5 Questions with Chloé Aktas ["Lance (in a Neck Brace)"]
1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?
Originally, I was purely obsessed with acting. That became my gateway drug into filmmaking. Over time I became annoyed with the idea that I had to rely on so many external factors to be cast in a film, so I decided to just learn how to make my own. I started making small films on my dad's camcorder and then eventually I went to NYU and started learning more about the essentials of movie making. I grew up in a very movie friendly household. My parents were always watching great films and allowed me to join them. I think the movies they showed me early on in my childhood had a big influence on me wanting to be a part of the entertainment industry.
2) What was the initial idea for this project and how did it evolve from there?
I originally wrote this short film for a contest. The prompt was to tell a story using only two people in one room. As I was writing, I thought it would be interesting if the second person in the room was actually a voice coming from a cassette tape. From that point I day dreamed this idea of a man going through a break-up and these tapes being a part of some sort of self-help box set. I didn't win the contest, but I realized I could easily produce this script on my own, so I decided to raise money and film it in my home state of North Carolina.
3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And the easiest part?
The biggest challenge in making this film was finding a location. Because we only had one location in the entire film, I was really picky about the space. I wanted a location that had character and also for logistical reasons, a space that we could have complete control over for three days.
The easiest part of making this film was production. Originally, I wanted to shoot the twelve page script over a day to save money, but my producer, Devon Leaver insisted we film it over two days to allow ourselves flexibility on set. I'm so happy she made that call, because for the first time in my life we actually had time to experiment with shots on set because we were ahead of schedule.
4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?
I recently re-watched E.T. and it blew my mind. Watching it as an adult, I was able to see a lot of technical work that I overlooked as a kid. The blocking in that film is incredible; the way Spielberg has his actors interact with lighting and props to create tension and moments of discovery. He's not just moving people from point A to point B, he's having every element in the scene lend itself to moments of dramatic tension.
Another aspect I love about this film is how Spielberg directs fear. You get to watch these characters trying to process what's going on around them while in a state of complete terror. Through this you get a whole host of incredible emotions that complicate the way we tend to look at fear in film. Fear is a very quiet, contemplative state in this film, not people running around and screaming their heads off. I could talk forever about how much I love this film. The last thing I will say is I love the detail Spielberg put into making E.T. feel like a living, breathing being. He even hired a mime to come on and just play the hands of E.T.! It just reminds me that the work of a great director lies within the smallest details.
5) What’s next for you?
Next, I look forward to directing my first feature. I'm really eager to keep creating and learn everything I can about making movies.
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www.chloéaktas.com | @chloeaktas