Movies You Made: “Payload”
For several months, I’ve been tagging a bunch of emails from filmmakers who have contacted me about their film projects, so I figured we should feature them this May. If you have a movie, either short-form or long, with which you were involved — writer, actor, director — please either email me or post details in comments. Happy to promote them on GITS.
Today we feature the short film Payload from screenwriter-director Stuart Willis. Some background from Stuart:
Hi Scott
As per your tweet. This is a movie I wrote, directed and co-edited. I’d love it featured on GITS if you feel it’s worthwhile.
SYNOPSIS
A family living in the shadow of a space elevator struggles to survive in a dystopian future.
INTRODUCTION
Payload was my thesis film at the VCA (Victorian College of Arts — an Australian film school whose alumni include Gillian Armstrong, Andrew Dominik, and David Michôd). My intention was to make a “sci-fi with a soul” — something that balanced visual impact, world-buildling, narrative and character. Which is tough in an 18 minute film, and not everyone will think I got that balance right.
After a year on the traditional festival circuit, I released the film online last year to an amazing reception. I was surprised that a dark 18min short would get as much attention as this did. It was very gratifying. But it was also a huge learning experience. The internet is brutally honest. There are people who really, really loved the film and there were people who really, really hated it — and they would all tell you! Very easy to focus on the negative. I can only imagine what it would be like with a feature or television… ! I had to learn to be philosophical about it. We make these films in a creative bubble and any reaction (negative or positive) shows that people — actual people! — are engaging with the film. In the end, its that engagement I want.
Here is the movie:
STARRING
Dylan Russel, Margaret Rivette, Shane Nagle, and Joanna Owen-Smith..
PRINCIPAL CREW
Written and Directed by Stuart Willis
Produced by Thomas Bicknell
Director of Photography: Robert C. Morton
Edited by Stuart Willis and James Fenton
VFX Supervisor: Alex Fry
Music composed by David Barber
Sound design by Leon East
Director interview
Director’s notes
Thanks, Stuart, and good luck with Payload and everyone involved with it.
Again if you have a film project you have been involved with and would like me to promote it on GITS, and I can embed it, email me or post details in comments.
May is Movies You Made month. Let’s celebrate your cinematic creativity!