On the last night of high school, Halloween 1997, a group of high school boys say goodbye to their childhoods as they embark through a surreal journey of their hopes, dreams and fears.

Interview with Writer/Director Nicholas Verso

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

In Australia it had been a long time since we’d try to really engage with a youth audience and make something for either teenagers or the people who were teenagers in the 90’s. So I wanted to tell a story that was really just for them. Also something that celebrated the magic and enchantment hiding in the shadows of Australia and present that to the world.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

I’m finding it sends people back into their own memories and if they connect with it, puts people in a strange emotional space. I’m not sure exactly what that space is but maybe there isn’t a word for it and it’s just something that cinema can do.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Well I guess the more personal you get, sometimes the more universal you become. So I drew upon experiences and observations from my own adolescence but tried to capture them in a way that wouldn’t preclude anyone from relating the experiences back to themselves. I think the desire to make peace with the ghosts of your past, finding your pack and following your dreams are concepts a lot of people can relate to.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?

It’s a pretty dense and complicated story on one hand while on the other it’s incredibly simple. So I think the challenge was always balancing that and not overloading it. A lot of time was spent paring it back so that there weren’t too many stories or balls in the air at any moment. And then through production you never have enough time so you really start to focus on what’s most important and honouring that as best you can then threading that together in the edit.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

To be honest it’s a pretty polarising film. It’s a journey not everybody wants to take and it’s quite a different film in the Australian landscape so I think it’s taken people by surprise who were maybe expecting a straightforward coming of age or horror film. But I’m finding the people I REALLY made it for - the dreamers, the freaks, the outcasts - are responding so beautifully and positively which is wonderful to see.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I think so. But I think it’s also to early to tell what to make of that. Now I just have to absorb it all. There has been certain feedback that I’ll definitely take aboard and keep in mind for future stories I tell. But it’s definitely exposed a side of certain Australian film reviewers that is quite entrenched and comes across as overly cynical and jaded which I think has some sadly reductive connotations for Australian culture and what kinds of stories they feel we can tell.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

I’d love to see this film travel more around the world. We’ve had a wonderfully successful festival launch screening in Venice, Toronto, Busan, Austin and Rio with Stockholm on the way. I’d just love for the film to travel as far and wide as it can so the more buyers, distributors and film festival directors that see it the better. Also the more writers who enjoy it and want to share it with their readers the better as well.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

In many ways nearly every film I’ve made has the same intention and that’s about broadening the definition of masculinity. I think the role of the modern male has become so restrictive and it’s why we’re seeing so many people lashing out in fear and misunderstanding which is causing hideous results in both genders and stopping us from achieving equality. I know growing up I couldn’t find many men to look up to. So with my films I like to show a slightly different side of men that we might be used to seeing. Something a little more emotional that has a few softer edges. Hopefully that helps both sides.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

What would you have done if you were Corey?

What are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I’m not sure to be honest. We’re all so in it. Marden Dean (cinematographer) has just shot BREATH for Simon Baker which should come out next year. Erin Roche (costume designer) has just designed the TV show THE WRONG GIRL and is working on a thesis. Shinjuku Thief (music) has been composing for theatre and designing new wonderful installations. I’m writing a bunch of things and looking at some other projects. The actors are all out there auditioning and will hopefully be seen in new roles soon!

Interview: October 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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BOYS IN THE TREES

On the last night of high school, Halloween 1997, a group of high school boys say goodbye to their childhoods as they embark through a surreal journey of their hopes, dreams and fears.

Length: 112 mins

Director: NICHOLAS VERSO

Producer: JOHN MOLLOY

Writer: NICHOLAS VERSO

About the writer, director and producer:

Key cast: TOBY WALLACE, GULLIVER MCGRATH, MITZI RUHLMANN, JUSTIN HOLBOROW

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Buyers, distributors, film festival directors

Funders: Mushroom Pictures, White Hot Productions, South Australian Film Corporation, Screen Australia

Release date: September 2016