to have some confidence.
Theres already some there, else you couldnt write at all.
So youve got some, but having won the BAFTA, it didnt make me think thatll show em!
At the moment, Im just starting new stuff,Pridehas been put to bed a little.
Is there pressure from the other side then?
That youve had such a success, that it plays on your mind a little?
I think it does.
That people are now interested in what I do next.
Theres a wonderful feeling where nobody knows who you are.
Obscurity is a great comfort.
Youre free to do anything.
Now theres an interest in what I do next, and thats a sort of pressure.
Its made me think of those choices a bit.
The first thing that happens when you have a success is that people want you to replicate it precisely.
Ah, Pride 2 then!
Ive been offered an awful lot of underdog stories!
Id imagine what changes at least in the eye of a success is the phone calls you get.
Are there further temptations at least in front of you?
Were you getting those kind of calls, and are you sticking to your ideas?
Im happy with doing someone elses ideas, but what I dont find enjoyable is writing other peoples characters.
So I wouldnt want to do a sequel I dont think.
Ive never written an episode of someone elses TV show, because that doesnt really appeal.
I dont know how to do it.
Those calls do change.
OncePridewas out, I think the BAFTA does increase that too.
So you have to be so careful.
Did you ever get aPride 2orPride: The Musicalphone call?
Well,Pride The Musicalwas always talked about because it was a very obvious idea.
Matthew and I both have theatre backgrounds, and Matthews created a lot of musicals.
Weve talked about putting it on the stage in some form or another.
Thats something I can understand.
Theres nowhere to go with that.
So nobody has rung up about that!
There are a huge number of those.
Crocodile Dundee In The Midlands?
you could have that if you want.
Ill tell Harvey Weinstein!
I chatted to Faye Marsay a week or two ago, and we talked about the reaction toPride.
She said she thinks and hopes itll be a slow burn.
That this was a film that should have done two or three times the box office returns.
Im told the DVD advance is very positive and I think its very likely that itll find its place.
I try not to… its the one thing I cant control.
I have enough problems with trying to control things!
It had more five star reviews than any movie Pathe had every made.
It had an incredible response.
But people didnt turn out in those numbers.
For what it was, it did incredibly well, but I dont quite know why it all happened.
[laughs] Exactly, that is true!
Where next for you, then?
What are the projects youre juggling?
I think you had more theatre projects, and another possible film for Pathe.
Are any of those bubbling to the top yet?
The movie for Pathe Im doing, and its underway.
Im writing it now.
Thats another true story.
Most of the protagonists are no longer with us, however.
So its a slightly different situation.
With LGSM I could ring up and ask were you in love with Mark and things like that.
I cant do that here, which is both a shame, and in some ways a relief.
Its complicated talking to people about their own lives.
Nobody can argue with me here!
And Im doing something for theatre as well!
Stephen Beresford, thank you very much!
Prideis out now on DVD and Blu-Ray
