Tropfest - The Beekeepers
Poppy and Georgos, brother and sister past their prime on the Greek island of Kythera, decide that a major change in their lives is due and consider emigrating to the New Country. But what about their beloved bees?
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer James Prineas-Dewhirst
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I love making things - films, exhibitions, interiors, businesses, I design them all. The nominated film is only one of many films and other creative projects, but it was definitely one of my favorites. The main characters, George and Poppy, are old friends of mine on the island of Kythera, where two of my grandparents were born. Many young people have left the island because of the economic crisis in Greece. As a twist on that, I wondered a situation where elderly Kytherians might want to emigrate as well. And George and Poppy are such unique people I built the story around them.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because it is lots of fun! And you get to see a beautiful island.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I'm not sure they do. My work tends to be portraiture - of people, landscapes, communities. I try to get to their essence and to find original ways to achieve that. I don't think in terms of "themes", just in ways to showcase my subjects in an entertaining fashion.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
I start with a basic idea, add to it until it is interesting enough for me to go to the next step, which is to break the news to my wife and children that I have another idea for a project, which usually brings on multiple rolling of the eyes. The more energetic the rolling, the better the chance is that I am on a winner: "you've got to be kidding" is what spurs me on. In the case of this film I then approached Poppy and George and after an initial hesitation - they had never acted before in their lives - they agreed.
Then I did the next version of the script which added a few more ideas and perhaps an extra character or two. Next I translated it into Greek with a couple of friends and a bottle of wine and lots of crazy additions are made, most of which are red-inked the next morning. During filming we might modify dialogue because certain lines don't roll off the tongue or an actor makes a mistake which turns out to be an improvement.
And during editing you really see what is missing and you try to make up for it, either by being resourceful with the stuff you've shot or by shooting more. And finally, during the multiple private screenings, you really see what works and doesn't work and cut things out or drag yourself back to the island to shoot some more. Anyway, that's how I do it. Hopefully other filmmakers can go from script to the final product with out so much mucking around.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Someone at Tropfest must have liked it - either that or they wanted a token "foreign" film with subtitles into the finalists. Lots of friends I tested in on, both on and off the island, laughed a lot, which was heartening because it is supposed to be a comedy. And my immediate family rolled their eyes with great vigor.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was surprised that some of the scenes which I considered only mildly humorous garnered so many hearty laughs.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com
I made the film to be seen and your site is a major hub for film news. I hope that at least some of your visitors will be curious and look out for the film at the Tropfest and on the channels the Tropfest is broadcast on.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
For me it is more about setting up the right channels for my next film, An Island named Desire, which continues the story of Poppy and George and many other island characters. The Beekeepers and other short films I made on the Kythera at the same time were are test of concept. "An Island named Desire" will be a feature film which should be ready at the end of the year and support from any quarter would be a huge help in getting it out there.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
The Beekeepers is only 7 minutes long, the maximum length for a Tropfest submission. It is a good introduction to my characters, the island and to my filmmaking but the impact will probably be limited. It would be nice if it tempted a few viewers to visit Kythera, which, like the rest of Greece, can use all the tourist dollars it can get.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Probably less about the content of this film than the fact that a film can now be made with the same individual control which until now could only be found in those arts which could be produced by a single person. Previously, to achieve a moderate level of film quality, one needed a team of professionals and tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment to produce a film. Now, with the advancement of technology, a filmmaker can go from idea through script, camera work, sound and editing to the final product single-handedly.
With a decent camera, microphone, tripod and editing software you are ready to go for less than $5000. So instead of a dozen people or more "on set", I could shoot most of the film with just me and the actors. It's nice to have someone to hold the boom, but even that is a luxury if you post-dub the film. I do enjoy working with great people on the set - it's not like I want to do everything myself. But having fewer people working on a film can give it greater artistic integrity, as the initial vision can remain pure from beginning to end, as with poetry.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The main project is the full-length feature "An Island named Desire", which will be shot in June and be ready by the end of the year. I'm also working on a film script called either "The Abominable Assassination of Donald J. Trump" or "The Assassination of the Abominable Donald J. Trump" which would be a lot of fun to make and fulfill the fantasies of many a viewer.
Interview: January 2017
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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 Beekeepers
Poppy and Georgos, brother and sister past their prime on the Greek island of Kythera, decide that a major change in their lives is due and consider emigrating to the New Country. But what about their beloved bees?
Length: 7 minutes
Director: James Prineas-Dewhirst
Producer: James Prineas-Dewhirst
Writer: James Prineas-Dewhirst
About the writer, director and producer:
James Prineas-Dewhirst, born in Sydney, studied scriptwriting in San Francisco and has led creative projects in Kythera, Greece and Berlin, where he now lives, for the past 20 years. Most of his creative output, which includes screenplays, books, films, architecture and business ventures, have centered on the island of his grandparents, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, Kythera.
Key cast: Georgos and Poppy Koroneos
Looking for: Producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors for his new feature film, An Island named Desire, which will be premiered in late 2017.
Funders: The Cordato and Notaras Families.
Made in association with: The Kytherian Association of Australia
Where can I see it in the next month? The Tropfest 2017