Please tell us about the projects you worked on before making ‘Open’. How did you start, and how did you learn to make films?
I have a long history in live theatre as a director, actor, designer and builder. I was fortunate to get work on a couple television projects a number of years ago and loved working in that environment and with the cameras and editing. As I have been writing and acting I have fallen more and more in love with the medium of film and being able to tell stories in a unique way that I can create myself. I started in film by filming my own reels and auditions, as well as a bit of sketch comedy with a friend, and that lead to wanting to make films.
Tell us about ‘Open’. How do you describe it?
Open is a dark comedy about distrust between partners. In their desire for an open relationship, the couple has made some mistakes and they will have to pay for those mistakes. Everything goes wrong and they are working hard to clean up the mess that they’ve made. It’s a fun journey to watch but it’s also a cautionary tale about being sure you know what you want before you try to reach for it.
Please tell us about your favorite filmmakers.
I have so many favourites. I think I gravitate towards story tellers like Christopher Nolan and visionaries like Tim Burton. People that aren’t afraid to tell stories their own way. I also love Darren Aronofsky and Spike Jonze, but there are so many to choose from.
If you were given a good budget, what would be your ideal project?
I have 2 projects I would love to bring to the screen. I have been working on a feature length script called “7 scars”. It is currently being featured with a number of festivals and winning some awards and I dream of making it into a powerful film about life, life lessons and dealing with loss. It’s a deeply personal project with some of the stories coming from my own life. I am also developing a limited series called “Albert’s Colours” It is a powerful story of a man’s struggle to manage his mental health in the face of a major loss. It’s a project I’ve been working on for years and I hope one day to film it and bring it’s beautiful colours to life.
Describe how you would ensure that production is on schedule. What steps would you take?
For me it’s all about planning. I like to make sure that everything is ready to go ahead of time. The script has to be solid and doesn’t need edits or re-writes. Also every aspects needs to be planned and ready to execute on the day. I am a firm believer that people’s time Is valuable and respecting that is paramount. I don’t want to waste anyone’s time on set, so being prepared and well scheduled is very important to me. Obviously things happen outside of our control, but if you’re prepared for the worst you can hope for the best.
What was the hardest part of making ‘Open’.
Open was hard to film because we were laughing so much. It was a fun group to be around and some takes were ruined by laughter and our inside jokes. Other than that, the scenes we filmed at night and very early in the morning were the hardest, but I think they turned out so well and it was worth it. Oh and the blood. We couldn’t get the blood to do what we wanted it to. At the end of our evening of shooting outside I was so sticky from the fake blood. It is not forgiving stuff to work with… fun though!
If possible, tell us about your next work. What plans do you have for your future work?
I am developing a short film called “After” dealing with a man’s journey after a Near Death Experience. I’m very exited about it, and again a lot of it is pulled from my own life. The script is almost where I want it, and I just need to find the funds and locations to begin shooting!
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