Half Nelson Watch a scene from Ryan Fleck's debut feature.

Despite its title, the $1million-budgeted US indie pic Half Nelson has done nothing by half measures. Ryan Fleck's debut feature stars Ryan Gosling (Fracture) and newcomer Shareeka Epps and, among many other plaudits, earned Gosling an Academy Award nomination in March 2007 (Gosling and Epps won Best Actor awards at the Independent Spirit Awards the same month).

Shot in Brooklyn on Super 16mm, Half Nelson is based on Fleck and partner Anna Boden's short film Gowanus, Brooklyn, which won the Short Filmmaking Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. A look at an inspirational crack-addict teacher and his relationship with a student who's aware of his habit, the film is a powerful antidote to studio movies such as Dangerous Minds and Freedom Writers.

In the video, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden talk about their film's journey from short to feature, and how they managed to avoid any interference from producers and financiers.

Half Nelson is released in UK cinemas on Friday 20th April 2007.

Interview by Stella Papamichael | Published 18 April 07

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