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Click on the above poster to read my review of
what is so far the best DVD I've reviewed in 2009. Writer/Director
Susan Montford and Producer Don Murphy (NATURAL BORN KILLERS, APT PUPIL,
FROM HELL, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN and TRANSFORMERS) take
some time out of their busy schedule to talk about their excellent film.
Scottish Writer/Director Susan Montford
shares the experiences of directing her first feature film.
TW: What sparked you to write this particular story?
Susan Montford: IT APPEALED TO ME BECAUSE IT HAS A BAD ASS FEMALE
PROTAGONIST WHICH IS ALWAYS A WINNER FOR ME, A STRAIGHT FORWARD,
UNIVERSALLY RELATABLE AND PURE CONCEPT AND I KNEW I COULD ADAPT IT SO
SIMPLY I COULD MAKE IT FOR ANY BUDGET.
TW: Had you directed before and if so, what?
SM: ONLY SHORTS AND A SORT OF MUSIC VIDEO BACK IN THE OLDE COUNTRY
OF SCOTLAND.
TW: The film has a nice visual style that is almost invisible.
What was your visual plan before shooting began?
SM: I WANTED TO TELL THIS VERY REALISTICALLY SO THAT THE AUDIENCE
COULD BECOME SO ABSORBED THAT THEY FELT THEY WERE THERE. E.G. I WANTED THE
NIGHTS TO LOOK LIKE REAL NIGHTS, THE DARKNESS TO FEEL REALLY DARK, THE
WOODS TO BE TREACHEROUS ETC. THUS I NEVER SOUGHT TO DRAW ATTENTION
TO THE SHOTS OR THE ACTION OR BE STYLISHLY INNOVATIVE. I HAD A STORY
TO TELL IN QUASI REAL TIME AND A CHARACTER I REALLY WANTED THE AUDIENCE TO FEEL FOR SO I FIGURED THE
MORE INVISIBLE MY STYLE AND IMPRINT BE THE BETTER J
TW: What made you think of casting Kim Basinger in this role?
She was terrific.
SM: KIM BASINGER IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE ACTORS FROM THE NATURAL TO
NINE AND A HALF WEEKS TO LA CONFIDENTIAL AND 8 MILE SHE SHOWS JUST THE RIGHT
AMOUNT OF FRAGILITY AND HUMANITY IN CONTRAST TO THIS RESILIENCE SHE
SOMEHOW ALWAYS FINDS WITHIN HERSELF TO ENDURE SO BEAUTIFULLY. SHEšS DEEP.
WHEN CAA ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO MEET HER FOR DELLA I WAS TRULY THRILLED AT THE
PROSPECT THIS GREAT ACTRESS COULD BE INTERESTED. IT SO HAPPENED THAT FROM THE TITLE THROUGH THE CHARACTER SHE FELT A GREAT DEAL OF EMPATHY FOR WHILE
SHE WAS OUT.
TW: The way the Kim Basinger character is forced to fight to
survive, the way things happen in the movie, the scenic British Columbia locations and
the cold-wet weather in your film reminded me of FIRST BLOOD. Did
you have any films in mind before making WHILE SHE WAS OUT?
SM: FIRST BLOOD IS A GREAT ONE. PERHAPS SUBCONSCIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT
YOU MENTION IT. I WAS CONSCIOUSLY THINKING OF IN COLD BLOOD, MS 45, THE
MECHANIC, DEATH WISH, SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE AND THE MYTH OF LITTLE RED RIDING
HOOD.
TW: I noticed Guillermo Del Toro's name on the credits.
What was his involvement?
SM: HE WAS EXEC PRODUCER. HE HELPED BY WATCHING ALL THE DAILIES WHILE SHOOTING
HELLBOY 2, BY ENCOURAGING ME TO FIND LUKAS FOR CHUCKIE AND BY REALLY
HELPING OUT DURING POST WHICH WAS PERHAPS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF MAKING
THE FILM.
TW: When did you decide to convert what was a short story into
a feature?
SM: AS SOON AS I READ IT I COULD FEEL DELLAšS CHARACTER, SEE THE FILM, FEEL
THE SCREENPLAY TAKING SHAPE. FORTUITOUSLY THE RIGHTS HAD JUST BECOME AVAILABLE
AND WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THEM ALMOST INSTANTLY.
TW: Who stepped forward to help you get your film into
production?
SM: DON MURPHY MY DEAR PRODUCER CHAMPIONED ME AND STOOD BY ME THROUGH THICK
AND THIN ALWAYS SUPPORTING MY VISION. CASSIAN ELWES FROM WILLIAM MORRIS PUT
EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR THE FINANCING FOR ME. THEY ARE BOTH MY
HEROES FOR BELIEVING IN ME AND GIVING ME THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
TW: It is not hard to see some of your thoughts on society
during the scenes in and outside the mall in the film. Did anyone try to stop
you from putting your view in the film?
SM: A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME I WOULD NEVER MAKE THE FINAL SHOWDOWN BETWEEN
CHUCKIE AND DELLA WORK ON SCREEN. I COULDNšT HELP BUT RISE TO THE
CHALLENGE. ULTIMATELY I THINK THIS SCENE IS THE EMOTIONAL CENTERPIECE OF THE FILM AND
I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY IT TURNED OUT.
TW: What's next on the horizon for you?
SM: I HAVE A FEW PROJECTS BUT THE ONE THAT LOOKS CLOSEST TO HAPPENING IS A
GROUNDHOGS DAY VERSION OF A HORROR STORY WITH DON MURPHY AND CARY
GRANAT WATCH THIS SPACE.
Producer Don Murphy of Angry Films talks about making this standout out
thriller.
TW: How'd you get involved on this film?
Don Murphy: Knew Susan since 1995,
knew she had an amazing visual eye, wanted to produce her first feature.
TW: You seem to make big budget films as well with this film a
smaller budget. Which do you prefer and why?
DM: I prefer to make films that
respond to me. This one did because of the everyday reality of the
situation.
TW: Creatively what was your biggest contribution to WHILE SHE WAS OUT?
DM: Finding a good craft service
table in the middle of the forest.
TW: I see you grew up in Hicksville, NY on Long Island. Have
you ever made a film on the Island?
DM: Nope - hasn't been a reason to -
yet.
www.donmurphy.net
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