I think you’ll enjoy this week’s BEHIND THE LENS and the films we are discussing, but more than that, the filmmakers and actors I’m speaking with. Some jam-packed interviews today as we kick things off with my exclusive interview with actors CLAES BANG and JONAH HAUER-KING, together with writer/director NICK HAMM talking about his beautiful epic WILLIAM TELL. And then you’ll hear from writer and executive producer CHARLENE DAVIS and director/producer DAFNA YACHIN discussing their new film, RELATIVE CONTROL.
This first interview is one of those times I wish we could have done the interview in person; of course, I wish that with every interview. But in this case, these three gentlemen are so much fun and have such a wonderful rapport that I know that being together in person would have been an even bigger blast than what you’re about to hear. I’m talking about CLAES BANG, JONAH HAUER-KING, and NICK HAMM and their wonderful film, WILLIAM TELL. Written and directed by Nick, based on the play by Friedrich Schiller, they have beautifully married history and legend and brought it to life in an indelible epic result.
Many of you may have heard of William Tell in your early school days. Legend has it he’s the man who shot an apple off of his son’s head with an arrow. But it’s the history around the legend that is what gives this story its weight and wonder. Set in the 1300s, 14th Century, Switzerland – and shot on location in Switzerland mind you – the nations of medieval Europe struggle for power, the ruthless Austrian Hapsburg Empire invades neighboring Switzerland. Thanks to a number of events that unfold, the peaceful huntsman, William Tell, is thrust into the heart of their resistance.
As you’ll hear, we dive into the heart of William Tell and some of the key production elements, including Jamie Ramsey’s cinematography and the beauty and importance of widescreen vistas, along with character development and historical accuracy. Claes’s performance stands out in the development of Tell, which focuses on his inner turmoil and PTSD. The film’s epic battle sequences and the challenging shoot-the-apple-off-the-head scene are discussed, emphasizing the actors’ extensive training in crossbow and broadsword and the collaborative effort required. Nick explains the film’s vision, the integration of violence, and the importance of the apple scene as a metaphor for political terrorism. Nick also discusses the editing process and working with editor Yan Miles to develop the film’s classical structure are also touched upon.
Be it legendary or not, this movie is sumptuous. It is glorious. It is epic. It is beautiful and fascinating. This is, at its heart, a fascinating character study of William Tell punctuated with intense, brutal action offset by the pastoral life Tell so desperately desires and richly deserves. And by the way, in addition to Claes and Jonah, WILLIAM TELL also stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Pryce, Ellie Bamber, Rafe Spall, and as the deliciously evil villain Gessler, Connor Swindells, just to name a few.
WILLIAM TELL is now in theatres in the top 30 U.S. markets.
Then we shift gears and dive into RELATIVE CONTROL with the women behind this gem – director DAFNA YACHIN and screenwriter CHARLENE DAVIS.
RELATIVE CONTROL is the story of a middle-aged, type-A attorney’s life spirals as she juggles her handful of an ex-cop father, forgetful mother, unemployed son, a reignited romance, and a hostile takeover in the biggest corporate control battle of her career. Directed by Dafna Yachin and written by Charlene Davis, RELATIVE CONTROL captures the humor, heartbreak, and chaos of balancing family caregiving and career with poignant authenticity. And did you know that there are over 30 million family caregivers in the U.S. right now, making this a relatable and timely story for multigenerational audiences?
As you’ll hear, Charlene and Dafna break down the film from script to screen. Written by Charlene, the script – her first after a decades long career as an attorney – is based on Charlene’s personal experiences – was developed over a few years and speaks to not only the challenges of caring for aging parents, but caring for yourself as time marches on and the responsibility for caring for your parents overtakes one’s own life. There is some magical casting here with Teri Polo as Sara and Patrick McDade as Sara’s father Joe. Their chemistry truly captures the dynamic of a daughter and father navigating complex family dynamics. While Charlene focuses more on the script, Dafna dives into Anthony Berenato Jr’s cinematography, developing a visual tonal bandwidth of lightness and bright tones versus the heavier subject matter, working with editor John Knapich, and some of the production challenges which involved a 14-day shoot, the impact of the pandemic, and shooting in 100 degree Delaware heat in July and August with the film set in the Fall/Winter.
RELATIVE CONTROL is now available On Digital and On Demand.
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