Cebu International Film Festival - Creditors
A love triangle is unraveled when a young painter is approached by an admirer who eases him into making sense of his relationship with his wife.
Interview with Director Ben Cura and Producer Andrea Deck
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Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
BEN: I saw the original stage play written by August Strindberg back in 2008 at the Donmar
Warehouse which my dear friend and mentor Alan Rickman, who sadly passed away earlier this
year, used as a venue to brilliantly revive it. Two years later, I couldn't shake the story off my mind
and I sat down and started writing a feature film adaptation.
ANDREA: I thought Ben's screenplay was a realistic extreme representation of what can happen in a relationship when trust, guilt, and all other manner of things move in and overtake what was
originally so pure between two people. The story was incredibly intriguing to me, and the challenge of depicting what happens behind closed doors when things really go south in a relationship felt relevant.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
BEN: You don't have to watch it if you don't want to. Life is short after all, maybe you have places
to be, or people to see. Remember to also set aside at least an hour a day to work out. That's
important. Also, call your mum and tell her you love her. That said, if you ever want to watch an
80ish-minute-long black and white feature film about love, loss, forgiveness and revenge, Creditors might tickle your fancy.
ANDREA: For me, Creditors is about blame: "Who's responsible? What did I do? What could I
have done differently? Who’s fault was it?” The list goes on and on. I relate to the film differently to how I did when I first read the script, than when we filmed it, and now. There's a reason
Strindberg's story has stood the test of time. Bottom line: I think it can make you ask yourself
questions and spark debate.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
BEN: They were firstly personal to Strindberg, which is why they resonated with me, and other
audience members in 1888 and beyond. Then, in the process of adapting the play to the screen, I
made them personal to myself, and added some of my own stuff in. I believe that's the only way
people are able to truly identify with the themes in someone else's story. If they are truthful to you, then the likelihood is that they'll be truthful to at least one other person in the world (you hope).
ANDREA: The personal themes and the universal themes are one in the same, I think.
Universally, everyone (personally) has an experience with a relationship in their lives at one point
or another. And I’m not speaking exclusively romantic here. Another major part of the story is the
friendship and trust that is born between the two male leads (Grant and Freddie). These personal/universal themes work together in the film, in fact they are the very foundation that the film is built upon.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
BEN: I don't see the script as a fixed thing so it kept shifting, moving, and evolving all the way
down to picture lock, as it often does. I'm an actor first and foremost so I trusted my cast if they
ever wanted to tweak a line of dialogue, or if a situation didn't make sense during rehearsals and
needed to be shifted.
ANDREA: Yes. Creditors was so lucky in that it had an incredible cast and crew working together
to make it into what it eventually became. Therefore, every person that came on board became
part of the evolution of the film.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
BEN: We've received quite a lot of awards in many of the main categories which has made me,
and I believe the rest of the cast and crew, very proud. Reviews have also been overwhelmingly
positive, which is not only a relief but a good omen, I hope, for the remainder of the film's journey.
ANDREA: Ben sums it up quite nicely above. We’ve been fortunate.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on
www.wearemovingstories.com?
BEN: You reached out to us to feature Creditors on your website, and it features insights on many
more interesting films, docs, and shorts, so we're in good company.
ANDREA: To have the film be more visible is always an advantage, because no one can know
you’ve made a film unless, well, they know about it! So we’re hoping for further exposure, and are
delighted that it be in and amongst a variety of other films that I would
rate very highly.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival
directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
BEN: We're hoping to be able to zero in on a distribution plan very soon. The film has been touring the world's festivals since November 2015 when it premiered in NYC. We're always open to collaborating with anyone who might be interested in Creditors, or may have a proposition they'd like us to listen to.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
BEN: I want you to watch it, and quit smoking, break up your marriage or relationship, go for a solo backpack hike in the Himalayas, quit your job, cancel your mortgage, sell your possessions and leave the country. Or, you know, maybe just watch it, and recommend or gift it to a friend once it's out for general release. That'd be good too.
ANDREA: My favourite films are the ones that come to an end and you just have to talk to
someone about. If Creditors did that for people it would just be awesome.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
BEN: Can you live life without something to believe in (and I not only mean religious faith, but a
person, someone else, yourself, something which gives life worth, and a sense of direction, a
goal)? And if not, what, or who is that thing, or person you believe in, or live for?
ANDREA: What makes a person guilty?
Would you like to add anything else?
BEN: Sugar is a silent killer. Also, question everything, apologise more often, and say "I don't
know" more. Don't be afraid of failing, and listen more than speaking.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
BEN: As a writer, a stage play set in the US, and a TV mini-series about the Falklands war. As an
actor, I just got back from working on two different features over the summer. There are projects
ahead but can't say much about them at the moment.
ANDREA: All of the creative team, from the Actors, to our DOP, to the makeup, costume designer,
and sound recordist, have gone on to not only work on amazing projects, but also create projects
of their own. I’m in the process of working on a documentary, and continuing my work as an
actress.
Interview: August 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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Creditors
A love triangle is unraveled when a young painter is approached by an admirer who eases him into making sense of his relationship with his wife.
Length: 71 min
Director: Ben Cura
Producer: Ben Cura, Andrea Deck
Writer: Ben Cura (Screenplay); August Strindberg (Original Play)
About the writer, director and producer: Ben Cura (Director, Writer, Producer, Actor)
Ben Cura is a British film, television, and stage actor, director, writer, and producer known for Marcella (ITV/Netflix) and The Royals (E!/Lionsgate).
Andrea Deck (Producer, Actress)
Andrea Deck is an American film, television, and stage actress, and producer, known for Mr Selfridge (ITV/Sky Atlantic) and The Crown (Netflix).
Key cast: Christian McKay, Andrea Deck, Ben Cura, Tom Bateman, Simon Callow, Ania Sowinski
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Any festival, distribution, acquisition or other propositions, or information requests, get in touch via toughdance.com
Funders: Cuibar Productions, Kickstarter backers (Campaign Link: https://goo.gl/dOWksq)
Release date: TBA
Where can I watch it in the next month? At the CEBU IFF in the Philippines.