director's vision...

Inspired by vivid childhood recollections of a dynamic magical reality juxtaposed with an often-frightening experience of feeling unsafe, suspended... delves into the psyche of fear and how we transcend our own limitations through the imagination. Based on a true story, a number of dramatic elements have been weaved into the narrative to create a solid foundation from which to springboard into the world of the lead character’s magical experience. As a Director I am interested in both exploring the nature of reality and encouraging the audience to encounter and therefore question the world of the imagination. Is it, the fertile ground of a genuine mystical sensibility, the simple fantasy of an overactive mind or the potential trigger point for instability and madness? I am fascinated by our sensitivity as people and the vulnerable nature of our minds, particularly as children.

From the first moment I uttered the concept for suspended... to Lisa Shaunessy she expressed a passionate desire to collaborate on the development of the project as Producer. I immediately felt that she understood the story and would nurture my expression of key themes through the process of script development and ultimately the entire film making journey. Lisa has a wonderful artistic sensibility coupled with a no bullshit pragmatism that I strongly respond to as a developing filmmaker. Having worked with Lisa on The Clearing I feel that we have already developed a strong and ongoing working relationship.

Paramount in bringing this vision alive is the collaboration with D.O.P. Denson Baker. I have long admired Denson’s work and finally had the pleasure of working with him as an Actor last year on The Clearing. Denson is an extraordinary cinematographer. His attention to detail is matched by an equally powerful and organic visual sensibility, which serves both worlds of this film perfectly. Denson was immediately drawn to the particular visual challenges of the project and his comprehension of the overall vision has not only reinforced, but also enhanced the possibilities.

visual style

The film has two distinct visual styles that we are exploring. Of foremost importance is capturing the sense of time and place peculiar to the hippy scene of the Northern New South Wales counter culture of the late nineteen seventies. The experimentation of the free love environment, which often led to the kind of pain and confusion, that is a key theme of suspended... A number of elements will be employed to achieve this visual feel such as the use of seventies lens kits, the predominant use of wide lenses, which were regularly utilized in the cinema of the time, higher contrast lighting overall with certain primary colours oversaturated in the grade and the use of a subtle floating steadycam.

This overall visual style will serve as the base from which to lure the audience into the magical realism of Caleb’s imagination. Although many modern films based in magical realism rely heavily on Digital Effects I intend to create as much of the visual fantasy through in camera techniques such as lighting, practical special effects, wire work and camera choreography. I feel this approach leads to an overall organic and nostalgic feel that can sometimes be overlooked. To this end we are committed to shooting on the Red camera because it allows a high capacity for visual latitude. In conjunction with these techniques I am working closely with
Seth Larney to enhance and complete these sequences through Digital Effects and Luke Doolan to create an editing style that supports the transition from one world into the other. The work of Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Tim Burton come to mind as creative references for this aspect of the film. Sound will also play an imperative role in delineating between the naturalistic environment of Caleb’s home life and the fertile abundance of his imagination. Apart from a number of music tracks that place us squarely in the seventies cultural milieu the sound design will incorporate organic sounds of nature such as crickets, crackling firewood and wind to build a natural soundtrack as well as music played by the actors. The surreal elements of the story will also be enhanced by a distortion of these natural sounds.

One dictionary meaning of suspended is: “held in an undetermined state awaiting further information.” When growing up we often don’t have all the information to understand why certain things happen and why people treat us in certain ways. Naturally we rely on others so the journey of finding our own ‘centre’ or ‘power’ can be a tenuous and sometimes painful one. We are suspended between fear and joy awaiting a light to come on and awaken us. But from where does this illumination derive. Caleb’s observations, and ultimately his perception of the dynamics in the adult world around him, lead to a questioning of his overall significance and value. The key role models in his life’ his parents, are also each beset by these questions. Caleb’s journey is one of waking up to his own power, and therefore his place in the world.