A fun-filled exclusive interview with director JAMES GRIFFITHS and co-writers/co-stars TOM BASDEN and TIM KEY discussing this warm, funny, and oh-so-charming enchantment, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND.
SYNOPSIS: THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND follows Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.
Directed by JAMES GRIFFITHS and co-written by TOM BASDEN AND TIM KEY, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND stars TOM BASDEN as “Herb McGwyer”, TIM KEY as superfan “Charles Heath”, and Carey Mulligan as Herb’s former partner “Nell Mortimer”.
Speaking with James, Tom, and Tim, it’s easy to understand why THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND is so endearing and so much fun. The chemistry among these collaborators is joyously palpable and creative. They feed off of one another when it comes to this world of Wallis Island, so much so that it’s impossible to tell who is responsible for what aspect of the film, save for Tom Basden who is a true balladeer. His songs in the film are wonderful, as are his musical performances, which are beautifully complemented by Adem Ilhan’s score. (Side Note: There is a soundtrack that’s available now with a vinyl recording coming down the pike.)
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND began as a BAFTA-nominated short film by this trio of artisans almost 20 years ago, The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island. Luckily for us, James, Tim, and Tom all felt there was unfinished business with the characters of Herb and Charles, which led to this continuing collaboration and the birth of the feature-length THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND.
As you’ll hear in our conversation, as important as the story and the characters of Charles, Herb, and Nell are, the Wales location itself is also a necessary and beautiful character, and is showcased exquisitely by Icelandic cinematographer G. Magni Agustsson, who celebrates the topography of the island itself along with the elements of Mother Nature.
The team’s collaborative approach was key to the film’s unique style as James, Tom, and Tim worked closely together from the early stages, sharing ideas about visuals and script. They were constantly in communication, discussing the project, even during periods when they weren’t actively working on it. This collaborative method allowed them to develop a cohesive vision, with James working closely with cinematographer Agustsson to capture the metaphorical qualities of the location, and the actors contributing to the visual comedy a la Laurel & Hardy through their performances. The team’s shared sensibility meant they could balance intimate moments with expansive shots, use the location as a character, and create a visual grammar that supported the film’s emotional and comedic tone which is distinctive and feels organic.
According to Tim Key, most of the film was scripted, but they had the flexibility to react to the sets and improvise when appropriate. Since they wrote the script themselves and worked together for a long time, they felt comfortable going off-script occasionally. As the director James would also guide them, sometimes suggesting they do another take or indicating when an improvisation didn’t work. They maintained a tight script but allowed room for spontaneity, especially when interacting with the detailed sets like the shop scene.
James goes into detail when it comes to the chalennges of capturing the island’s essence, among them, (1) Location Accessibility: The site was extremely arduous and remote, making it difficult to transport camera equipment across stones and beaches; (2) Tidal Conditions: Crew had to work around changing tides, which complicated filming; (3) Capturing the Right Atmosphere: They wanted the island to feel timeless, isolated, and transformative, which required careful visual storytelling; and (4) Weather Limitations: While they wanted choppy, stormy seas for the drowning scene, they couldn’t actually film in such conditions. Despite these challenges, James felt the “juice was worth the squeeze” – the location delivered significant production value and helped communicate the film’s visual metaphors through changing weather and landscape. The team spent 3-4 months scouting coastal paths to find the perfect location that could represent the island’s character.
Bearing in mind all of the challenges with filming in this remote location, James explains that the visual grammar was carefully crafted to reflect the story’s emotional landscape as they aimed to create a metaphorical connection between the expansive, open island and the claustrophobic interior spaces. Agustsson was crucial in capturing the melancholy light and atmosphere as they wanted to show the characters’ journey through the changing weather, from wet and cold to sunny and then stormy, using visual metaphors. The goal was to keep the characters in the frame together, using two-shots to capture their interactions and comedy, while also using editing to elevate visual jokes. The visual approach was collaborative, with the team working closely to ensure the visuals complemented the script’s rhythm and the characters’ emotional states.
And this is just the tip of the conversational iceberg for THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND!
As I told the boys, like the rolling sea or a moving ballad, THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND lulls you along into this world of Wallis Island, this moment, and then brings you into a crescendo of lightness, hope, and joy. And chatting with them does the same, along with a lot of laughter.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 03/23/2025
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND is now in theatres everywhere.
