überRICH
When a trio of masked bandits fail to organise a getaway vehicle for a jewellery heist, they find themselves as passengers on an Uber driver’s first day.
Interview with Writer/Director Christine Milo
Main photo: überRICH - Anna Waters-Massey
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I’ve always wanted to make my own films. It’s always been in the back of my mind but I never had the courage or felt that I had the skills to do it. I’m an actor and as an actor you spend a lot of time waiting for auditions and basically hoping that someone somewhere has written a part in a project that you might be able to audition for. And I got sick of waiting so I decided to make a film. The fateful push came from seeing Tropfest 2016.
Ultimately, we made überRICH as a response to the gender inequality of Tropfest 2016. At the time, there was a lack of female representation in the selection of finalist films and there was a huge call out for more female filmmakers. We answered that call with überRICH, a short film featuring an all female cast produced by a crew of whom two thirds just happen to be female.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you enjoy being entertained - watch the film. If you support women in film - definitely watch the film. This short can be enjoyed by anyone and that’s why we made it. It’s inclusive, it’s accessible and it’s funny.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The biggest one is friendship. Everyone’s trying to find their tribe and make connections and often that can manifest itself in funny and awkward or unexpected behaviour. In überRICH, it’s explored in the robbers’ group dynamic and the banter between them as a group, and then again between the trio and the driver. We took the awkward driver/passenger exchange, took it to extreme and then played with it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
It’s funny you should ask, originally the idea for überRICH was for a male driver/passenger duo. When we decided we wanted to make a short film with a largely female cast and crew, the original idea for überRICH was thrown in and adapted to the now female trio of robbers and driver. There was also a bit of improvisation from the actors on set which really lifted the film.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
All incredibly positive. As a first time filmmaker (writer/producer/director), I honestly was just stoked to have people read the script and like it! And then to have people say, ‘I want to help make this. What can I do?’, was insane. And it still feels a bit surreal. Now überRICH is screening at a festival and so many people, who aren’t just my family, will see it! What?! It’s been a lot of fun.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It has definitely surprised me. The biggest thing was how much people loved the intent behind why we made it. I know a lot of people who are consciously making projects with a strong female presence because we don’t see enough women in front or behind the camera. Representation is incredibly important. I want to see more women just being women - being courageous, being silly, being powerful, being human. I would love for that to be the norm.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
If any part of überRICH resonates with you we’d love it if you followed our journey. überRICH is doing the festival circuit and we would love for people to see it and support it. We’re hoping to have it online and available to everyone early next year.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We’d love to connect with any festival directors or journalists to share our message with more audiences. It would also be great to get in touch with other filmmakers who are trying to share the same message and help each other do so or even develop more stories together.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope people have fun watching it because we had a lot of fun making it. And if it encourages other people to get a crew together and tell their own stories, even better. In all honesty, if we can do it anyone can.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
How does a story change when we switch up the characters’ gender?
Would you like to add anything else?
We’d love to one day see predominantly female led projects as normal and not seen as some big statement or an anomaly. Yes, that was the intent with überRICH but only because it’s a conversation that needs to keep happening. We wanted to turn the stats on their heads as much as possible because the problem isn't a lack of female talent, it’s the lack of opportunity and recognition. überRICH was an opportunity to showcase skill and talent not as “female filmmakers” but as filmmakers who just happen to be female.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’ve just finished writing, ASWANG, my first horror short film with co-writer Marni Ewing. It’s based on the Filipino folklore creature of the same name and we are hoping to produce it later this year.
Co-Producer, Manon Lewis, has recently finished work on PAPERCUT, an LGBT short currently in Post-Production. She is also currently developing a mockumentary short STUDS with Kyle McCallion.
Interview: April 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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überRICH
When a trio of masked bandits fail to organise a getaway vehicle for a jewellery heist, they find themselves as passengers on an Uber driver’s first day.
Length: 6 minutes 48 seconds
Director: Christine Milo
Producer: Manon Lewis & Christine Milo
Writer: Christine Milo
About the writer, director and producer:
Christine Milo - Writer, Producer, Director
The Australian actor, Christine Milo, graduated from QUT with a Bachelor in Fine Arts (Acting). Whilst at QUT she was introduced to screenwriting. She has since studied at AFTRS. überRICH is Christine's debut as a writer, producer and director.
Manon Lewis - Producer
Manon Lewis, graduate of the New York Film Academy (AUS & LA), was awarded an eight-week screenwriting scholarship in Los Angeles where she developed feature screenplay SAVANNAH GROUNDED. She produced Christine Milo’s debut short überRICH and Damian Overton’s award winning short SHIVER currently continuing a successful festival run.
Key cast: Alicia Banit, Sophie Don, Christine Milo, Anna Waters-Massey
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film Festival Directors, Journalists
Social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uberrichshortfilm/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6456678/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uberrich_shortfilm/
Website: https://christinemmilo.wixsite.com/uberrichshortfilm
Made in association with: Short Stack Productions
Where can I see it in the next month?
At SIPFest as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival
7pm Sunday 23rd April, Surfers Paradise Beach