Hey all!
Updates. We’ve been working hard.
From a writing perspective, I’m continuing to tweak, to cut scenes, to make it all more essential. These days I’ve been focusing on the structure, and the mood/atmosphere within scenes, and realising how essential it is that the film kicks into a more intense gear after the second act trauma. Cutting dialogue after the sixty minute point, making it a little less jokey, had helped ground the film. Looking forward to lingering in those intense moments, with a menacing camera… Reminding the actors of where they’re at in the story, so we know when to be wide-eyed and intense, and afraid. It’s important the narrative drive stays with the film, and our characters don’t go through the motions, but actively push the story forward, present within it.
July. It’s a big time for the film. We’re shooting an epic teaser trailer in the middle of this month. Featuring some of our most effective imagery. Featuring… HAPPYFACE, VIOLENCE, A FEW OF OUR LEADS, and introducing the look of the film. Ideally, people see this and realise the reality… This is real, a legitimate project, with stunning visuals. A movie to be.
In seeing our teaser, we hope that people can back us, in our pursuit of the incredible. The vibe of the teaser’s going to linger with people, and be vital for us going ahead. Really looking forward to working with Joel, the film’s composer, to compose to the teaser, and really ramp up the gravity the trailer hits with.
I met with Gavin (our DOP for the teaser), Thai, Rob, Yousuf & others the other night, at Rob’s. We got major visual inspiration from Dexter, It Follows, Green Room, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Blue Ruin, and a bunch of short films Thai introduced us to. I stressed during that evening, that we must know what we are as a project… a low-budget horror film. I don’t want to replicate hundred million dollar films, I don’t want to try for that, because it’ll look like we’re trying to be something that we’re not. I want to be a fully-realised project, that AESTHETICALLY doesn’t try to be anything that it’s not. We’re not going for the greatest of cameras, we’re going for great cameras that can do the job, and reflect the landscape and lives of those in Kalgoorlie in an aesthetically beautiful, very real, brilliant way. Chills.
Thai & Gavin are legends. I was really wowed, and pleased to see the two communicate, with such a wealth of knowledge, and an abundance of ideas, of angles to tackle lighting, and the visuals of the film. My confidence is boosted, again, that this film will look alive, vibrant and stunning.
Also! We had our first group script read with the cast. The third act hits so hard, and the whole room was crazy tense. You could feel a lot of love and humour all throughout the night, in the story and the people.
Casting announcements are on their way.
May a teaser trailer be with you soon.
X Zack Inglis