WOW FILM FESTIVAL FOCUS - The Gallant Captain
A boy and his cat journey into unknown waters with a boat, a little bottle and a vivid imagination.
Interview with Director Katrina Mathers
Watch The Gallant Captain on Prime Video, iTunes and ABC iview
Congratulations! Why did you decide to make this film?
Thanks. We really just wanted to find a way to work together. We’d already been collaborating on some TV pilot ideas and Graeme had just finished his new book at the time, The Legend of the Golden Snail. We optioned his book with the idea of turning it into a feature and we thought it would be sensible to start by writing a short film that embraced similar themes but wasn’t already a part of the existing story.
Why is it called The Gallant Captain?
The story is about Will, a young boy who discovers a box of memories in a wardrobe and subsequently embarks on a fantastic seafaring voyage in search of his father, a sailor missing at sea. With his trusty first mate Cat in tow, Will’s imagination begins to unravel. When faced with certain peril – Will must learn what it takes to become a truly gallant Captain.
Imagine I'm in the audience. Why should I watch it?
This is an all-ages film, with no dialogue. It’s a fun adventure story with a whole bunch of heart. And a cute cat and some laughs along the way. It’s an easy watch. Turn the sound up loud though, the original music by American based composer Jesse Harlin is sensational.
How has your background as an actor influenced your work as director?
I started acting because I wanted to direct. Someone said "if you want to be a director you’d better go and do some acting classes". I did and it turned out at one of the classes there were some casting directors who put me onto an agent - and all of a sudden I had a great agent, a headshot and regular auditions.
I got something like the first ten roles I went for, including the lead role in a channel 7 telemovie and so I became known as an actor. And I loved it. I still love it. To me everything I do, whether it’s as an actor, writer, producer or director - in animation, live action, mixed media, corporate entertainment, live theatre, drama, comedy - you name it - I do because I’m driven by wanting to entertain an audience - and I have a constant desire to work with people who inspire and challenge me.
Working as an actor has allowed me to not only meet an incredible array of talented people I’ve subsequently collaborated with on my own projects - but it’s like doing a director attachment every time.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to work with some wonderfully talented and generous directors. They've inspired me to do my best as an actor, and they've inspire me to try to bring out the best of other actors when I work as director. It’s nice to have been on both sides.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Wonderful feedback. If you really engage with what’s going on for Will in the story - in terms of the fact that he’s actually re-tracing his father’s last route at sea and battling his own demons of grief - then people tend to be really quite moved by it.
We’ve presented the film in primary schools a few times and talked to children about it. It often brings up really interesting discussions – everything from what it’s like to be children of single parent families – through to dealing with the death of a pet – even how challenging it can be to change schools or move house and to have to let go of old friendships.
"looks seriously beautiful, has the courage to transcend naturalism, and is magical..." ArtsHub
“a stunning Australian film by Graeme Base and The Lampshade Collective” Australian International Animation Festival, 2014
“In just a few minutes of technically brilliant animation, this tells a funny and moving story about friendship and acceptance.“ Aspen Shortsfest Judges Statement, 2014
"The animation is crisp and colorful with a majestic soundtrack likely to make audience members feel like they're sailing the high seas” Aspen Times, 2014
“An imaginative young boy and his faithful cat set sail for adventure on the high seas, in this heartwarming and exquisitely animated short film “ Toronto International Film Festival (for TIFFKids), 2014
“An epic adventure film about a small boy with a vivid fantasy who puts forth to sea with his cat.” Holland Animation Film Festival, 2014
"A child's pirate fantasy that celebrates the power of imagination….a gorgeous animation" Adelaide Film Festival, 2014
“Well plotted….. Very charming film” http://deggles.csoft.net/ - wrap up of MIAF films
“a gorgeous short film” Sydney Morning Herald, 2014 Andrew P Street
“beautiful and touching animation” Heart of Gold Film Festival
“utterly beautiful” Bev O'Connor, ABC
“heartwarming and exquisitely animated Australian short film” St John International Women’s Film Festival
“Very charming film” Knotted Paths, reviews of films at the Melbourne International Animation Film Festival
“A gorgeously crafted film built around a Graeme Base book and featuring a fearless young boy who sets off for an adventure on the high seas with his faithful cat.” The Barbican, UK
“Clearly Graeme Base has not lost his touch, as the kids were enthralled with this delightful 8 minute short film” Alphabet Soup
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Interestingly we’ve found that while the film has done very well in both children’s and animation festivals around the world, it often plays best when programmed at traditional adult / live action film festivals.
We didn’t really have a huge budget (in 3D animation terms) and so we had to focus really closely on the story and character choices as our best chance of connecting with audiences – as a result we think that people are sometimes taken a little by surprise to find they care about the characters when they watch the film.
We were surprised to win awards like Audience Favourite at the Adelaide Film Festival and the Oscar-accrediting Best Short Short at the Aspen Film Festival in the USA for example – not normally awards won by animated films for kids.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on this platform?
We made the film with one key desire – for people of all ages around the world to discover and enjoy it.
We love it when other people or platforms can spend a bit of time promoting it on our behalf. (There are only so many times you can post links within your own Facebook circle) so it helps to have new avenues to collect your film with potential audiences.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify the message of this film?
We already have distributors both here an overseas for The Gallant Captain – but we hold the rights for Australia and New Zealand non-exclusively so we’re always interested to hear from others who can help us get the film screened sold or packaged.
Longer term we’re also always happy to hear from potential investors, distributors, sales agents, producers or executive producers and funding bodies of course if they think they can help us with other projects we either have in development, or hope to get into development.
What type of impact would you like this film to have?
The film is about grief. We all experience it. We hope that people who connect with it on that level take something deeper from it that perhaps helps them to talk about or face their own battles. But generally, we just hope that people enjoy the film and celebrate locally made content.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate about this film?
I don’t think the film is controversial in any way. Many people just see it as a simple little story about a boy and his cat and that’s just fine by us.
Hopefully for fans of Graeme Base’s work, it broadens their appreciation of his ideas and interests as both a storyteller and artist.
What are the writer and director working on now?
Writer: Graeme Base. Script Editor: Katrina Mathers
Director: Katrina Mathers, Graeme Base
Both Katrina and Graeme regularly workshop new ideas, in the hope they might be able to collaborate together on another project. They have a couple of other projects in development. Individually, Graeme continues to be the prolific creator of children’s books that he is. As a director, Katrina has just made a trailer for a dramatic live action feature film, also featured on the We Are Moving Stories platform, called Tanked.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for your interest in our work.
Congratulations on nearly reaching 100 films on the We Are Moving Stories platform.
We’re proud to be a part of it all.
Interview: April 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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The Gallant Captain
A boy and his cat journey into unknown waters with a boat, a little bottle and a vivid imagination.
Length: 8 mins
Writer: Graeme Base, developed in association with The Lampshade Collective
Script Editor: Katrina Mathers
Director: Katrina Mathers, Graeme Base
Animation Director: Patrick Sarell
Producer: Katrina Mathers, Merrin Jensen, Daryl Munton, Patrick Sarell
About the director and writer: Katrina produced multi-award winning animations Nullarbor and The Gallant Captain (directed with Graeme Base). She has made many award-winning shorts, both live action and animation and worked for years as a filmmaker and actor. Graeme is the renowned writer/illustrator of bestselling children's books including Animalia. With over thirty publishing awards, sales of his books are approaching six million.
Looking for (ie buyer, distributor, sales agent, producer, media interest) I think we’re really just interested to connect with new audiences and make people aware of our work.
Funders or made in association with: Screen Australia
Where can I watch it at WOW? Friday 29th April, 2016 7-9pm @ AIT Ultimo http://www.wowfilmfestival.org.au/festival-program-2016/shorts-programme-5-animation-feature/