Sam Campbell's new show Make That Movie lands on Channel 4 next week, in which he pays a maverick film director putting together a new project each week based on ideas from members of the public. Here his co-stars Lara Ricote, Helen Bauer, Aaron Chen and  David Hargreaves talk about the show

Lara Ricote

who plays Jess, the assistant

 I want to be part of anything that Sam does. I get really excited about the possibility that he could put something out into the world, that people would be interested in it, and that it’s going to be exactly the way that he sees it. He’s not making a lot of concessions, this guy; so that’s a very exciting thing to be part of.

I already knew he was intense about his work, but he also just makes a lot of it. That’s not something you see so often. You usually see people who hone things very carefully.

You know that story about the vase? The teacher says: half the class makes one vase over a whole year, and the other half makes a vase every single day. At the end, they compare whose vase is better. And the ones who made a vase every day, who got all that practice, make amazing work, whereas the others might overthink it.

With Sam, it’s like he’s making a vase every day, but also with the same level of care and reverence as if he were making just one. That’s what’s so crazy. You’d think there’s no way he’s caring deeply about every part of it – but he is. And that’s surprising. 

Over the past year and a half, I’ve kind of gotten used to the idea that maybe I’m an artist. Don’t print that…actually, print it, but include that I said don’t print that. 

I think the way I live my life is: try to be intentional but also flow with myself. I think that seems like it's at odds with itself, letting go completely, while also caring deeply, but it isn’t. 

This was one of my first times working in an environment like this, and I had to keep reminding myself: I’m here for a reason, I bring something to this. Because sometimes you look around and think, ‘Everyone here is awesome, what am I doing here?’But then you realise: well, I am here, so maybe the clue is in the pudding. 

Helen Bauer

who plays sound engineer Pat

I loved it from the moment I read it. It was so different from anything else I’d read and so funny, and I didn’t know what was going to happen on the next page.

Honestly, I was so in from the concept of the show that I don’t even think I finished reading it before I was like, ‘I’m 100 per cent in.’

I love watching shows where they do a full thing in one episode - I know that’s not typically scripted television - but transformation shows like Changing Rooms, 60 Minute Makeover and Escape to the Country. You think Escape to the Country isn’t one of those shows, but it is, because in an hour they find someone somewhere new to live and a whole new life. That’s incredible. 

Pat is ‘a lump’. That’s basically the only note I got on set. Obviously, I got more, because they’re professionals and directors and whatever, but about four times a week someone would come up to me and be like, ‘More lumpish. More lumpish.’

Which is a mad direction to give to someone - particularly a fat woman. Can you imagine being told, ‘Be more lumpish’?

But the role is that she’s really there to do the job. She clearly enjoys it a lot and she clearly loves Sam, but she’s very… no emotions on any sleeve.  Pat’s just there to get on with it.

Can you describe your own movie idea in a couple of sentences?

Stop it, because I’ve got a couple!

Number one is a zombie film, but the main character desperately wants to be a zombie because all their favourite people have become zombies and they want to fit in. They’re desperately trying to pretend they’re a zombie the whole time, and no one bites them because they’re acting really well. Then they just have to keep up the whole façade.

Another one is a love story about the Berlin Wall. I’m such a history nut. I also want to do a time‑travel film where people get to travel back to different days at school so they can get with the person they always thought they’d end up with. But the time‑travel device HAS to be a bottle of Charlie Red. These are my genuine film ideas.

Aaron Chen

who plays intimacy coordinator Sebastian

I must say I was extremely excited to read the script. Sam to me and to many across the globe, is somewhat of an interesting fellow. 

I was giggling for like 15 minutes just from the first page, it had me seriously creasing and cracking up. Then I realised I opened the wrong email and it was a bank statement I had gotten (I’m not really intelligent and Sam has in the past told me that I don’t really understand movies, for example he said that Minions was a little advanced for me).

 When I finally opened the actual script what I found was something really gorgeous and magical, I was ACTUALLY laughing hard. And you might be saying well, you laughed at a bank statement. I was just doing that to be polite, but this one got me really rolling around for like 17 or 18 minutes. 

[This show] is the same as other television but it’s good! It’s got good writing and it probably speaks more about other television that it doesn’t have a specific tone.

From my perspective, it’s a very funny and interesting script. I learn the lines, figure out the beats of the jokes and say them. I guess Sam wanted me to be extremely cretinous and kind of not a nice guy, which is different to other roles I have had, not cute at all, which I really enjoyed tackling.

David Hargreaves

who plays cinematographer  Winnie

It was completely off the wall… they're all mad, particularly Sam! I loved the whole premise of shooting a movie in three days. Shooting the first episode was just crazy. We went out on the road in a housing estate to recruit people to be in the film, people we hadn’t met… bizarre! 

The other thing that attracted me was working with stand-up comics, you can’t say no can you? 

Helen, Lara and Aaron were a complete joy to work with. Helen and I had an ongoing joke about her being Helen Mirren; Aaron is just deadpan; and Lara is just a boiled-over kettle… There’s just so much energy. It was just a privilege to work with them.

• Make That Movie launches on Channel 4 at 10pm next Thursday. Making guest appearances over the series are the likes of John Kearns, Rose Matafeo, Debbie McGee, Kim Noble, Michelle Heaton, Pat Sharp, Lenny Rush and Anne Penfold

» Sam ​Campbell talks about Make That Movie