San Antonio Film Festival - Journey
Alone in space, an astronaut drifts through the empty void. After finding another astronaut in the same predicament, she gives him a polaroid image of the Earth. They then team up to go on an epic journey across the universe to return to their planet. Will these star-crossed lovers find home?
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Radheya Jegatheva
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
My dad used to take me to the Gravity Discovery Centre in Gingin [a few hours drive from Perth]. I guess that really catalysed my interest in ‘the universe’. With Journey, I wanted to tap into the intrinsic nature humans have to find home, which is something anyone can relate to. I think the lack of dialogue also helps, because it’s able to transcend the language barrier. I think that’s why it has done well in non-English speaking countries as well.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think you will be able to see something that one rarely gets to witness, and I also think I am able to convey the grandeur and beauty of the universe
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
On a personal level, I have always been fascinated with the universe, and the film is actually made based on a shirt story I wrote. In terms of universal themes, I guess the audience will be left with the feel that we should cherish this fragile world of ours, and not take it for granted.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
When I was 15, I wrote a short story called Journey, then I tuned that into a short film. I think it took me a year to do it as I had never done animation before and I learned how to do all this by myself. So 'version 1' was completed when I was about 16. At that time it used commercial music, so it was just for my friends and family. Then I decided to enter it into a film competition, and for that I had to have my own music, so I composed the soundtrack and I remade the entire film, as by then I had acquired better skills, and this final completed version happened when I was 17 (last year)
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It has been remarkable. The film has won 65 awards around the world since October last year and has been selected to be shown in 134 film festivals in every continent except Antarctica.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes I have been absolutely stunned, and this encouraged me to create my next film called 'iRony'
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Hopefully i get noticed by people in the industry and have the opportunity to learn from and work with experienced professionals.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Everyone I suppose!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope this is selected and shown in as many places in the world as possible
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Are we taking this world of ours for granted?
Would you like to add anything else?
Thanks for this opportunity!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
My new film iRony, which I just released last month. With this one, my dad did the narration, and my mom was a character model! Here is the trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tZUdUJdpuw
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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Journey
Will the find home?
Length: 7 min 40 sec
Director: Radheya Jegatheva
Producer: Radheya Jegatheva
Writer: Radheya Jegatheva
About the writer, director and producer: Radheya Jegatheva is a young Perth based Australian filmmaker who was born in Johor, Malaysia in 1999 to parents of South Korean and Malaysian ancestry. He completed Year 12 at Perth Modern School in Western Australia in 2016 and has just commenced his first year at Curtin University in Western Australia.
Key cast: None (animation)
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyaitsradheya
Twitter: heyaitsradheya
Instagram: heyaitsradheya
Other: https://www.facebook.com/journeyradheya/
Made in association with: None really... mom and dad?
Where can I see it in the next month? At the following film festivals around the world
1. SAFILM-San Antonio Film Festival, San Antonio, Texas,31 July - 6 Aug 2017
2. Ballston Spa International Short Film Festival, Ballston Spa, New York, USA, 4-5th Aug 2017
3. Still Voices Short Film Festival, Longford, Ireland, 18-20 Aug 2017
4. SoCal Clips Indie Film Fest, Raleigh Studios, Hollywood, LA, USA, 12th August 2017
5. Rivne International Film Festival "Dream City" 2017, Rivne, Ukraine, 24-30 Sept 2017
6. Feel the Reel International Film Festival (June Edition), Glasgow, UK, 31 July 2017
7. AM Egypt Film Festival, Cairo, Egyot, 28th August 2017
8. 4th INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL “SHORT FORM”, Gornji Milanovac, Serbia, 26 Sept - 1 Oct 2017
9. Ekotop International Festival of Sustainable Development Films, Prague, Czech Republic, 6-12 Oct 2017
10. Luci Della Ribalta Film Festival, Narni, Umbria, Italy, 25-27 Aug 2017
11. Ishinomaki International Film Festival, Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, 29th July 2017
12. 10th Heart of Gold International Film festival, Gympie, Queensland, Australia, 5-8 Oct 2017