Making a low-budget feature film is always a test for any new director. However, making a debut feature for Mark Hampton wasn’t just a creative challenge. It was also an endurance test that pushed his talents in fruitful new directions. Hampton wore multiple hats as writer, director, and lead actor when making ‘UNLICENSED’, a British boxing drama described as “a British Rocky meets Wall Street.”
Hampton takes on the role of Danny Goode, a disgraced former City broker trying to rebuild his life and reconnect with his estranged wife (Sarah Diamond) and child after serving time for insider trading. Shut out of the financial world, Danny finds himself washing dishes in a restaurant owned by his old friend Jon (Mark Tunstall), who helps him back on his feet. But Danny struggles with his unpredictable life on the poverty line, until he’s drawn into an unlicensed boxing match with a lucrative cash prize, which he sees as his ticket back into his family’s good books.
‘UNLICENSED’ combines the gritty world of underground boxing with the cutthroat arena of high finance, asking big questions about ambition and redemption in a world where every choice carries risk. When we speak, Mark has just landed back in the UK after a whirlwind trip. “The glory of Ryanair,” he laughs. That sense of humour has clearly served him well because making ‘UNLICENSED’ was anything but glamorous. The shoot came together fast and demanded that Hampton take on almost every role imaginable: writing, directing, leading the cast, and producing the film.
Wearing All The Hats
“I wasn’t originally planning to direct, and acting wasn’t on the cards either,” Mark explains. “But once things started moving, it happened very quickly. We had limited time and money, so we had to make it work.”
And, perhaps surprisingly, this challenging timeframe did work. Shot on an incredibly tight schedule, the film demanded creative problem-solving at every stage. “The shoot was just a few intense days,” he says. “It was a real challenge, but we pulled it off.”
Mark is no stranger to filmmaking, with his CV featuring several acclaimed shorts, including the award-winning action fantasy short film Outlands (2024). But stepping up to a feature film was a leap into the unknown. “With shorts, you can keep everything manageable,” he says. “With a feature, there are so many moving parts – it’s a completely different beast.”
That complexity extended beyond the logistics of filmmaking. Mark also stars in the film, taking on a physically demanding role while juggling the responsibilities of a director. He admits. “On set, switching between performance and overseeing everything else was tough. There were moments when I’d be mid-scene, then immediately have to check the shot. It was exhausting, but I loved it.”
A Tale of Two Worlds
So why the fusion of boxing and finance? The idea was rooted in Mark’s own experience. “I’ve worked in the City before, and I’ve seen that world up close, including the hedonism, the ambition,” he says. “I wanted to explore what happens when someone loses all of that and has to fight, literally and figuratively, to get it back."
Those themes of ambition and resilience are interwoven into the film's compelling story. “I didn’t just want to make a boxing film or a finance film,” he explains. “I wanted to explore what drives people, what they’re willing to sacrifice, and whether that’s worth it in the end.”
Distinctly British
Its these themes that make the film unmistakably British. Set against the backdrop of London’s financial district and the boxing gyms of the UK capital, it’s infused with references to the genre conventions of classic British crime dramas. “It’s about class, ambition, and survival. All things that feel very rooted in a British context,” Mark notes. ‘UNLICENSED’ offers a story that echoes films like Layer Cake (2004) and Sexy Beast (2000), where morally complex characters navigate underworld economies and fight for redemption in unforgiving environments.
From Set to Screen
Now that the film is complete, Mark is finally seeing it on the big screen with audiences, with recent showings at Cambridge, London and Leeds’ historic Hyde Park Picture House. “When you make something this independently, you’re so focused on getting it finished, you forget about the thrill of seeing real people watch it and respond”. ‘UNLICENSED’ will screen to an already sold-out audience at the Picturehouse in Cambridge. However, tickets remain for a special screening at the Hyde Park Picturehouse. This screening will feature a Q&A and a red-carpet celebration, making it a unique occasion to celebrate the film and the work it took to bring ‘UNLICENSED’ to the screen.
Advice for First-Time Filmmakers
So, at the final stages of his project, what does Mark say to those dreaming of making their own feature? “Just do it,” he says without hesitation. “Don’t wait for perfect conditions – they don’t exist. Make the film you want to make with what you have. The tools are there; the biggest hurdle is starting.” He also warns against the rising influence of AI, reassuring creatives of the authenticity of their work and the value of their unique vision. “It’s more important than ever that creatives double down on producing their own work. AI can’t replace the authenticity of a human vision. Your creativity and your perspective are what give a film – and any project - its soul.”
It’s solid advice, and judging by the ambition and energy behind this debut, Mark has lived by it.
Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds, will be hosting a screening of Unlicensed, with a live Q&A with writer, director and star Mark Hampton, and fellow cast members Mark Tunstall and Jack Newhouse. Buy tickets for 13th September 2025
All is Joy Studios, London, will also be hosting a screening of 'UNLICENSED’, followed by a live Q&A and networking drinks. Buy tickets for 15th September 2025
Interview conducted by Christina Brennan. Read more of Christina’s work: https://www.christinabrennan.net/projects
