Wildlike Premieres at the New Jersey Film Festival this Sunday, February 8, 2015!

Wildlike Premieres at the New Jersey Film Festival this Sunday, February 8, 2015!

Here is an interview I did with Wildlike’s Director Frank Hall Green:

Nigrin: Wildlike which I thought was one of the best feature films I saw in 2014 is a moving tale that focuses on two strangers who cross paths in the wilderness of the Alaskan frontier. Tell us what motivated you to make this film.

Green: The origin of Wildlike came from several aspects of my life and interests. As a backpacker and lover of the outdoors and adventure, Alaska was an easy choice for a backdrop. As a storyteller, I have always turned to and been attracted to journeys and tales of adventure, especially directionless journeys. As a child I daydreamed of a journey, running away, however not from anything, but for excitement. As an adult, virtually all my nighttime dreams are aimless adventures. As a human being, and one who has experienced pain and healing in my life, I wanted to speak to the human condition as a dichotomy of damage and healing, trauma and recovery, and the reality that this is a lifelong experience. On the social issues in the film, they have become important to me over time, and I became dedicated to presenting certain issues in a truthful, effective way. I married the idea of adventure and healing with the social issues of the film, which in turn would be the cause of Mackenzie running, allowing me to explore deeper characters and present issues important to me in the film. Finally, as a producer, I knew the Alaska landscape was beautiful and held great value for the production.

Nigrin: The three lead actors in your film are really great. Tell us more about them and how they were selected.

Green: Ella was the first person cast for the film, over 18 months prior to shooting. After a day of meeting with agencies and actresses for the role of Mackenzie in Los Angeles, and disappointed with the results, I turned on the television and watched Never Let Me Go for the first time, just to unwind. The young Ella Purnell came on screen and I said “that’s her.” In fact, I said, she’s too freaking beautiful, but I know that is Mackenzie. Within 10 minutes I was on IMDB, confirmed she was British and texted the agent at UTA whom I had met with earlier that day: “Can Ella Purnell do an American accent?” Of course she can!” So, we did a video audition, I skyped with her and her mother and then went to London to meet with them. I knew Ella was talented and was the girl, but we got serious about the character and her darkness in the final weeks before the shoot. I stressed the idea of what was inside the character, what was unsaid. Ella landed in Alaska only speaking American English for 6 weeks, and the first day she brought the character to life beyond my expectations. She had really studied and listened and felt the intensity I spoke of regarding the character’s difficulties. She is also a wonderfully sweet person, smart, talented in many ways and on a very good path. The whole crew loved her.

Bruce was cast within weeks of shooting and I have to say I discovered what many people already know - he is a talented, experienced, super-charged, smart presence and actor. Bruce had the look and also had the origins in the Atom Egoyan films which I felt was perfect. We had a 1 1/2 hour conversation and immediately we jumped into the story and characters, and Bart’s every thought, turn and twitch. I was fired up once I discussed the character with him. When Bruce landed in Alaska, we spent two days reading the script and asking ourselves, what is the natural response, decision and step for the character here? What feels true? We both knew we wanted to sell this story in a very natural way, and Bruce watched a short of mine that I believe gave him the understanding that together we could pull this off. I really commend him on bringing 110% and finding a very good balance of working with a first feature director. He’s a good friend, and also a hilarious comedian. We were entertained for 6 weeks!

Nigrin: Where there any memorable stories in getting the film finished or any other info about your film you can pass on to us?

Green: I had two distinct difficulties with the Wildlike script. One in relation to writing scripts, one with the story. Every script I write starts with visions, and moments with characters, intense moments of them at their most extreme, breaking down, hurting, reaching catharsis. As I weave these images and characters and environments together into a story, which all comes very very quickly for me, I then have to translate a very full head of understanding down onto the page. In one’s imagination one can create perfection in storytelling, dreaming the entire story working perfectly, omitting any gaps, passing over any questionable motivations, ignoring small details. So when I began to write each moment, and realize I need moments in between, and I need to know what an action means, what decisions will be made, how will the character develop, what exactly will they say or not say, then I’m stumped. Again, its so easy to just say, its a girl who just follows an old guy into the woods. But selling that in a script is another step. Secondly, without a doubt the hardest part of writing Wildlike was writing Uncle. As I become each character while I write them, entering their minds and playing out their thoughts, actions and words, when I wrote the abuse scenes and even the phone call between Uncle and Mackenzie, I became very very uncomfortable. The subject alone is uncomfortable, much less pretending for hours on end to be Uncle. I had to take frequent breaks and spoke to a close confidant on a daily basis while writing that part. However I think its a healthy thing that I had that reaction. Brian Geraghty had a similar difficulty in playing Uncle, and we shared that, and I commend him for stepping up and portraying Uncle with vigor.

Also here is an EBTV Interview I did with Joseph Stephans, Producer of Wildlike:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxq-JqH6k5M

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Wildlike will be preceded by the short film Doug’s Christmas on Sunday, February 8 at the New Jersey Film Festival. Here is more info on this screening:

Doug’s Christmas - Calvin Steinken (Chicago, Illinois)
Christmas Day 1951: Doug survives a Korean War battle where his friend, Kim, was killed. Kim’s dying words, mixed with his passing on Christmas Day, still haunt Doug. Searching for answers, Doug meets a struggling young mother and her two daughters. The love of this young family inspires Doug to find meaning in his life. 2014; 25 min.

Wildlike - Frank Hall Green (New York, New York)
Wildlike is a moving feature film that focuses on two strangers who cross paths in the wilderness of the Alaskan frontier. Mackenzie, portrayed by Ella Purnell (Never Let Me Go), is sent to live in Alaska with her uncle (Brian Geraghty, The Hurt Locker). When their relationship becomes tense, Mackenzie decides to run away. On her own, she has difficulties finding her way back to her mother in Seattle, and begins to follow a lonely backpacker, played by Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek: Into Darkness). This improbable duo make their way through the Alaskan wilderness, and together they both begin to heal from the wounds of their past. WildLike takes viewers on an soulful and intriguing journey in an emotionally engaging and truly wonderful film. 2014; 104 min. With an introduction and Q+A session by Director Frank Hall Green and members of the cast and crew TBA!

Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

Voorhees Hall #105/Rutgers University,
71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey

$10=General; $9=Students+Seniors; $8=Rutgers Film Co-op Friends

Information: (848) 932-8482; www.njfilmfest.com

Free Food courtesy of Jimmy Johns will be given out prior to this screening of the New Jersey Film Festival!