 |
| Saul with actors, Hains and Redford (Ariztical) |
Following a world premiere at Frameline, the San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival, The Surface has captivated audiences and critics at screenings nationwide.
From award-winning director Michael J. Saul (Crush, Adults Only, Go Go Reject), The Surface stars Australian model Harry Hains in his leading role debut, alongside Michael Redford and Nicholas McDonald.
The Surface tells the story of Evan Jones, an orphan who was shifted from one foster home to another for years. Now a disaffected college student, he lives with his wealthy boyfriend, Chris. Their social and financial differences have made their relationship increasingly volatile despite their love for one another.
While sifting through relics at an elderly man's yard sale, Evan finds an 8mm movie camera. The man offers to teach Evan how to use it if he comes back the following week. Upon returning, Evan meets the man's 43-year-old son, Peter. Peter gives him reels of old 8mm movies that are collecting dust in the garage. The home movies, featuring a young Peter and his boyhood friend touch a nerve with Evan. Their youthful flirtations and tenderness are uncomplicated and pure. Evan begins to live vicariously through the home movies and his friendship with Peter soon turns romantic. Evan's relationship with Chris splinters as he pushes for greater understanding of himself and the notions of family, love and fulfillment.
I spoke with Saul, via email, about his intriguing film and what's next?
MK SCOTT: Michael, Congrats on your film, The Surface. How did it come about?
MICHAEL SAUL: After my parents passed away a few years ago, I discovered how much of our family life was recorded in 8mm films. It was kind of fascinating looking back at my entire childhood through these home movies with a new perspective. As I started sharing these with friends, I realized two things: how many people do not have this record of their early life, and what a distorted representation of my life they are. The films only really show the happy times like Holidays, birthdays, and life cycle events.
I started thinking about how interesting it would be to write a character with none of this history, no parents, no lasting friends; and what would happen if he met someone like me who did have that visual documentation and felt the need to attach himself to that history. That’s basically where the idea began.
 |
| The following Lovescene is pretty intense (Ariztical) |
SAUL: My producer and casting director Heath Daniels did a great job of bringing in a select group of actors to audition. We’d both had the pleasure of working with Michael Redford on “Adults Only” and though it was a very small part, we saw him as Peter almost immediately. Nicholas originally read for a different role in the film and we didn’t see him in that role, but thought what he was doing was very much what we imagined for Chris and luckily he agreed to play the part.
Harry was a very difficult choice because he was not originally the kind of actor I was looking for to play Evan. Harry is a successful model. He’s very ‘pretty’ and a bit more androgynous than what I’d pictured. But as we began working with him along with the other actors, it was clear he brought something very unique to the role that I hadn’t expected, and that’s always exciting.
MK: The character of Evan is lost as he goes from a bad relationship with Chris to a new one with Peter, and then he still feels lost?
SAUL: Evan is seeking family. The family he never had. He’s out on his own for the first time, I think anyone in that situation would be making mistakes – I know I did when I was in my 20s and came from a fairly stable home life! I think Evan is with both men for the wrong reasons and that’s just part of his life story. He’s sort of dipping his toes into the world of relationships and like most of us; he has a lot to learn.
 |
| Obsessed with Nostalgia? (Ariztical) |
SAUL: Well not directly, except for the fact that my father and grandfather helped to spark my interest in film at an early age… all of that material comes from real life. Even the little editing machine Evan uses in the film belonged to my grandfather!
Swimming is of interest to me only because even though I’m of a certain age – I’m still afraid of the water, so exploring that is always a little therapeutic. Gardening, I suppose only because I can’t grow anything apart from mold.
MK: Peter's home movies were the catalyst for Evan and it really got a connection, was he longing to be that little boy in those films?
SAUL: Oh I think so. I think watching those films helped make some physical connection to the fantasies he’d been carrying with him his entire life. Having loving parents, going on vacations, having more than fleeting friendships. That’s why he edits out all the sections with young Peter and his friend Mark, the connection they have is a little foreign to him and it’s his way of studying and connecting with his fantasy childhood – and with Peter.
 |
| The Underwater scenes are incredible (Ariztical) |
SAUL: Many people ask that. I don’t know, I tend not to revisit my stories. I do think what happens to Evan next could be really fascinating, and I like thinking about that, but who knows?
MK: What's Next?
SAUL: I have a number of scripts that are completed and I’m writing a new one too. Getting financing for my films is always difficult so it depends a lot on how that goes, but there are always stories
The Surface is 0n DVD and VOD Now. Check it OUT Here.
Also available at Our Amazon Store!
No comments:
Post a Comment