FOF: I've checked out your bio and it seems that acting was always something you wanted to do. What made you decide that this was the career for you?
 
Simon: As a kid I was always a bit of a bullshitter to be honest. I could talk my way out of anything – I think I believed myself a lot too! It probably evolved from there. 
 
FOF: You've obviously not just fallen into film and spent quite a bit of time treading the boards. Has that made film acting easier or is it completely different?
 
Simon: Theatre is bloody hard work and for very little reward,. You can do a six month run of heavy Shakespeare stuff, working your bollocks off, and then the day you leave – you’re back to square one. With film you build up a catalogue of films and performances and it feels like you can mature into screen acting a bit more. There’s nothing quite like the buzz of seeing something you’re in on the big screen. 
 
FOF: Like fellow Brit Terry Stone you're starring in alot of British films but do you feel Hollywood calling?
 
Simon: I love Terry – his outlook is always great on these things. The American’s are too much talk for me. I just wanna work and get on with it – they love to spend two years talking about a film before it actually gets made. I’d rather make it, not tell a soul, and then surprise them by seeing it on at their local cinema or in the shops.  
 
FOF: Any huge stars you'd like to star with? Whatever you do don't say Nic Cage. They'll crucify you on the site for that one.
 
Simon: Nic Cage would be great! (See that’s my problem – people say don’t say this or that – and it just makes me wanna say it all the more). Being with Danny Dyer and David O’hara in my last film, JACK SAID , was pretty special – but would love to do something with Liam Nesson or Gary Oldman. I think I was most star struck by Eric Cantona when we did a scene in JACK SAYS together. 
 
FOF: Any lady stars float your boat?
 
Simon: The last two films that I have done I have been the love interest to Rita Ramnani, who plays Danny Dyers sister – she’s hot. And I was being payed to ‘pretend’ I thought so. No better job, in the world. ever.
 
FOF: I've just preordered my copy of Jack Said from Amazon and it's getting some good reviews. Is your performance good enough for me not to slate you when I review it next week? You're allowed to be modest.
 
Simon: People will think I am shit. Then others will think I am best thing ever. And my mother will complain every time I curse on screen. I don’t mind what they think – it’s just opinions – and opinions are like arseholes – everyone’s got one. 
 
FOF:  At Fuck Off Film we love independent films and get increasingly frustrated by the fact that films like this are overlooked by the majority. As a producer as well is it frustrating that you get a limited release?
 
Simon: Not really – even if we get a nationwide release we cannot compete with the huge marketing budgets that the studios have to promote the latest crap with Orlando Bloom or something equally as shit. So we can make all our money with referrals and people spreading the word – which is best done at the small screen level – meaning DVD and BLU RAY are perfect for us.
 
With my producer hat on – let me plug the link:
 
WWW.JACKSAID.CO.UK
 
FOF:  Jack Said is the second film based on Paul Tanters graphic novels. I hear he's writing the script for a third. Are you doing that one as well?
 
Simon: Yep – I think everyone is pretty happy that we made JACK SAID better and bigger then JACK SAYS (the first film) – so the aspiration continues fir JACK FALLS!
 
FOF: What's up next for Simon Phillips then? Anything we should look out for?
 
Simon: I am about to shoot a comedy entitled TEN YEAR ITCH – which is something that I have been wanting to do with a college of mine for ages. It’s also something more light hearted and should be good fun.  
 
FOF: You've seen our site and know what we're about so any message for our readers?
 
Simon: Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s sites like this that keep independent film makers going – and not worrying that they’ll never get any of the support that they deserve.
 
FOF: Jack Said is very Film Noir which is something we don't see much anymore. Do you think modern audiences will get it?
 
Simon: I hope so – they did some audience testing on the film – and everyone seemed to ‘get it’ and they looked like a pretty stupid bunch of people – so fingers crossed.