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Welcome back to another week of BEHIND THE LENS!\u00a0 Hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.<\/p>\n
I was going to air director Scott Waugh\u2019s interview on RUNNER starring Owen Wilson and Alan Ritchson today, but given that the review has been out, my interview feature with Scott is also out, and there\u2019s so much positive traction on the film already (I\u2019m so thrilled you guys are loving it!!), that I\u2019m switching things up and bringing you PADRAIC \u201cPAT\u201d McKINLEY and his new film THE WEIGHT!<\/p>\n
What a film!<\/p>\n
Directed by Pat McKinley and written by Matthew Booi and Shelby Gaines, THE WEIGHT stars Ethan Hawke, Russell Crowe, Julia Jones, Austin Amelic, Avi Nash, Sam Hazeldine, and the oh so adorable Avy Berry.<\/p>\n
A taut thriller set in Oregon in 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression, THE WEIGHT stars Ethan Hawke as Samuel Murphy, a father torn from his daughter and imprisoned in a brutal work camp where Russell Crowe\u2019s corrupt and imposing Warden Clancy offers him a chance at early release: help smuggle gold through miles of unforgiving wilderness.<\/p>\n
What follows is not merely an adventure or survival story, but a testament to the human spirit and the need for personal freedom, anchored by the gut-wrenching power of a father\u2019s love for his daughter. \u00a0This is the story of an ordinary man in an extraordinary circumstance.<\/p>\n
Ethan Hawke is an old-fashioned “everyman” kind of hero.\u00a0 Think Jimmy Stewart. You cannot look away when he is onscreen. \u00a0Russell Crowe is rock solid as the corrupt and shady Clancy. \u00a0Watching Hawke and Crowe in toe-to-toe face-offs is riveting. \u00a0Standout is Julia Jones as Anna. \u00a0Anna, a Native American, who joins Samuel\u2019s gold-toting group along their trek. \u00a0As the lone female in the testosterone-fueled group, watching Anna\u2019s character development and interactions with the men, particularly Samuel, elevates some of the film\u2019s basic themes of survival and loyalty.<\/p>\n
Exciting for me is that THE WEIGHT, and this interview with Pat, demonstrates the lengths filmmakers will go to get a shot, the right shot, and serve the story. But it also speaks to something much larger about THE WEIGHT, a film in which virtually everything\u2014on screen and behind the camera\u2014is about endurance, conviction, freedom, friendship, and just how far one is willing to go for something, or someone, worth fighting for.<\/p>\n
In this exclusive interview with director Pat McKinley, who also served as the film\u2019s editor, Pat discusses the creative process behind the film, highlighting the importance of collaboration, specifically praising cinematographer Matteo Cocco for his immersive, documentary-style approach in the Bavarian forest. Shooting in the Bavarian Forest presented its own set of challenges with lighting, lensing, staging, and lugging equipment through the rough terrain. \u00a0And let me say that shooting this in Germany in the Bavarian Forest as a stand-in for Oregon and the Pacific Northwest adds another layer of storytelling to THE WEIGHT.<\/p>\n
For those that don\u2019t know, the Bavarian Forest is one of the Dark Sky Parks in the world. \u00a0And Dark Sky Parks are areas where genuine natural darkness still exists. The Bavarian Forest is designated as an International Dark Sky Park and Reserve, and is recognized for its exceptional stargazing opportunities and efforts to reduce light pollution. This designation includes both the Bavarian Forest National Park and the adjacent Bavarian Forest Nature Park, covering approximately 940 square kilometers in Germany. \u00a0Dark Sky Parks are free of human interference and preserve the natural and untamed land.<\/p>\n
As you\u2019ll hear, Pat has some incredible insight into developing the cinematography and working with Matteo in this untamed natural landscape. \u00a0And he\u2019s got a great anecdote about Matteo, too!<\/p>\n
Going rapid fire given the brief amount of time allotted for our interview, Pat details how the production overcame financial and logistical hurdles through teamwork. \u00a0The conversation also covers the film’s technical artistry, including Shelby Gaines\u2019 organic, experimental score and the intricate sound design led by Pat\u2019s co-editor Matt Woolley and re-recording mixer Martyn Zub of Formosa Group. \u00a0Pat also reveals layers of the collaborative nature of cast and crew, notably a third act scene that Ethan Hawke suggested when Pat couldn\u2019t find a train station for the originally written scene. \u00a0Ultimately, Pat emphasizes that while shooting presented many obstacles, the dedicated efforts of his crew during post-production allowed them to achieve a high level of professional and emotional storytelling. \u00a0And what a high level it is!<\/p>\n
You can see THE WEIGHT this Friday, September 18th,\u00a0 in theatres nationwide.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
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