5 Questions with Julia Bales

Julia Bales’ “Golf!” uses an interesting blend of comedy and drama to portray the character of Hank, a golfer discussing a serious issue with his caddy. We asked Bales how it started, what it was like playing a male golfer, and finding the right tonal balance…

1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?

I’ve wanted to work in film as far back as third grade when I started making movies with my brother on a camcorder. My parents always watched older movies with us too which is how I became a young fan of Alfred Hitchcock etc. I studied screenwriting in college and have been writing, directing, and producing in Los Angeles since I graduated!

2) What was the inspiration for this project, the first element that came to you, and how did you go about building up from there?

The first element that came to me for Golf! was the custom of apologizing by proxy. I think everyone at some point in their lives has been on either end of an apology where they're so embarrassed by their actions, that they ask someone else to say ’sorry’ for them. It’s a weird survival instinct people have and I find it really interesting.

From there, I thought it would be interesting to combine and explore the world of ownership over a romantic partner. On numerous occasions, I've been treated like a commodity or sidekick of my partner’s by others. It feels like it should be an obvious ’no-no’ at this point, but people still do it sometimes!

And finally, as a producer of low-budget comedy for years, I’d find myself and my coordinator having to fill in roles when we didn’t have money in the budget. My coordinator was a six foot tall dude who always got to play the dynamic roles whereas I would play a version of an office employee saying ‘Hey can you guys keep it down?’ So I chose the challenge of playing the lead role of Hank.

3) There’s an interesting mix of tones here - I viewed it as a comedic setup and your performance also seems comedic by nature, but it's a difficult conversation. How did you find that balance of comedy vs drama, and were you concerned that some viewers may think you were making light of a serious subject?

Your take is spot-on! Yes, I was concerned that some people might lose the nuance of this short, but in no way am I making light of this subject. This is a dramatic comedy that provokes thought. When I’ve watched this with my girlfriends the reaction has been that they all have a male family member like this, or watched a version of this conversation play out at Thanksgiving. This isn’t a short film with a solution to this issue it showcases. It’s a look into the life a sad man who doesn’t get that he is the problem.

4) You play the lead character in what I imagine was a very difficult performance, physically and emotionally. Can you talk about your experience making this transformation? How long did it take, what did it feel like, and what was the hardest part of performing in this makeup, etc?

It took a really long for me to feel comfortable even rehearsing as Hank. I’m not a trained actor, or really an actor at all. I spent a lot of time getting into my head about my voice and how feminine it still sounded to me. It took me renting a fat suit and driving to a cabin in arrowhead and rehearsing nonstop with my Producer for a long weekend to really feel comfortable. That, and going to the driving range and getting the feel for the physicality in golf. The makeup took about three hours to complete. My Makeup Artist, Lauren Wilde, absolutely nailed it.

5) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?

"The Apartment". I watched it for the first time this year and it is incredible. It’s so dark and funny and incredibly romantic. It’s a movie that could be made today and still resonate.

Bonus Question: What’s next for you?

I’m in development right now writing an adaptation — which has been a whole other challenge within itself, and thinking about a new short I’m hoping to shoot in the fall.

Contact Info:

Website: http://julia-bales.com

IG: @julia1sabella

Twitter: @juliabailz