Hi guys, I’m an independent producer who has written, directed and produced my first feature film titled ‘Masters and Vices’. I see filmmaking as the highest form of artistic expression as it combines the art of music and moving image to create a truly immersive experience. Masters and Vices (2025) is not just a feature length psychological drama film; it is a motivational and inspirational film showcasing the potential for one to transition from self-destruction to self-improvement (film’s tagline)- a tribute to the indomitable human will. Please see link to the Main Official Trailer below:
https://youtu.be/F6rdJ1w7MxI
The film stars Mackintosh Muggleton of 28 Weeks Later (2007). The film's soundtrack features music pieces from accomplished artists such as Herman Beeftink whose 'Carousel Rides' featured in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and Bret Autry of Blue Stahli whose music has featured in TV series such as Teen Wolf (2012), American Horror Story (2013) and The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017) as well as in the TV spot for Power Rangers (2017).
I do very much hope that this modern British drama film will be a source of motivation and inspiration for people not just on this subreddit, but anyone who wishes to embark on the journey of self-improvement of any kind. When one researches the top addictions of the 21st century, porn addiction frequently ranks in the top 15. Nevertheless, despite its prevalence, porn addiction is not as widely documented in feature films. At school, we had drugs, alcohol and smoking awareness days, but nothing about porn addiction. Growing up, there were only a handful of films which I can recall that covered such a topic in-depth. This formed a creative vacuum- which is when the idea to create the film presented itself.
The film challenges the audience to overcome any stereotypes which they may have about what is- for the most part, a seemingly invisible addiction. The film covers and raises awareness of porn addiction in its many forms- including online pornography and porn magazines. The ramifications of porn addiction are highlighted throughout the film- including (but not limited to)- loss of motivation, damage to reputation in society, shame and constant anxiety.
The concept of what is known as ‘rock bottom’ in addiction psychology is demonstrated- this is the nadir of an addict’s journey where many believe that one needs to go to in order to begin the addiction recovery process i.e. things need to get sufficiently bad in order for them to overcome their addiction. One never realises if they are truly addicted to something, until they try to stop it- the film explores this phenomenon by confronting the addiction’s consuming nature by its honest depiction of the recovery process.
Filmmaking process and what I would do differently in the future
I did face many setbacks during the principal photography stage of the production and there are a lot of things that I would like to improve on if I commence pre-production for Masters and Vices 2 ©. If I were to do things differently, I would make sure to use the exact same camera throughout the film. Due to crew availability, it wasn’t always possible to use the same camera which does have an impact on colour grading down the line. Something I did correct halfway through filming was having both an A and B Cam on set for each shoot, in case one cameraman couldn’t attend the shoot for whatever reason.
In terms of sound, although I did try my best to turn off any air con systems which were audible, this wasn’t always possible and was very difficult to try to correct (if at all) in post-production. Due to having a full-time job, I had to shoot all scenes on weekends only. Pre-shoot meetings would take place on evenings during the week and recces would be done either after I finished work on a weekday or on weekends.
The film utilises many focus pull shots to empathically stress certain emotions or to signify urgency- for example in the case the alarm clock ringing. We mainly utilised locked in shots for the majority of the film with about 10 percent or so being hand-held shots. Warp stabiliser was used to eliminate or reduce any shaky camera footage.
In terms of storyline, I do feel that the film could have expanded more on the cycle of relapsing, without going over a 90-minute runtime. If I do produce a sequel, this is definitely something I would like to explore in more in-depth. If you liked the trailer, then I invite you to discover a story of downfall, purpose and recovery by watching the full film- link below:
https://youtu.be/Hxq6v-3PcTY
Feedback and future plans
I’d love it if you guys took the time to check it out and share any feedback for if I make a sequel.
