Writer/Director EVAN ARI KELMAN goes in-depth in this exclusive interview discussing the making of his first narrative feature directorial BARRON’S COVE.
SYNOPSIS: BARRON’S COVE is the story of a grieving father (Hedlund) with a violent past, whose life is shattered by the tragic death of his young son. Consumed with the need for answers, he kidnaps the child (Convery) he believes is responsible for his son’s death, igniting a frenzied manhunt fueled by the kidnapped boy’s powerful politician father (Linklater).
Written and Directed by EVAN ARI KELMAN, BARRON’S COVE stars Garrett Hedlund, Brittany Snow, Christian Convery, Hamish Linklater, Stephen Lang, and Raul Castillo.
Speaking with Evan about BARRON’S COVE, it quickly became clear that he has a deep-rooted passion for this project and thanks to that passion, his thoughtfulness and attention to detail in bringing this story to life with believability and emotional resonance shines through on every level, starting with Garrett Hedlund’s outstanding performance as the grieving father Caleb, a man who channels rage into forgiveness and empathy, setting the path for the film’s emotional journey. Making Hedlund’s performance so powerful is the chemistry and unfaltering dynamic he has with his young co-star Christian Convery who plays Ethan, the boy whom Caleb believes is responsible for his son’s death. The maturity and vulnerability that Convery demonstrates are a testament to his skill as an actor and to Evan’s ability as a director to cast well and elicit and channel a performance such as that Convery gives us.
With a 22-day shoot, complex set-ups and scenes, many night shoots (and Evan shot night-for-night), water work, stunts, fires, and kids, a collaborative relationship with his production team was essential to the making of BARRON’S COVE. Thanks to cinematographer Matthew Jensen the visual grammar speaks volumes while showcasing the work of production designer Jordan Crockett which provides the emotional foundation for the action of Hedlund’s Caleb. Editor Hanna Park met the pacing challenges while letting us see and feel the emotional arcs and growth of Caleb and Ethan and still building and ratcheting up the requisite tension of this thriller.
As Evan and I dug into the “making of” BARRON’S COVE, we delved into his thought processes for the film, including but not limited to:
- taking a character who was “so angry, so rageful” and have him transcend that to reach a place of “sacrifice and forgiveness” in unexpected circumstances, a large part of which was creating a “journey” for Caleb that would be meaningful and inspirational for the audience, allowing them to empathize with him and find catharsis in his transformation. Key was the story structure and crafting of Caleb’s arc in such a way that would feel unexpected yet authentic, allowing Caleb to redirect and rechannel his rage in a profound way.
- the intentional design of themes of generational trauma and the power to break free from it.
- close collaboration with cinematographer Matthew Jensen and production designer Jordan Crockett to use the visual tools of filmmaking to convey Caleb’s emotional arc, such as the metaphorical use of the water and the contrasting production design between the worlds of Caleb and our young antagonist EthanCaleb’s and the antagonist’s worlds.
- key visual and cinematic choices to enhance the storytelling and convey the film’s themes including the careful framing and lensing choices, with the cinematographer Matthew Jensen using mid-shots and semi-close-ups to keep the audience grounded in the environment, helping to establish the world and themes, rather than relying heavily on close-ups. The use of negative space, particularly in the shed and basement settings, allowed the camera to linger on certain elements to convey the characters’ emotional states.
- visual metaphors and symbolism, such as the use of water, blue skies, and sunlight to represent a sense of “baptismal rebirth” and hope, contrasting with the darker, more confined spaces earlier in the film.
- deliberate and intentional choices in production design that visually distinguished the different characters’ value systems and generational perspectives, with Caleb’s more handmade, nature-inspired environment versus Lyle’s (Ethan’s father) sleek, materialistic world.
- strategic camera angles and eye-line considerations that conveyed the shifting power dynamics between characters, particularly in the scenes between Caleb and Ethan.
- the importance of subconscious communication through cinematic choices
- the editing process and how the 22-day shoot and coverage shooting choices on-set led to creative decisions in the editing room
- casting, particularly with the child actors and the role of Ethan; extensive auditions to find the right actor and then creating a safe, supportive environment on set; working with Christian Convery as Ethan, and the restrictions and logistics involved, such as limited work hours
- Evan’s reflections as a director on moving from commercials and shorts to making his first narrative feature and the value of working with a team that believed in the story which pushed his own boundaries.
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 10/04/2024
BARRON’S COVE premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival on September 30, 2024.
