How often have you had a crazy thought to do something big over a short period of time?
Marathon? Half Marathon? Eating Challenge?
I once tried to go to a movie marathon to watch 3 movies, I drank copious amounts of coffee to survive through the night. At the end of the night, I saw the first 40 minutes of the first movie.
I was 12.
I never conquered the movie marathon feat but I can certainly introduce you to someone who has conqured a greater feat.
James Fair, a British film director, has conquered filming, editing and completing a full length movie in 72 hours.
Seventy-two hours or three days, whichever you prefer.
A crazy feat!
This year he brings his project to Melbourne to film, edit and then screen his film ‘The Ballad of Des and Mo‘ at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF).
I met James last week over a few beers and his passion for films and the movie industry is beyond contagious.
This is why it’s a great privilege to give you an industry insight to James Fair and his 72 Hour Film project, The Ballad of Des and Mo.
For those who don’t know you, can you tell me a bit about yourself and your project?
I’m a film geek who grew up on the outskirts of London in the 1980’s, dreaming about the chance to travel the world making films. I’m not really sure how it has happened, but it seems that dream is coming true! I’m working with an Irish production company called Hello Camera and the project that we’re working on in Melbourne is really exciting… we build a team of people from the local community, and take on the massive challenge of making a feature-length movie in 72 hours. It sounds impossible doesn’t it? Or painful at least! But it isn’t, because we work in a unique way that is designed for the task at hand.
Forget the filmmaking textbooks, we’re taking a different approach.
I’m pretty old-school when it comes to watching movies. I like a collective experience in the cinema with a big picture. I’ve never really bought into the downloading and computer thing, not because of any anti-piracy stance or anything, just I find the experience doesn’t have the same impact when I have control over the mouse, the remote or whatever else. Give me a dark room with a bream of light coming from over my shoulder any day. That is magical, when an audience collectively laughs or stays silent over something. It’s an incredible medium. I love too many films to list them…
Your film is being shot, edited and completed in Melbourne. Can you give us an idea of the locations you will be shooting and what attracted you to them?
We’ll shoot a fair bit in Lord’s Lodge Hostel on Punt Road in Prahran. It’s such a crazy place with so much character. I love it! It would take a team MONTHS to build a set with so much detail. We’ll be shooting fairly centrally too, in the streets around the centre. You’ll see us around… I don’t want to say too much because some is still being sorted and some gives the story away!
How much time and work does it take to create a film in 72 hours? How many hours, if any, do you get of sleep during these 72 hours? And what keeps you motivated?
I’ve been working with the Hello Camera team to produce this movie for about 16 months intermittently. It takes a great deal of preparation, mostly because it is such a weirdly unique proposition. Most people don’t understand what the hell we’re doing. They think we’re making a short film. Or as one person said to me, “72 hours? It’s too long, no-one will watch something that is three days long”. We’ll get sleep. We’ll rotate and keep one another motivated by the sheer challenge of it all. Nothing bonds a team like the challenge of adversity. I hope.
How costly is it to do a project like this?
What it should cost and what we have made it for are poles apart. A global recession hasn’t helped. Quite seriously, we budgeted it at 150,000. We’re making it on about a third of that with the determination of volunteers and the cheap credit of subsidized banks. The cost on the bank account is nothing in comparison to the cost of our love lives or social lives!
Films are something that have only recently (in the last few years at least) started to come to film in Australia – a phenomenon for us here (Hollywood eat your heart out) But what advice would you give to young film makers in Australia?
I wouldn’t agree with the question really. I think Australia has a really rich history of cinema actually, but perhaps Australians don’t see it. I think Peter Weir is an incredible filmmaker, as is Baz Lurhmann. I grew up inspired by a whole host of Australian films – Chopper, Priscilla, Strictly Ballroom, Muriel’s Wedding. My advice to young filmmakers in Australia is the same I would give to old filmmakers in Australia; let’s challenge the medium we work in! Why copy Hollywood when Hollywood is complaining that it doesn’t work anymore! The chance is there, it’s another gold rush and no-one has found the prize yet.
No idea*. I brought Tetley tea-bags from Coles for that little taste of home. Do you grow coffee in Melbourne?! What do Melburnians do to it to make it Melbourne coffee? I must Wikipedia that.
Where can readers see your 72 Hour project? Can people get involved in your project? If so, how?
You’ll see our movie advertised in the MIFF program. I’m not 100% certain at what point we have been scheduled to screen at yet**… but it will be the final weekend of the festival for sure, at ACMI. People can very definitely get involved and must do. There is a variety of ways, from buying a ticket and coming to see it all the way through to emailing us and offering a skill of some kind. I consider eternal optimism in the face of adversity to be a great skill. Seriously, no previous experience is necessary, an infectious enthusiasm is far more valuable to us. Email my assistant Andrew Brown – Andrew[at]hellocamera[dot]ie and he’ll put us in touch. Ha ha… I’ve always wanted to say that!
What would you do if Qantas lost your luggage?
I’d go absolutely crazy in the very British manner of writing a letter that indicated my displeasure. That would teach them.
Finally James, do you eat baked beans? I do. Much to my girlfriend’s disgust.
How about Spam?
No. Does anyone eat Spam?
For more information on James and his project check out:
The 72 Hour Movie Webpage
The Melbourne International Film Festival Guide
The 11 July Sunday Age Article
The 72 Hour Movie on Facebook
* Since this interview, James has had more than his fair share of Melbourne coffee. He gets the Melbourne coffee connection now. He may have wikied it…
** The Ballad of Des and Mo will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival on August 8th at 16.45 at ACMI.
Leave a comment