Presenting ‘Making Time’: The Greatest Watch Film Ever Made (In My Extremely Biased Opinion)
by Ian Skellern
Describing Making Time as “the greatest watch film ever made” is a pretty bold claim, especially as it’s a film about people rather than watches, but you can judge if my headline is hyperbolic for yourself.
Five years ago, I had a dream to make a Netflix-type series on watchmakers with the aim of sharing my passion for the craft with the wider world, i.e., those with no interest in high-end mechanical watches and most likely don’t even know that this world even exists. I knew that if I made a great film about watches, then the only people that would likely watch it would be those (like you) who already appreciate fine horology.
Making Time poster featuring Brittany “Nico” Cox
Which is why Making Time is about people (admittedly people that are horologists) sharing what I hope are compelling personal journeys rather than watches or watchmaking. The premise being that if you care about the person, you will appreciate their craft.
While I arrogantly say that “I” made this film, that’s not even remotely true. Making Time was only possible because I learned that Hind Seddiqi (director of Dubai Watch Week) was also considering embarking on a similar project, and despite my having nearly zero experience in making films, she took an enormous leap of faith that we shared a common vision. Without Hind’s passion and support, Making Time would never have seen light of day.
And having Seddiqi’s support wasn’t my only stroke of good luck: I had the extremely good fortune to meet the award-winning producer/director Kat Mansoor early in her career when she made a short 10-minute documentary called Time Piece featuring Philippe Dufour and Vianney Halter and managed to convince her to make the film for Hind and I. Not only did Mansoor put her heart and soul into the project for five years, she assembled a talented world-class team, including director Liz Unna and editor Adam Lavis. Making Time is their film.
Making Time is a 75-minute feature-length documentary featuring Philippe Dufour, Maximilian Büsser, Brittany “Nico” Cox, Ludovic Ballouard, and Aldis Hodge, who were all very generous with their time and trusting in allowing us to share their life stories.
Making Time poster featuring Ludovic Ballouard
I thought that making the film would take around 12 to 18 months to make, but then COVID-19 hit and stopped international travel and production. And while Making Time began as a Netflix-style series, we struggled to find streaming platforms and film distributors who weren’t reluctant to take that. So we pivoted and made a standalone documentary. My dream is that if the documentary is successful it will generate interest in a series.
I was nervous how watch aficionados would react to the film as it doesn’t focus on watches or watchmaking, but we screened a 20-minute preview at Dubai Watch Week 2021 and the feedback was good, so hopefully you will appreciate it too.
Journeyman Pictures (a documentary film distribution agency) is marketing Making Time and has already signed a distribution deal for the Canadian rights. The film is scheduled to screen in Canadian cinemas in February 2023, followed by Canadian TV (I’ll share more details as I get them). Hopefully we will open more markets soon.
We have also edited a version for TV under 60 minutes’ running time that Journeyman Pictures will additionally market for us worldwide. Fingers crossed!
Making Time is now available to stream or download. It was filmed for the cinema, so you will be rewarded by watching it on the largest screen you can.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Making-Time-Philippe-Dufour/dp/B0B8T88DRM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25HJSSYAJT9MC
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/making-time/id1653458979?ls=1
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/makingtime
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/movies/details?id=4x3KQg4ZwaY.P&sticky_source_country=US&gl=US&hl=en
I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think in the comments below.
For more information, please visit makingtime.film.
You may also enjoy:
‘Making Time’ Film: A Cinephile Review By A Watch Lover
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Dear Ian,
Amazing, I look forward to watching this.
It unfortunately appears unavailable on the Swiss iTunes store for the moment
Will it be available here too in the near future? Thanks in advance.
Warmest Season’s Greetings to you and all at Quill and Pad,
Sebastien
Hi Sebastien, I will ask our distributors as Switzerland is likely to be an important market. It might be worth trying the Journeyman Pictures platform http://www.journeyman.tv/film/8365/making-time
Regards, Ian
Thanks Ian, I will do that
Vimeo works in Switzerland you can rent or buy, I just bought it for less than 6 CHF.
You can always watch it on Journeyman.tv or Vimeo. iTunes won’t release in Switzerland without a German version.
Happy watching!
not the only good industry watchmaker film, there are more available for free.
I find the trailer pretty uninspiring compared to some of these who have been telling the same stories in a similar way.
standard craft mood filming.
Congratulations on an excellent film…though perhaps not quite “the greatest.” Hodges and Cox were fascinating choices. Hope it gets decent distribution.
Thank you.
I am curious, if you think there’s a better watch film out there please let me know which one. I’d see if we can get any tips for next time.
Regards, Ian