Director Dan CADAN is now under contract at London-based agency THE GRAFT. Born on 2 January 1975 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, he celebrated the debut of his film 'Walk Like a Panther' in Manchester this March. At his side was his fiance, the actress Lena Headey. Dan Cadan started his career as a runner on the set of Guy Ritchie's film 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' and moved up to become his personal assistant for the film ' Snatch'.
Dan Cadan, who has also made a name for himself as an author, works on a series of additional projects with Madonna – for instance as Second Unit Director of her documentary entitled 'I‘m Going to Tell You a Secret' from 2005. For Madonna's concert film 'Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Tour', he was Camera Operator, and as co-author he contributed to her film 'Filth and Wisdom'.
Dan Cadan celebrated successes with his wrestler film comedy 'Walk Like a Panther', about a group of over-the-hill wrestling stars from the 80s who slipped into their Lycra outfits again to save their beloved pub. We took the opportunity to share 20 facts with you about Dan Cadan here on GoSee that not too many will know.
1: He was a film lover from an early age.
“I remember watching Jaws when I was about 7 and An American Werewolf in London, (which my gran turned off, not because of the humans being torn apart but because of the swearing). I went to visit my dad in Paris, and he went out but left a couple of films to keep me entertained – one of which was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. These films had a profound effect on me but in a good way. I was scared, but it was a fear that I enjoyed. Even at that age, I knew that I wanted to be part of whatever process went into making the magic that I felt that I was watching.”
2: He had a number of odd jobs on his way to the top.
“After school, I worked in Laser Quest, Huddersfield Job Centre, Harvey Nichols when it opened in Leeds. When I was about 17, I met someone who was to become my best friend in the world and eventually the mother of my second child, and things started to change. I left Yorkshire and did temping work in London – I did all the things that people do when they’re trying to make it at doing something else.”
3: And his mum and gran were his biggest supporters.
“When I was at school in Huddersfield, there was no one to tell me about film school. In fact, I think only Beaconsfield was seriously teaching film back then. I was pretty good at English Language, and every project I did would always wind up relating to film. My teachers didn’t discourage me from my dream of working in film, but I didn’t really find myself encouraged either. But my mum never stifled me or told me that I wouldn’t or couldn’t find a way. She and my grandma taught me that if I truly believed, I could.”
4: He believes in love at first sight.
“It happened to me 25 years ago, and that same love is stronger today than it has ever been. When you find someone willing to hold up the mirror, the one that helps you truly see inside yourself (and if you can find the comfort with that person to take a long, hard look), well that’s it. Job done.
5: He quit a successful job to go and work for peanuts for Guy Ritchie.
“Along with temping, I was writing for magazines in London and making decent money – but out of the blue, I got a call from Jason Flemyng who told me that he’d just done a film with Vinnie Jones, and they needed a runner in the office for a week, paying £30 a day. This was a major crossroads in my life: Do I carry on earning decent dough (which could have been a constant) or do I take a chance on realizing a dream to work in film, albeit for one week and £150? I walked out of my job that day and into Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn’s SKA Films office at 98 Wardour Street, where I worked on the post production of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. When my first week was up, Guy asked me to go back for another week, and the rest is history!”
6: He wound up writing with Guy Ritchie at Sting’s country house.
“After Lock Stock came out, I remember Matthew Vaughn telling Guy that he needed to start work on the next script, and Sting and Trudie (Styler) were offering him their country pile lake house to use to write from. Guy said, “alright, but I want to take Dan”, and I just froze. I remember I was washing up at the time, and I must have scrubbed the pattern right off the mug because I couldn’t believe it. Matthew said, “why do you want to take him?” and Guy replied, “because he’s a funny c*nt, and I want him to come.” Next thing, me, Guy and Jason Statham are writing at Sting’s house, probably the biggest house I’ve ever seen.”
7: He learned a lot from working with Guy.
One of the main things I learned from Guy was how to run a set while still having a laugh. He’s the type of director that you’re able to offer ideas, and he will be honest in his response. He’ll either knock it back straight away because he didn’t like it or listen, likely expand upon it and implement it.”
8: He came up with Brad Pitt’s Snatch entrance scene.
“In Snatch, Brad Pitt was supposed to be introduced, tinkering under the bonnet of a Mitsubishi Shogun, but I suggested to Guy, “why don’t we just have him crouched behind the car taking a shit. Guy agreed and in the name of art, Brad dropped his strides.”
9: This is the film he doesn’t get sick of.
True Romance, an absolute classic.
10: No one can do Brit humor but the Brits.
“I think, with regard to characterization in British film, we are brilliant at two things: one, not taking ourselves too seriously, and two, taking ourselves just seriously enough. Which I think is so important. We have fantastic talent and a real bravery in filmmaking.
11: He’s got some big inspirations.
“I feel like it’s obvious, but I have to say Spielberg because of the effect Jaws had on me. I also love Wes Anderson because he’s so visually arresting without being gimmicky and gets incredible performances out of his cast. Midnight Run is a favorite film of mine. So for that reason, I’d have to say Martin Brest too.
12: But he’d like to go for a drink with this guy.
If I could go for a drink with anyone, it would be Quentin Tarantino, just for the mayhem. I’d just sit there, pull his string and let him talk.
13: His muses have remained the same throughout his career.
Stephen Graham and Lena Headey (= his fiance and British actress, who gained international fame with her roles in films such as Brothers Grimm and 300 as well as in TV series including Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and as Cersei in Game of Thrones) are my muses. Stevie, because he and I have been through a lot, misbehaving and behaving for so many years. He inspires me because of his ability to be anything, he’s incredible, and he’s become one of the greatest dads you’ll ever know. And Lena just because of her desire to go where most people won’t. I’ll tell you what it is: Both of those guys have so much life experience to draw from because they have seen and done things that a lot of actors will never experience. And they are better at their art for it. They have that rare ability to be raw, totally stripped bare; they have zero fear, and that is quite something. Can I also add that Hannah Walters, Steve’s wife, is a phenomenal actress. Criminally untapped but her time will come.
14: He learned a lot about himself when making his debut film, Walk Like A Panther.
The first thing I learned is that I can actually direct a film. Your average film has 20 speaking roles, but I had 60, 200 extras and a whole crew, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world for me. The second thing I learned is that when you’re making a film, with a big studio or not and regardless of the hours you need to work, regardless of where you are filming, remember your family. It’s just a film. At times, I handled that badly, maybe because it was such a personal film, and I was so invested. So I became blinkered. It was a mistake, but I learned from it, and I know it won’t happen again. I’m a man who has always believed that family comes first, and it seems that with WLAP, I ignored my own belief.
15: Walk Like A Panther was like a walk down memory lane for him.
It was such a personal film. The location where I was first punched in the face is in the film, as is the actual living room where I used to watch wrestling with my grandma as a kid.
16: One of his next projects will be about a trio of serial killers.
“I’ve been speaking to people about a horrendous story of three serial killers that operated in the same area of downtown British Columbia in Canada between the 1960’s and 000’s. Gilbert Paul Jordan, who would force feed alcohol to his victims until they died, the sadistic child killer Clifford Olson and probably the most infamous, Robert Pickton, a pig farmer who allegedly killed over 40 people. Think Silence of the Lambs meets Mindhunters meets True Detective (Season 1 of course!).”
17: This is the item he’d save from a burning building.
“Can you please make sure to say I wasn’t allowed to say my family! As far as inanimate objects go, it would be a greeting card featuring a drawing by Ralph Steadman of Hunter S Thompson as Dr Gonzo. Before his death, Hunter shot the image of Dr Gonzo through the mouth and then he signed it, dated it, circled the .22 bullet hole and wrote “good” on it.”
18: Disrespecting women is one of the things that makes him the most angry.
“I was raised by women. Women carry so much, suffer so much, deal with so much, create so much, and they do all this and more whilse still being able to love so much. Don’t get me wrong, fellas do their fare share but we seem to still be under the misconception that women are not our equal. Give me a fucking break.”
19: This is the advice that he’ll pass on to his daughters.
“Just to simply be themselves because they are wonderful and they are enough.”
20: He’s not that fussed about awards.
“I don’t think they mean that much anymore. I’d rather be awarded a hug from my kids.”
While you will hopefully read the synopsis soon about the film and then download Dan's comedy, we know what Dan is planning this summer: Rumor has it that church bells will soon be ringing before the end of the year for Dan and Lena. We send you all our love !
About - Walk Like a Panther revolves around a group of ‘80s wrestlers who are forced to don the lycra one last time when their beloved local pub is threatened by closure. Led by father-son duo, Mark (Stephen Graham) and Trevor Bolton (Dave Johns), this unlikely bunch of underdog heroes sets out to save their community, rekindling old friendships and family ties along the way. Starring Stephen Graham, Dave Johns, Jill Halfpenny, Sue Johnston, Lindsey Coulson, Julian Sands, Jason Flemyng, Stephen Tompkinson, Michael Socha, and Scroobius Pip... out 2 July, 2018 available online: amazon.co.uk/Walk-Like-Panther-Dan-Cadan/
