Bentonville Film Festival - Audience Choice Award - Deep Storage
Sometimes love is found in the most unlikely of places.
Interview with Writer/Director Susan Earl
Congratulations!
Thank you very much!
Why did you make your film?
I wanted to make a film that I’d like to see! I love off beat, odd characters; people who aren’t cool, maybe misunderstood, but not losers either. This story had been with me for a while and I’d written the script a few years ago. I wanted to make a warm loving humourous bittersweet film where the two main characters embody this spirit of oddness. In a very pragmatic way we made the film because we got funding. I have worked with Jannine Barnes the producer before but not for a while and Jannine suggested we try for the Hotshots Screen Australia initiative last year and so we went for it and we got it! We were thrilled.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
If you want to be taken on a heartfelt emotional journey where you’ll be genuinely moved, laugh and maybe get teary, then Deep Storage is the film for you.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The two main characters Gus and Sylvia are overlooked or ignored because they don’t fit social norms in the way they communicate or in their looks. This is symbolised quite physically in both of them; Gus to has a terrible stammer and Sylvia has giant buck teeth. I liked the idea of showing their difference in a visually strong or obvious way but to do this without being a parody. So as characters, they embody the feelings I’m sure every one of us has harboured at some time in our lives of being rejected and not fitting in or being accepted.
It also explores what it is to find a home. What is home and how do we create this feeling of home? This is symboliesd practically with Gus making a home in his storage unit. It is warm and he surrounds himself with the few objects that remind him of the home (and love) he had with his mum.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The original script evolved a fair bit to become the final film. Practical things changed like; two main locations became one - a storage facility - and two characters were merged and the beats in the story were pared back to their most clean and essential. This happened most concertedly once we got the funding. It definitely made the story stronger. During preproduction I worked with two gifted script consultants who did a wonderful job of pushing and pulling the script about to create a sharper leaner script.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Just quietly, it has been a joy to sit with audiences when watching the film. It has been received very well - people have cheered, drawn in breath, laughed - it’s a good feeling to get live feedback while watching. In a positive real way we got the best feedback recently, when we won the audience choice award for best short at the Bentonville Film Festival (USA).
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It’s surprising and heartening how much people have been moved by the film. Audiences have asked thoughtful interested questions too. Often amusingly, about quite practical things like, are the actress' teeth real? or does the main actor really have a stammer?
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We want Deep Storage to be seen and enjoyed by as many people as possible and right now we’re sending it out to festivals, so having it on moving stories is a wonderful opportunity for it to be discovered more.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We’d like it to move and uplift people. It is about two people discovering each other and finding a place in the world. It’s about the power of love (without sounding cliched!).
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Even though the film has a fairly light spirit it also touches on homelessness and the need to find a home, finding somewhere to live that is welcoming and yours. This sits at the heart of the film; finding a warm place in the world. Do you have a special place like Sylvia created for Gus?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thank you for being interested in our film! And I really want to thank all those who worked on the film. They are the most talented gifted cast and crew!
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Jannine has an exciting slate of films and TV in development at Happening films. I am currently writing a scif fi feature and a web series for adults and another for children - both with a quirky humourous bent.
Interview: July 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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Deep Storage
Sometimes love is found in the most unlikely of places.
Length: 14:23
Director: Susan Earl
Producer: Jannine Barnes
Writer: Susan Earl
About the writer, director and producer:
PRODUCER:
Jannine Barnes has worked in the Australian Film Industry for over 15 years in various guises. Through innovative and original storytelling, her company Happening Films works to develop films and documentaries with impact.
WRITER/DIRECTOR:
Susan’s passion for telling stories started with animation and has since moved into live action films. Her films have shown at numerous Australian and International film festivals.
Key cast: MILES O’NEIL, ALICE ANSARA, JAMES LAWSON
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Film Festival Directors
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeepStorageFilm
Instagram: @Happeningfilms
Funders: Screen Australia