​INDIEBLOCK

1) First of all, how did you get involved in Zoe.Misplaced?

 

I read a LOTL magazine article about the making of Zoe.Misplaced and Mekelle Mills back around December 2012 I think, and sent Mekelle an email asking if the project had been cast. It felt like a long shot, but the project sounded so good it was worth it. I never expected to get a response! But I did, and soon I'd sent in two video auditions for the part of Coal.

 

2) How long did it take to get the film off the ground?

 

Mekelle is pretty amazingly efficient at getting things done. We had our first principle cast read through in February 2013. Filming was postponed shortly after that but by August we were shooting, thanks to her tenacity. I was just on set for two weeks, but I think they finished filming entirely by October. The film was released in February! So yeah, quick work.

 

3) Would you say that you had a lot of freedom in your performance?

 

I would, yes. Mekelle was always there as a guiding eye but was most interested in our ideas and exploration. She always gave time for our techniques too, and trusted our processes. Even when I was doing odd things like running up and down two flights of stairs listening to La Dispute to get in the right space for a scene. I was free to develop a personal association to Coal and give her my own flavour even though her and I are quite different.

 

4) Do you think that the director had a lot of creative freedom?

 

Being the writer, director and producer and also personally filming most of the film, absolutely!

 

5) What would you say would be the best thing about working on the film?

 

We had a really great team. The other actors are all exceptional and the crew was wonderful to work with. Working with people like that was really invigorating. We all had the same level of passion for what we were doing.

Also, it was really hard. And I loved that. I was so so lucky that Coal had such a broad and rich emotional journey. I was so glad for such a challenging role.

 

6) Do you think the film would have been made, or been made as freely had it not been for the crowd funding?

 

No! I mean it was made on $8000 as it was, which is no small feat. That crowd funding was vital. And it meant Mekelle could really stick to her vision. With funding and the Australian film industry being what it is, crowd funding is so important.

 

7) How did the creative process compare to other films/productions you have been on?

 

Well, it was my first lead role in a feature film, so I was more intimidated than ever before. But because filming was postponed I also had longer than ever to really develop the character.

With it being a feature rather than a short film there was more of a story arc to cover and understand, and a bigger range of emotional states to find within that character. So I loved it for the same reasons I love theatre. It was great to be able to inhabit a character for longer before having to say goodbye to them.

 

 

Interview by: Ren Elliott