UNTITLED FILM STILLS Directed By Sam Icklow

Indie Express: Tell us about your film?

Sam: Untitled Film Stills is just a short, almost photographic exploration of love, and the transience of love.

IE: How did you come up with the idea for the film?

S: I actually got the idea whilst driving at night along a long, long highway in NSW's Central Coast. Maybe the stillness of the drive mean the idea was all about slowness, and slowing down brief moments. Maybe I was just zoning out.

IE: How did you assemble your production team?

S: Very organically. I'd just started making films with a couple of great people from film school in Sydney, and we just got the cast together and shot it in two nights. It was basically just three of us and an old Arri ST 16mm camera (and some good luck!) 

IE: How did you find your cast? 

S: On the streets. Ok, on the streets outside Uni.

IE: How long did the film take?  (From conception to final edit)

S: From conception to preliminary edit, about three months at the end of 2005. Then it sat gathering dust for over a year as it had no free music! Originally it played to a slowed down version of The Platters' “Only You”, which was of course prohibitively expensive. Finally in 2007 my friend and extremely talented recording artist Sui Zhen layed down a track in one night for it. It turned the film into a truly collaborative piece.

IE: Tell us a little about your process of directing (writing) this film.

S: It basically involved mulling ideas over in my head and imagining seeing things my friends and flatmates were doing around me, but in really slow motion. I was a little obsessed with hyperrealist (i.e. banal) cinema at the time, as well as Bill Viola. So you can imagine. Then it was just flying by the seat of ones proverbials trying to bring the images to life. Couldn't have done it with out my creative team.

IE: What was the most difficult part of the shoot for you?

S: Trying to balance and pull focus on the clunkiest, most temperamental and ancient 16mm camera, on my shoulder with a mega 400ft magazine balanced precariously on it – whilst trying to control a room full of extras, With only the footage for two takes.

IE: Any particular moments from filming that stand out for you?

S: When everyone and everything on set, no matter how hectic, is in sync, working in the moment towards the same goal. It never seems real in hindsight, existing so entirely in that moment.

IE: Tell us about the film’s festival experience so far?

S: It got a good reception in an unfinished version at 2006's My Queer Career Mardi Gras shorts fest, but has been gathering dust until it was recut with the new music. Frameline is just the beginning, hopefully. Some people seem to connect with it. Someone said it made them feel stoned. I guess that's ok?  

IE: What are you most looking forward to at the festival?

S: Watching heaps of queer film and getting inspired by what my international peers are getting up to! Australia can at times seem a bit far away.

IE: What has been your most interesting Q&A so far?  What was your favorite question?  How was the dialogue afterwards?

S: No Q&A's so far. I'm not sure I'd be able to say anything intelligible on the spot, I tend to waffle.

IE: What films or filmmakers inspire you?

S: Todd Haynes is my god. Wong Kar Wai, Lynch, Fassbinder, for people who can squeeze everything out of any given moment. As well as contemporary filmmakers like Mike Leigh whose excellent new film recently opened the Sydney International Film Festival. I also get really inspired by a lot of video and new media artists, like Bill Viola, Monica Tichacek and David Rosetzky. (Hence the the fact that this film is a three-screen work)

IE: What made you decide to become a filmmaker?

S: When I realized that filmmaking brings everything thats good about making art together in one room.

 IE: What is next for you? 

S: I'm definitely on a music video tangent at the moment. I've just made two and have two ready for production when i get back to Sydney.

IE: What is next for the film?

S: Slutting around the festival circuit (hopefully!) It's being distributed by Frameline, which is fantastic. I'm excited to see how it does!

IE: If asked to give one piece of advice to a new filmmaker making their first short film… What would it be?

S: Be as sure as you can that the script is as perfect as it can be, work with and respect great people, be assertive about your vision!

IE: What question would you like to be asked about your film? 

S: I want to help you make more.

IE: What is the Answer to that question?

S: Can we do it in Berlin?