VCA Graduate Screening 2019 - 808
In a near-future world saturated by technology, Mars meets Jay, a young man desensitised by his profession. When Mars introduces Jay to a world outside their company's confines, they begin a journey from fear to love.
Interview with Writer/Director/Editor Athina Wilson
Watch 808 here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
We wanted to show how technology can desensitize and distract the modern world from the relationships in front of us, and possibilities for understanding and connection. However, what we really hoped to explore was what we believe can prevail over this- love, empathy, sensuality and emotion.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
I think 21st century near future narratives (think Black Mirror or Her) can raise questions about how this rapidly shifting technological era affects us. This era is moving at such an exponential rate that sometimes it feels like we don’t even have the time to process what’s going on and how we have been affected. Stories such as Black Mirror are part fantasy, but they also feel real, imminent, and relatable.
Although stripped of a lot of dialogue and emotion, 808 paints a small portrait of how organisations such as a social media content moderation company called ‘ConMod’ can damage a population, particularly youth.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It is a near-future romance that draws on the first stages of love in a technological era saturated by disconnection. I think we can all swing like a pendulum from disconnection to connection, fear to love in our lives. We learn and grow a lot as humans from this movement.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
At the beginning, I set out to make a cohesive narrative, using conventions from a romance genre. As the film developed, the narrative became more impressionistic, raising questions, leaving spaces.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
That it is visually enticing. It is disconnecting, which has been used both as positive and negative feedback!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I chose to take this film as a learning process. Every time I would overcomplicate, criticise or overthink, I try to remind myself that these lessons will only help the process within the long term. Because of this reason, it’s been so great to hear both positive feedback and critical, constructive feedback!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I was approached via messenger, but it’s really lovely to be on a platform that foregrounds stories from underrepresented voices and communities in the media.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We're young aspiring creators- it is always so enriching and insightful to speak to people in the industry. We are going to give the festivals a go, so it would be amazing to be in contact with someone from there.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
All I know is that I want the audience to be able to relate and sympathise with the characters. Mars and Jay aren’t the kind of characters you would see in mainstream cinema, and Mars definitely rebels against the conformity of their world. I hope people can see how this world can be challenging for young people who are developing their identity.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Will Jay choose love over fear? Can we escape from the technological forces that disconnect us?
Would you like to add anything else?
Fun Facts:
Coincidentally, all characters in 808 (named after the 808 drum) with speaking lines are musicians in their professional lives.
During our second location reccy we looked up at a plaque planted on the wall and, much to our surprise, found that the exterior building used to be the Melbourne Kodak factory.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Hoping to continue collaborating with wonderful people, to keep working on projects independently, to always be learning. At the moment, I particularly want to collaborate with creatives using other mediums and find new and exciting ways of utilising film, such as doing promotional and creative design work for musicians. I want to keep making narrative-based works as well. Super grateful for these opportunities so far, and am super excited to see what may come.
Interview: December 2019
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
808
In a near-future world saturated by technology, Mars meets Jay, a young man desensitised by his profession. When Mars introduces Jay to a world outside their company's confines, they begin a journey from fear to love.
Length: 12:50
Director: Athina Wilson
Producer: India Williams
Writer: Athina Wilson
About the writer, director and producer:
ATHINA WILSON aims to foreground universal feelings and real human narratives, often drawing admiration from her own social/environmental context. In her work and during the production process she hopes to continue to learn and grow on her passion for creativity and humanity. Her first-year short film LOLAS showcased in the under 21 categories of the St Kilda Film festival and one of her most recent projects Activate had its first public release on ABC’s Rage.
Drawing on her background in film and media theory, INDIA WILLIAMS seeks to facilitate and create work that comments on technology and challenges hegemony in a uniquely Australian context. While completing a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) at the University of Melbourne and a Master of Producing at the Victorian College of the Arts, India has produced various short films and worked with Ruby Entertainment.
Key cast: Annika Wagar aka Pulp (MARS) Jordan Obarzanek (JAY),
Looking for: film festival directors, producers
Facebook: 808
Instagram: @athinawilson
Hashtags used: #808shortfilm
Other: Vimeo
Funders: Australian Cultural Fund
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? VCA Graduate Shorts Screening at the Capitol Theatre- Saturday 14th @ 7:00 pm