Writer, Director, Producer, Actor. Andrew Loveday does it all.  and all in the past 20 years. Andrew has worked on some of my favourite British films of recent years including The Rise of the Krays, The Wee Man, The Fall of the Krays, ,Assassin, Doghouse and several instalments of the Rise of the Footsoldier franchise. To say Andrew is busy is an understatement, but he took some time out to take part in this article and answer a few questions . So a Huge thank you Andy!

You’ve made 43 films, but what films inspire you? What are some of your favourite movies?

Growing up, aged 7 or 8, I watched films like Bugsy Malone and then as I got older because of my Granddad, films like Brighton Rock. In my late teens, Get Carter and The Long Good Friday were films that had me hooked and inspired; they appealed to me in the same way they appealed to many young guys in their late teens.

 When you started, you were not originally from a film background; how do you think that initial lack of experience (but lack of constraints) impacted your work?

I came from a background of not being very good at school, but I was great at art, maths & rugby. I left school with only two qualifications. I did work for a film company, and when we were on set, I was watching – noting how films are structured and made. But when I first started, it was tough. I actually came from the building industry – and I implemented what I would do on a building site and applied it to film – for instance, a set of plans, going to the bank for money, getting the trades in and selling via an estate agent is pretty similar to film– the plans are the script, financiers for the film, crew it, make it and give it to a sales agent to sell. I applied that method to making movies, and it’s been very successful.

What is one of your favourite locations you have filmed?

To date, it would have to be Chamonix and the Scottish highlands – a close second. Chamonix was for Summit Fever, and the Highlands was for A Lonely Place To Die.

 Have you collected any ‘props or keepsakes from any of your films?

I have kept quite a few props from the Rise of the Footsoldier films because I end up using them again – as we are now on film number six! I kept the blue range rover; I have a complete arsenal of weapons from all the films, too…and I have Tony Tucker’s wig!

Do you have an ‘off switch’ when not working, and how does it work?

Unfortunately, if you work in the film industry, you never get an off switch – it’s a 24-hour-a-day job between emails, working across time zones and being on set. I try and work on my mobile phone and stay as flexible as possible. If I do get any downtime, my perfect off switch is 2 or 3 hours of sleep in the afternoon – that helps me get through. And I like to play golf and have just taken up swimming too.

The success of the Rise of the Footsoldier franchise has now extended to the launch of a mobile game. Are you a ‘gamer’?

I’m not a gamer now, but I was in my teens. I grew up on Atari, so I’ve seen games develop generationally. The Rise of the Footsoldier Mobile Game off the back of the franchise is something the fans wanted, but hopefully, it will generate a new audience for the films too.

 If you had to make a ‘bucket list’ of people you’d love to work with, tell me one name who would be on it.

 I would love to work with Ray Winstone; I think Ray has so much more to offer; I think he has one more big gangster film in him, and I would like to be the man who produces that film. I believe he has so much more to offer, more than we’ve actually seen; I’d love to work with Ray because I think I could bring something really special to the party. Imagine that – in Rise of the Footsoldier – it would be box office success all day long!

What new projects are you currently working on?

How long have you got?! We’re editing Rise of the Footsoldier Vengeance (previously known as Tate Two Days of Blood). Once that’s finished, in the Summer, I will be going on to make a film called Headhunter, which is a true-life crime story based on the book Back In The Game by Jason Marriner – really looking forward to that. It’s like Donnie Brasco meets ID. After that, we have another Footsoldier film – which I’m really looking forward to making -Footsoldier Ibiza; 1/ it will be a lot of fun, 2/it’s in the sunshine 3/It’s because I can!

Rise of the Footsoldier: The Mobile Game is Out Now on iOS (via App Store) and Android Mobile (via Google Play). RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER (2007): THE EXTREME EDITION film is in cinemas and available to stream.