Whistler Film Festival - Never Saw It Coming
A dark comic thriller that will have you on the end of your seat.
Interview with Director Gail Harvey
Watch Never Saw It Coming on Prime Video
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I MADE MY FILM BECAUSE I LOVE A GREAT STORY, AND MY DEAR FRIEND LINWOOD BARCLAY (INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING AUTHOR) AND I HAD DINNER AND TALKED ABOUT MAKING A FILM IN CANADA. He has had many of his world famous novels optioned by Hollywood studios, but none of them had been produced. I asked him if he had a little novel that I could maybe shoot in Canada, and he sent me NEVER SAW IT COMING. I thought it would make a perfect film, a thriller with many twists and turns and surprises. And a very strong female story. Linwood wrote the screenplay and we were shooting within a year.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This film is a chilling story of double-dealing, violence and murder that will keep you on the edge of your seat with a roller coaster ride of the unexpected. It also has black comedy elements. And amazing actors.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
This story will make you ask questions about your values and your decisions. No one is ever exactly who they seem and to what lengths would you go to for the people you love. Morality is questioned. If your children are hungry and you steal food – is it wrong? Are psychics genuine helpers sharing their gift? Or are they creative conmen scamming vulnerable believers?The film is a taut, stylish thriller with razor-sharp edges, filled with murder, suspense, family drama, blackmail and a well-timed twist. Never Saw it Coming lets us luxuriate in the “reassuring heritage” of the traditional mystery, which feels like it’s building toward a tidy solution, even while we enjoy the fun of toppling it over and watching the pieces fall where they may.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script remained very close to the book and the film remained close to the script. It came in longer than we wanted, so some scenes were trimmed.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Well, the Whistler Film Festival said "Alfred Hitchcock would be proud!!"
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Our Whistler screening is our world premiere, so I will be able to answer this question after the screening. So far I have been very pleased with the feedback.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I would love a large audience for this film. I think it is a film that has great performances, compelling twists and turns and I would love to see it get a large release all over North America and maybe the world!!!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We need Film Festival Directors, journalists, and buyers to amplify this film's message. We already have a great distributor.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope people love it and find it intense, fascinating, surprising and funny in a dark kind of way.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Is Keisha the psychic a bad guy?
Would you like to add anything else?
I would just love to add how thrilled I am that we are screening at Whistler - and I'm grateful for the cast that are uniformly incredible, and the crew who worked so hard.
I also would like to thank my producing partner Marina Cordoni, and Telefilm and the NOHFC and Prodigy Pictures for funding the film.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have various projects in development with the company I share with my daughter Katie Boland, writer/director/actress. Also I will be directing a TV movie in Vancouver early next year.
Interview: November 17
_______________________________________________________________________________
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
_______________________________________________________________________________
Never Saw It Coming
A dark comic thriller that will have you on the end of your seat.
Length: 83 minutes
Director: Gail Harvey
Producer: Marina Cordoni, Gail Harvey
Writer: Linwood Barclay
About the writer, director and producer:
Linwood Barclay, writer www.linwoodbarclay.com
Gail Harvey, Director/Producer www.straightershooters.com
Marina Cordoni, Producer Marina Cordoni Entertainment Inc.
Key cast: Emily Hampshire, Eric Roberts, Katie Boland, Shaun Benson, Nick Serino, Tamara Podesmski
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): buyers, film festival directors, journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeverSawFilm/
Twitter: @neversawfilm
Instagram: neversawfilm
Other:
Funders: Telefilm, NOHFC, Prodigy Pictures
Where will the film screen in the next month?
Screening twice at the Whistler Film Festival, then to a few more festivals, with a release later in 2018