Six Questions with Gregg Johnson

29 January 2008

Organisation

Filmmaker Gregg Johnson recently completed his Advanced Diploma in Screen at the Film and Television Institute. Along with his enthusiastic class mates he has launched into filmmaking, completing not just the intensive course work but a couple of additional films on the side.

One of these films, ‘Double or Nothing’ which was written by Johnston and Directed by Alex McArthur has quickly been accepted into festivals across Australia. Shot over a weekend this comedic film set in a small boat is a short and punchy debut for the new team of filmmakers.

How would you describe your new film ‘Double or Nothing’?

A light-hearted look at how Australians men cope with serious issues. I’d also describe it as a fine example of effective, minimalistic filmmaking.

Who else was involved in making the film?

My FTI classmates Steve Browne and Clint Lawrence acted in the film, and I have to give them both credit for their excellent performances. I was also acting myself alongside Todd Hawkins, who is the brother of a friend of mine, boat owner, all around nice guy – his performance was also excellent.

Classmates Alex McArthur and Julia Ngeow directed and dited the film respectively, and Hiruy Mengesha assisted from the shore as the boat could only hold five – not much fun I’m sure, so cheers for that Hiruy.

What was the production process like?

The shoot itself was good. Despite my concerns regarding shooting on a boat, we got out on the water easily enough, and the filming took only five hours – the weather was fine, and we were all in good spirits, so we had a lot of fun.

As we were entering the film into a festival, the edit was done in about three days – this was grueling, but really quite satisfying. To shoot, edit and complete a short film in one week is an accomplishment, and we were all pleased with the final product.

Do you think the short film format is more suitable for comedies?

I think it’s easier to be funny in a shorter film, and most of the short scripts I have written are comedic, which I feel supports this theory. However, I recently saw ‘Paris J’taime’ which is a collection of short films made in and based on a love of Paris, and having been really moved by some of the more dramatic pieces. I am looking forward to the challenge of making some heart-crushing drama this year.

What’s next on the cards for your team?

Having worked on a few projects in December, it seems we’re now in a post-graduation ‘hiatus’, in which we work to pay off our debts and fulfill our non-film obligations… apparently, this is normal.

Unsure how long this will last, but we’re hoping that entering ‘Double or Nothing’ and ‘Perspective’ , another short film we made in December, into the WASAs will help create some buzz for our individual and team creative talents, and thus catapult us into the next phase of our careers.

… failing that, we’ll continue to make further fine examples of effective, minimalistic filmmaking.

What advice would you give to someone about to embark on his or her next film?

At all stages of production, communication is key. Quite simply, clear and effective communication between all parties allows for better filmmaking. So, yeah… communicate better.

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Image: A scene from ‘Double or Nothing’