Robert Henry Craft
Robert Henry Craft, a former paratrooper, has teamed up with filmmaker Matthew Hope to pen the script for his new movie The Veteran - which is released on DVD & Blu-Ray on August 29th.
The movie follows a soldier returning from the war in Afghanistan who uncovers a conspiracy involving the intelligence services and a gang of drug dealers.
I caught up with Robert to talk about the movie, working with actor Toby Kebbell and what lies ahead for him.
- You co-wrote the script with director Matthew Hope - how did you get involved with the movie?
Basically I helped Matthew with a producer problem after he was referred to me. We got talking and he asked me some questions, as he is fascinated with soldiers, guns and wars etc. He then told me about a script idea and he soon realised that to be accurate, he needed my input. That script died away and we got talking about veterans. That’s when we agreed to pen The Veteran.
- And how did you find the whole process of penning your first screenplay?
I quite enjoyed the experience and I learned a lot from it. Matthew is a good writer and between us we produced a good script, although in the end, we did do over 14 versions and amendments; even during the filming when you hear your words spoken for the first time by the actor or actors, it somehow sounds not right for that specific actor/character, so once again we amended and changed the script to fit.
The challenges were to keep the script realistic. I also enjoyed the challenge of non qualified, non experienced production members and associates, trying to change things for no reason other than their personal thoughts, dislikes and likes, so another battle for a veteran like myself was to keep it real and avoid input and ego claims on the script.
- You are a former paratrooper who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder; when you were penning the script, how much of your own experiences did you put into the central character of Miller?
Toby fitted the role perfectly. Miller is based on a younger version of myself but like someone who could not really manage the stress of discharge. I put into Toby how I probably would have felt if I had left the service early instead of doing a full service of 24 years.
If I had left early, which I nearly did in the mid 80s, then I would have experienced that loss of purpose, and with no significant support or work opportunities, my life may well have been different.
- How closely did you work with actor Toby Kebbell on set, developing the character, weapons handling, that sort of thing?
We worked very closely and Toby was very receptive and worked extremely hard - against all odds, I got Toby to perform beyond my expectations. The training budget was cut to practically zero by the production team, as they did not really understand the 'needs', so Toby and I trained in our own time and on his days off.
I was lucky that Toby was very receptive to my training methods and his weapon handling became very efficient, as you will see in the movie; nothing is speeded up, everything you see is Toby for real - no stand ins, just Toby all the time.
Toby was concerned that he did not want to look like an idiot to people watching the film. I reassured him I would not let that happen, so we worked our bollocks off and the results of his action and weapon handling is shit hot.
On the PTSD, we spent a lot of time talking about it and I gave him some scenarios. However, he and I had similar childhoods, so he absorbed some of my issues and portrayed a dead-eyed, stressed, ex-serviceman very well. I even had a critical, ex-paratrooper, Falkland’s veteran friend of mine ring me up after seeing the movie to tell me, 'I saw myself in Toby'. ‘Job done’ I thought.
- How did you find working with both Toby and director Matthew Hope?
Toby was excellent and we are still in touch now, as the bond of training to such a high intensity, including the emotional training, has created a lasting friendship and I want him to work some more with me on my next project.
Working with Matthew was an experience and we both learned a lot from each other during the filming.
- There are a lot of soldiers heading back home after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, so what sort of problems are they facing when they get home?
Every soldier handles things differently, but the main sense, once the welcome home drinks and doing the things you dreamed of while sitting in the desert somewhere is over, is anti climax and disappointment.
It's a bit like Christmas - it is hyped up, but within most families there are arguments, disappointments and disputes which can get out of hand, beyond normal days.
- How much support is there out there for veterans and what needs to be done to improve that quality of care?
There can never be enough, but I think it’s actually impossible to provide everything all the time. The veterans’ association has massively improved over the recent years and people can get help now.
The majority of the public are certainly supportive of our servicemen and women now, but how long will that last?
Help For Heroes has done a fantastic job, but my worry is that the money they are raising and using will take away funding from the service’s benevolent funds, regimental charities and the British Legion, who really are the people for endurance support.
Employment is one of the best supports - we need to keep the good ex-servicemen in work. The government needs to look at this, along with the emergency services. Even jobs like community police should, or could, be a step into society for ex-servicemen.
- Was there any particular message that you wanted this movie to convey?
I started off with Matthew trying to be more accurate, bringing home the PTSD in more detail, but I don’t think the film achieved that really.
I suppose the message is that war fucks certain people up and to take a look around at your sons, daughters, husbands and wives and if they behaving differently, there is good reason to believe they need help.
- What did you think of the film when you saw it - does it achieve everything that you set out to achieve?
I have not seen the final finished film yet. I saw an edited version towards the end and I sent it back with a load of notes.
Emma, the editor, and I sat down and discussed it and she spent a couple of weeks on it, then I reviewed it and I think it is as realistic as possible. The shoot-out scenes are good and probably better than anything I have seen in film.
- Finally, what’s next for you?
I am half way through another script which will be military based, but I am doing it in such a way that I can address things in a more palatable way for the public; it will make you cry, laugh and feel sad.
I am already getting interest from some US producers on the next one which is exciting. In the meantime I carry on with my day job.
The Veteran is released on Blu-ray and DVD 29th August
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Robert Henry Craft, a former paratrooper, has teamed up with filmmaker Matthew Hope to pen the script for his new movie The Veteran - which is released on DVD & Blu-Ray on August 29th.
The movie follows a soldier returning from the war in Afghanistan who uncovers a conspiracy involving the intelligence services and a gang of drug dealers.
I caught up with Robert to talk about the movie, working with actor Toby Kebbell and what lies ahead for him.
- You co-wrote the script with director Matthew Hope - how did you get involved with the movie?
Basically I helped Matthew with a producer problem after he was referred to me. We got talking and he asked me some questions, as he is fascinated with soldiers, guns and wars etc. He then told me about a script idea and he soon realised that to be accurate, he needed my input. That script died away and we got talking about veterans. That’s when we agreed to pen The Veteran.
- And how did you find the whole process of penning your first screenplay?
I quite enjoyed the experience and I learned a lot from it. Matthew is a good writer and between us we produced a good script, although in the end, we did do over 14 versions and amendments; even during the filming when you hear your words spoken for the first time by the actor or actors, it somehow sounds not right for that specific actor/character, so once again we amended and changed the script to fit.
The challenges were to keep the script realistic. I also enjoyed the challenge of non qualified, non experienced production members and associates, trying to change things for no reason other than their personal thoughts, dislikes and likes, so another battle for a veteran like myself was to keep it real and avoid input and ego claims on the script.
- You are a former paratrooper who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder; when you were penning the script, how much of your own experiences did you put into the central character of Miller?
Toby fitted the role perfectly. Miller is based on a younger version of myself but like someone who could not really manage the stress of discharge. I put into Toby how I probably would have felt if I had left the service early instead of doing a full service of 24 years.
If I had left early, which I nearly did in the mid 80s, then I would have experienced that loss of purpose, and with no significant support or work opportunities, my life may well have been different.
- How closely did you work with actor Toby Kebbell on set, developing the character, weapons handling, that sort of thing?
We worked very closely and Toby was very receptive and worked extremely hard - against all odds, I got Toby to perform beyond my expectations. The training budget was cut to practically zero by the production team, as they did not really understand the 'needs', so Toby and I trained in our own time and on his days off.
I was lucky that Toby was very receptive to my training methods and his weapon handling became very efficient, as you will see in the movie; nothing is speeded up, everything you see is Toby for real - no stand ins, just Toby all the time.
Toby was concerned that he did not want to look like an idiot to people watching the film. I reassured him I would not let that happen, so we worked our bollocks off and the results of his action and weapon handling is shit hot.
On the PTSD, we spent a lot of time talking about it and I gave him some scenarios. However, he and I had similar childhoods, so he absorbed some of my issues and portrayed a dead-eyed, stressed, ex-serviceman very well. I even had a critical, ex-paratrooper, Falkland’s veteran friend of mine ring me up after seeing the movie to tell me, 'I saw myself in Toby'. ‘Job done’ I thought.
- How did you find working with both Toby and director Matthew Hope?
Toby was excellent and we are still in touch now, as the bond of training to such a high intensity, including the emotional training, has created a lasting friendship and I want him to work some more with me on my next project.