I first met Michael at a screenwriting hookup, years ago. Later we were part of a string of writing groups together. Michael was always the energetic, funny one.
The photo on the right was taken at "the Belgian" in about 2011.
________________________________________________________________________
• Where were you born, and where did you grow up?
Adelaide has always been home for me, beginning with Plympton, and then Blackwood, until I completed school. We recently visited my childhood home at Plympton when it went on the market. I'm sure the real estate agent was thrilled to have my mother, father and three siblings walking through the house, pointing out all the changes that had been made.
 |
| Michael on tricycle, with his two older brothers, a long time ago. |
• What kind of a family did you grow up with?
I've always had a very social life and I thank my parents for that. We were, and still are, a close family, and we were fortunate to have a great group of families as friends with whom we'd go on camping holidays around South Australia.
 |
| On holidays on Kangaroo Island. Mark caught the fish in a net. |
• Where did you go to school?
School was always the closest public school to our home, so that meant Plympton Primary, Plympton High, and then Blackwood High for my final two years.
• When did you first take an interest in films/stories?
• What was your first paying job (in any field)?
An apt question considering our latest web series, The Huddle. My first paying job was selling footy Budgets (now called footy "Records") at the entry gates of SANFL Aussie Rules football games. I would probably have done it for free, as we would get to knock off at quarter time, and go and watch the game. It's still one of the best jobs I've ever had.
• You’re part-way through writing/directing/producing a webseries called “Film School.” What prompted you to explore that subject in a webseries?
Yes, we (my Screen Capers partner Albert Jamae and I) have made a pilot episode which was a great experience. We've all heard the expression "make what you know" and a lot of what I came to know while at film school I found very funny, so it seemed a natural choice for our first comedy webseries. Also I think there is a large part of the YouTube audience that are content-makers themselves and so we felt that they would relate to the stories we could tell.
• You’ve also recently edited a webseries called “The Huddle.” How is that project going?
It's finished! Watch all six episodes here. The Huddle was Albert's idea and he wrote all episodes. We were not yet ready to shoot any more Film School episodes, so The Huddle was an ideal project to tackle during the two days I had free during my return to Adelaide, because it was short (8 X 1 minute), it is completely set in one location, and it gave us time to launch it during the AFL football finals series. I also liked that the idea did not involve any football action. I think sporting films that involve actual game time usually don't work, for me at least, because the drama in sport is entirely based on the fact that it's REAL, it's happening NOW, and most importantly, it's YOUR team playing.
In 2003, just after my daughter was born, my wife had the opportunity to take a job in the UK, and then, more recently, in Tokyo, both for 2 years. We jumped at the chance; it was a good career move for Chris and I liked the idea of doing the "home dad" thing. Best decision we ever made.
 |
| Winter (Feb), first week in Japan, at the entry to the Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Tokyo |
Hmmm... surprises... The first eight months are done, so that is surprising. But I think just the sheer size of this place, the unending city streets, tall buildings, endless freeways that have you driving within metres of someone's eighth story apartment bedroom window. And then there's the people. So many people, walking, driving, and riding their bikes helmetless towards you on the wrong side of the road - THAT was a surprise.
• Who was the filmmaker who has had the biggest influence on you?
Definitely Brad Halstead, with whom I was lucky enough to study filmmaking at Adelaide Centre for the Arts, but also the other excellent Adelaideans, like Erfan Khadem, Maxx Corkindale, Pete Hall, Dave Gregan, and others who are also such great perfectionists at their craft.
• Most of your projects are comedy-centred. Which comedian(s) has most influenced you?
• What are three things you wish someone had told you about filmmaking when you were starting out?
"Here, take this blue pill, and you will be instantly twenty years younger."(OK, that's not about filmmaking, but I certainly wish I'd got into it earlier.)
But seriously, I suppose:
- You can't fix a bad script during the edit.
- Whenever someone says, 'We can fix it in post', slap them.
- Take the funding gate-keepers out and get them pissed.
Don't Shoot the Best Boy!
, by John Shand.
• What are your ten favourite (favourite, not ‘best’) movies of all time?
An impossible task! This list would probably be different if you asked me on a different day, but I'll have a stab at it - not in any particular order!
Yes, I know, that's thirteen.The Matrix (1999)
The Cable Guy (1996)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Paul (2011)
The Dish (2000)
The Castle (1997)
Midnight Run (1988)
Life Is Beautiful (1997)
Gladiator (2000)
Up (2009)
The Illusionist (2006)
and, of course, Mad Max 2 (1981)
________________________________________________________________________
Now, just to round things off, here's a one-minute episode of The Huddle.
No comments:
Post a Comment