Invincible Boy
A wildly imaginative boy's mission to become a superhero is challenged when his optimistic view of the world begins to crumble.
Interview with Writer/Director Julian Park
Watch Invincible Boy here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made Invincible Boy because I wanted to tell a story that encompassed themes I feel strongly about: childhood purity/imagination, coming of age, heroism and kindness. I also wanted to challenge myself with new aspects of filmmaking like working with child actors, visual effects, shooting in a bus and coordinating with the city and getting proper location permits. This was my second narrative film and my first solo writing/directing so even though it's just a short film, it felt like a blockbuster to me.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The audience should definitely watch the film if they want to have a good time. If you want to get a taste of the playfulness you had as a kid, if you want to remind yourself of that invincible feeling of youth and thinking anything was possible, if you want to be uplifted and have a smile on your face, then you should watch this film.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The film deals with the universal themes of childhood purity - where we feel and express things fully without the limitations of societal pressures or judgment. If a kid wants to be a dinosaur or a superhero, they just go and do it. They don't think about what other people think. Vincent, the lead character does that when he decides to become a superhero and act heroic in the form of small acts of kindness. He even begins to create his own mythology in the form of a comic zine with his best friend Barney. But Vincent is at the age when he starts to realize that the turning fantasies into reality is one of the hardest things in life. On a personal level, one of the themes the film touches on is "work versus play". Barney is scolded for not working hard and playing instead, which is all you really want to do at that age. That's something I still personally struggle with and manage today.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
As ambitious as Invincible Boy seems for a short with all of its characters, locations and elements, it had even more scale in the early drafts. The opening sequence was very elaborate. It took place in the middle of the street. The car chase had other vehicles impeding Vincent's path (this instead became a part of Barney's embellished retelling of the event). There were also a lot more scenarios of Vincent helping people out. In order to make the film a reality, I had to strip it down to just the core elements. It made the film more focused and also forced us to use our imagination more (just like Vincent!).
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The reception so far has been overwhelmingly positive. I'm aware of the shortcomings of the film and I welcome people to share their honest opinions in the comments. But in general, the story is getting across, it's a positive and fun watch for almost everyone. I respect the reddit community because they are not shy about giving criticism. I posted the film on /r/filmmakers expecting it to either get ripped apart or just ignored.
But surprisingly, it stayed on the front page of that subreddit for over a day which contributed to the initial views. I also got an overwhelming amount of support and nice comments. The biggest encouragement for is that people are saying they initially didn't want to sit through a twenty minute short but once they click play, they couldn't stop watching until the end.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was definitely surprised by the amount of positive feedback I received. Since the film deals with youthful optimism, it's nice to see that kind of positivity prevail over more cynical voices. The major criticisms I've heard have been that the pacing slows down in the middle or that overall, the film needs to be trimmed down. I understand those sentiments completely, but I stand by my film. I didn't want to cut out more lines or moments because of the narrative flow I tried to maintain.
We shot what I wrote and I stayed true to the original vision. Other criticisms that I'm the first to admit to were simply due to limitations of time and budget, which I'm taking to heart and learning from. In the end, I'm so proud to have made Invincible Boy and would rather have it exist with its flaws than for it to only exist on paper.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Having Invincible Boy on wearemovingstories will expose the film to a different audience than those that have already seen it. I'm curious if an audience expecting something a little more high art can still appreciate my film. I want as many different opinions to chime in and I just want as many people to watch it to put smiles on faces.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The people that could best amplify the film's message would be journalists, bloggers or really anybody with a voice. My hope is that the film could spark discussions about hope, kindness, positivity and returning to the true essence of super heroism in a time where we're inundated by so many iterations of it.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
It would be amazing if people could be encouraged by Invincible Boy to get back to that inner child that isn't afraid to dream big and wear their heart on their sleeve.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
A question that could spark a debate would be, "Do we need more positive portrayals of blacks, especially for kids to aspire to? Are they overshadowed by stories of violence or strife?"
Or maybe, "In an age where superhero movies are steering more towards adult audiences, are we leaving the aspirational origins behind?"
Would you like to add anything else?
Please check out Invincible Boy and let me know what you think!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm writing a very contained, dramatic story with a subtle sci-fi element to it. I'm trying to be more mature with my next short film. Producer Dan Marcus is working on a couple of short films in various roles (producer, writer/director): Sea Critter, In Extremis, Closure: Side Two. Polaris Castillo (Art Director) is working on a feature film called Nostalgia as co-writer/director which was featured on wearemovingstories!
Interview: November 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
Invincible Boy
A wildly imaginative boy's mission to become a superhero is challenged when his optimistic view of the world begins to crumble.
Length: 20 minutes
Director: Julian Park
Producer: Dan Marcus
Writer: Julian Park
About the writer, director and producer:
JULIAN PARK (writer/director): Julian's goal in filmmaking is to highlight what makes us human and to show that we can all relate to each other in some way.
DAN MARCUS (producer): Whether it is writing, producing, or directing, Dan Marcus is a selfless supporter of film. His recent titles include “El Luchador”, “Recovery”, and “Invincible Boy”.
Key cast: Kaleb Alexander Roberts, Nathan Kim, Anna Garcia, Steve Phelan, Shane Yoon, Sherando Ferril-Cupid, Adriohn Richardson
Looking for: journalists
Twitter: @jwarnerpark (Julian Park) AND @danimalish (Dan Marcus)
Instagram: @jwarnerpark (Julian Park) AND @danimalish (Dan Marcus)
Official Website: http://invincibleboy.com
Funders: Julian Park
Made in association with: Hyper Tensive Films
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? invincibleboy.com or directly (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGUbxaemYMI)