Red Rover
Two teenagers from a remote religious community travel to town in search of shelter after being told by their Evangelical parents that an asteroid will soon destroy the earth.
Interview with Writer/Director Brooke Goldfinch
Watch Red Rover here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The first scene of Red Rover was an idea I’d had for a very long time. Essentially we’re seeing people doing something very normal - having a dinner party - but there’s something sinister in the way they do it and the audience can’t shake the feeling they’re not understanding something. It wasn’t until years later that I had a disturbing dream about the end of the world and I felt compelled to put that scene on paper. I think the end of the world genre is fascinating because it allows filmmakers to address really big, universal themes and I saw an opportunity to tell this oft told story in a different way.
The two main characters, Lauren and Conrad, are at an age when you begin to realize that growing up isn’t necessarily a graduation into a more mature, more just, more sensible world. They’re starting to question what they’ve been told and beginning to recognise some of their parents’ failings.
Unlike many of the adults around them, Lauren and Conrad insist on adhering to social norms and flowery etiquette even in the face of doom. Their innocence and faithfulness is at odds with the hopelessness of the grownups who are all trying to live out their long held fantasies and final wishes. The teens slowly and childishly play out their young romance under extreme and terrible circumstances, not knowing quite how to communicate their feelings before it’s too late. The pair face a potentially dire fate but they are also granted a new freedom that allows them to explore and see the world differently.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because it’s a scary, poetic portrayal of the end times, told from a teenager’s perspective.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The film is about life and death, faith and adolescence. It asks the audience to decide what they think we’re here for. I’m interested in how people behave in a time of crisis, when societal norms have been stripped away.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Initially my characters were more aware of what was happening in the world but I felt it would create greater suspense to break down communications and have them fight harder for survival.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been very positive and we’ve received a lot of support for the film in Australia. It’s not an easy watch and can be quite unsettling. Red Rover is divisive, it’s the type of film you love or hate. Personally I think that’s a good thing. Often when everyone universally ‘likes’ a film, it has trouble finding a passionate audience.
A couple of people have told me they’ve watched the film more than once and have found new details with every viewing. This is so exciting because you create little things with your team and it’s nice to know some people pick up on them.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Film is so subjective and I think it’s surprising how people interpret different things. The meaning of the film is very clear in my mind, but I’ve heard a lot of fascinating interpretations. At one festival, two of my peers were arguing about the implications of the narrative and I was so flattered. I think it’s great when people can engage with a work and have strong opinions about it. That’s the goal, right?
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We hope more people will be encouraged to come see our film at Portland Film Festival, Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, and check it out when it premieres on Short of the Week from October 20. I’d also like anyone who enjoys Red Rover to follow my upcoming feature SPLITTERS which I’ll be shooting next year with my producers Lisa Shaunessy and Leonie Mansfield. If you ‘like’ the Splitters film facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/splittersthemovie you will receive updates about the production. It’s going to be a cool experience because we’ll be taking people through the process of production, from casting all the way to the edit. If you’re a budding filmmaker, it will be a fun journey to follow and you’ll get to learn a lot about how to get an indie feature off the ground.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’ve been really happy with the festival run for Red Rover. We’ve received a lot of support in Australia, including three Best Director awards and numerous nominations. We’ve been lucky to screen at a bunch of terrific festivals around the world and I’m excited that the film will premiere on Short of the Week on October 20!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What would you do if the world was ending?
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m working hard on my debut feature Splitters, a sci-fi, thriller set in Wollongong, Australia. We’re planning to shoot next year.
Interview: September 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Red Rover
Two teenagers from a remote religious community travel to town in search of shelter after being told by their Evangelical parents that an asteroid will soon destroy the earth.
Length:
15 minutes
Director:
Brooke Goldfinch
Producer:
Apolline Berty
Brietta Hague
Writer:
Brooke Goldfinch
About the writer, director and producer: (25 words each)
Writer/Director Brooke Goldfinch has won a number of awards for her short films, wich have screened around the globe and is shooting her debut feature Splitters in 2017.
Producer Apolline Berty is currently working as an Executive Assistant at Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Producer Brietta Hague is an Australian filmmaker and journalist living in Spain and freelancing in Europe, Africa and South America.
Key cast:
Natalie Racoosin
Christopher Grey
Funders:
Screen Australia
Release date:
October 20th, 2016
Where can I watch it in the next month?
Red Rover will be screening at the Portland Film Festival, Santa Fe Independent Film Festival and having its online premiere on Short of the Week on October 20th!