About Us
We founded Village Tale Productions in late 2022 to support actors, creatives and businesses who need skilled filmmakers to advance their projects. The company also supports the development of our own independent works, unified under a single umbrella.
We met at university and found that we had a lot in common in the films and stories that we love and quickly became friends. Throughout, we worked together on the production of many short films, including our respective graduation projects. In the midst of our final year, while discussing what we wanted to do after university we struck the idea of forming our own company and got to work!
Our aim is to move past the run-of-the-mill – to support projects that push boundaries and stretch mediums. If you’ve got or want a fresh perspective on… anything really, perhaps we could create something special together.
Callum Roberts - Co-Director
Hi, i’m Callum!
I started making films around the age of seven, when I would put together LEGO animations on my bedroom floor, shooting frame by frame on a Mini-DV camera borrowed from my Dad.
As time went on, I moved beyond my bedroom floor. In high school I got my first DSLR and gained an interest in photography, as well as beginning to collaborate with family and friends on comedy sketches, animations and short films.
Eventually, I pursued a degree in Film Production at the University of Gloucestershire. Where I delved deeper into the art and craft of filmmaking, learning from practical on-set experiences and collaboration. I spent these years refining my skills in cinematography, scriptwriting and directing.
For my graduation project, I directed my first documentary ‘Kim and the Shepherd Boy’, where I got to know the author and illustrator of my favourite childhood storybook - a full circle moment in my storytelling journey so far.
Since late 2022, I have been working within our company, developing music videos and short films - as well as shooting showreel scenes with some fantastic actors. I want to continue bringing these visions to life for many years to come.
Some of my favourite films are:
About Time (2013) Dir. Richard Curtis
Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007) Dir. Steve Bendelack
Under the Silver Lake (2018) Dir. David Robert Mitchell
ハウス / House (1977) Dir. Nobuhiko Obayashi
It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012) Don Hertzfeldt
Dan Stearn - Co-Director
Hello, I’m Dan!
I don’t remember a time when storytelling wasn’t the biggest passion in my life. I, inevitably, studied Film Production at the University of Gloucestershire and now here I am, trying to make a living from everything I learned.
I am most comfortable in my writing chair (everybody needs a recliner). Ask to see my current feature-script and you’ll receive an email in a few years with an attachment labelled “Draft One - V17”. I won’t be calling it draft two until it’s readable.
Despite my desk-leanings, the energy of an active set excites me just enough to leave the house. There’s a fine line between a genuinely welcoming set and good time-keeping, my directing experiences have revealed that I am good at hitting that line.
My favourite part of the process is post-production. It strikes the miraculous middle ground between collaboration and confinement. Harmonising the editing, sound production and composition is always deeply satisfying. The meat of my filmmaking education took place in an editing suite and I’m itching to return.
My watchlist is seemingly endless, and the odds of me ever catching up are very slim, please do not add to it.
My favourite films are:
Planet of the Apes (1968) Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner
Before Sunset (2004) Dir. Richard Linklater
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) Dir. Alfonso Cuarón
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) Dir. Gore Verbinski (not a spelling error, this is the best one)
La La Land (2016) Dir. Damien Chazelle