What drew you to the script?
It's that microclimate of a boarding school – it's a world that I could really respond to. I went to a private day school and I'm quite nostalgic for it, although I hated it at the time. But there's something very comforting about the regimented life of having everything planned out for you, especially if you're at a boarding school. Then you've got the flipside – feral packs of girls.
How was it working with such a young cast?
There were moments when I'd be lagging a little bit but their energy is just infectious, it really keeps you enthused and excited about everything, so that was a nice surprise. And they were very much cast as a group to have the same dynamic in life that you saw on screen.
You sort of expect there to be squabbles or tantrums, but there was nothing. They absolutely loved each other! So that was lovely to see, particularly when you're expecting "the dark side".
Did you resist film-making as a career option when you were growing up?
Yes, that's part of that desire to be original and different and nothing like your parents. And then I realised that my parents' work was quite cool and that they had these very interesting lives. I went to art school and saw that all the things I loved to do were quite nicely encompassed in doing what I do now. I made my first music video and when I was on set I had my "eureka" movement. But my dad gave me a lot of space, he didn't force the issue.
Has he seen it?
Yes – I think he liked it! Though I think every time I do something that's a bit out of the ordinary he's a bit shocked and thinks: "Where the hell did that come from?"
Were you nervous about him seeing the film?
Oh god, I was terrified! Obviously, you're always nervous of what your parents think of what you're doing, but at the same time he's rather good at it himself, so it was doubly stressful. I sat behind him in the screening room, a little to the right, but I was still monitoring his every reaction.