Your new movie If If I Can't Have You
- in a few words, what is it about?
If I Can't Have You
is a 90's-esque thriller/comedy about a psychiatrist,
Diane Doolittle, who’s history of stalkers and bad decisions finally
catches up to her.
Now
how did this project come together in the first place, and how did you get
attached as director? Tennille
Tarasczkiewcz [Tennille
Taraszkiewicz interview - click here] approached me about wanting to create a film in the vein of
Fatal Attraction but flipping it on its head. Once Matt Santia [Matthew
Santia interview - click here] came on as writer
and me as DP it only made sense that we co-direct the film with our love
for the genre. Do talk about If
I
Can't Have You's approach to both horror and humour!
The
horror took some notes from Scream, Fatal Attraction and other
stalker/thriller films. We tried our best to evoke that via camera
blocking and lighting.
As
for the comedy aspects, that is all Matt Santia’s brilliant writing and
the actors bringing it to life.
A
few words about your directorial approach to your story at hand? Because
this was co-directed it was a bit different in terms of directing roles.
Matt and I discussed this early on with me being DP that I would focus on
the technical direction such as blocking and movement with talent. Matt
would then work with the actors for performances as he himself is an actor,
so it was a great balance between us both. What
can you tell us about If I
Can't Have You co-director Matthew Santi [Matthew
Santia interview - click here], and what was your
collaboration like? Matthew
Santia was an absolute pleasure to work with. We both have such similar
taste in cinema and ideas behind what we want to see as filmmakers and
movie-goers. Even though this was our first time really diving into
something together it felt so natural and easy going. I couldn’t have
asked for a better co-director.
You of course also have to talk
about working with the film's producer and star Tennille Taraszkiewicz [Tennille
Taraszkiewicz interview - click here]? Tennille
is one of the best people to work with. She has been my filmmaking partner
since 2017, and I could not imagine how my path as a filmmaker would be
without her. She cares so much about this art and on top of making a good
film she makes it a fun and collaborative process, and you don’t always
get that kind of luxury with all producers. Do talk
about the rest of your cast, and why exactly these people? We
did an extensive casting process and it was really one of the easiest
films to cast that I have been involved with. We pretty much instantly
knew after our first casting call who we wanted. Then during callbacks
seeing these amazing actors read the lines just solidified everything. A
few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere? Fun
is the best word to describe the set. Everyday there was little to no
stress and everyone brought their A-game. This project was something that
everyone just believed in and really wanted to be part of, and when you
have that the set life can’t get any better.
Any
future projects you'd like to share? I
am currently working on writing my first feature film that is a
psychological horror that I plan to direct and DP by next year. What got you into
filmmaking to begin with, and did you receive any formal training on the
subject? I
got into filmmaking in 2012 and started to take it seriously in 2018. I
did not receive any formal training, I decided to invest in equipment and
just start making things, and it's finally starting to pay off! What can you tell us about your filmwork before
If I
Can't Have You? If I Can't Have You
was my first feature film in terms of directing and
being DP. Prior it was lots of short films to help prepare me for this
first feature. How
would you describe yourself as a director?
I am a very relaxed director, I don’t like stress or putting people
under stress. I am very particular especially with scripts I write and how
it's delivered, but I love to give actors a chance to voice their opinion
on things and make it as collaborative as I can without hindering the
original intention.
Filmmakers
who inspire you? Stanley
Kubrick, John Carpenter, Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, David Fincher - just to
name a few. Your favourite movies?
Too
many to count but if I had to pick a few I would say Halloween,
The Thing, Hereditary,
The Witch, Zodiac, Scream and many more.
...
and of course, films you really deplore?
I
think being a filmmaker makes you realize every movie has a purpose and I
hate talking down movies because a lot of work goes into them and it
really is all about taste and what you enjoy. Your/your
movie's website, social media, whatever else?
peterpouloscreative.com is
my personal website.
Here
is the Facebook page for If I Can't Have You:
https://www.facebook.com/If-I-Cant-Have-You-100358402610654
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Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? I
think that covers it, thank you! Thanks
for the interview!
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