This is a fun episode of BEHIND THE LENS as I’m doing something this week that I haven’t done before – and that is give you an interview with a film’s director, followed by my interview with his cinematographer. The film is the thriller BARRON’S COVE. The director/writer is EVAN ARI KELMAN. The cinematographer is MATTHEW JENSEN. But hilarity also ensues today thanks to co-writers/directors DAVID JOSEPH CRAIG and BRIAN CRANO as they talk about their new laugh-filled collaboration, I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU.
First up, I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU. Based on their own life experiences, David and Brian give us Dom (Nick Kroll) and Cole (Andrew Rannells), a couple on the verge of adopting a baby, embark on an Italian vacation — the perfect opportunity to reconnect before the new addition arrives. Everything is picture-perfect, the epitome of a European babymoon, when things begin to spiral out of control. Lost on the way to dinner, their car gets stuck in a ditch, stranding them in rural nowhere during a torrential downpour. These two Americans, who are used to being catered to, are now in a foreign land with no cell service, zero comprehension of the Italian language, and, as fear takes over, escalating turmoil that could explode at any moment.
Co-Written and Co-Directed by Brian Crano and David Joseph Craig, I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU stars Nick Kroll, Andrew Rannells (who was a Grand Marshall in yesterday’s pride parade in Hollywood), Morgan Spector, Nunzia Schiano, Eleanora Romandini, Paolo Romano, and Amanda Seyfried.
As you’ll hear, Brian and David highlight the humor and language barriers that are the core of I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU. They even recount a true incident where they got stuck in a ditch in rural Italy, which inspired the film’s plot. The film was written during the pandemic, emphasizing miscommunication and physical comedy. It’s interesting in that they had to reverse engineer elements of the story somewhat once they found their location – in Italy. The key location, a farmhouse, was chosen for its suitability and challenges that give rise to some incredible physical comedy at which Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells both excel. But of course, there isn’t just humor in this film. There’s a bit of bloodshed and horror, which itself will have you splitting your sides with laughter. We also talk about working with cinematographer Lowell Meyer and how lucky they were to get the legendary editor Nancy Richardson, who worked closely with them to capture the comedy and horror elements.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU is in theatres now.
Then we switch gears from laughter to the nail-biting tension of a thriller – BARRON’S COVE. Written and Directed by EVAN ARI KELMAN, BARRON’S COVE stars Garrett Hedlund, Brittany Snow, Christian Convery, Hamish Linklater, Stephen Lang, and Raul Castillo.
BARRON’S COVE follows a father with a violent past (Hedlund) as he grieves the sudden loss of his only child. Convinced of a cover-up and intent on obtaining answers about his son’s death, he kidnaps the troubled boy he holds responsible – the son of a prominent local politician, which ignites a media firestorm and frenzied manhunt. But as he grows ever closer to uncovering the truth, he is left to wonder whether his pursuers are really seeking to protect the boy or merely the secrets he keeps.
Talking with Evan, it’s 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 shine through on every level. 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.
Completing the picture of BARRON’S COVE is cinematographer MATTHEW JENSEN, who talks about his collaboration with Evan and goes deeper into the lighting and lensing of the film and their importance as storytelling tools. Known of late for his work on tentpole studio films, with BARRON’S COVE, Matthew returns to independent filmmaking and discusses the challenge of working with a smaller crew and limited resources. He highlights the importance of framing, avoiding extreme close-ups, and using negative space effectively. You’ll also hear him talk about working with production designer Jordan Crockett and the strategic use of natural light and darkness to enhance the story’s themes.
BARRON’S COVE is in theatres and available on VOD.
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