Smartphones are becoming increasingly competitive with traditional cameras. But as we see in Narelle Nash’s latest film “# Selfie,” sometimes a phone is the only way to go.  The Australian actor/director takes us behind the scenes in an interview that follows the movie.

Interview with Narelle Nash

MMM: Could you share your story about becoming a moviemaker?

Narelle:  I was at the time a frustrated actor waiting for the phone to ring and had started to think about creating my own work, but had zero experience and zero access to funds for expensive shooting equipment. Then one day I came across an article on facebook from Mark Duplass (of Netflix fame) that changed my life. The headline was “There’s no excuse not to be making films on the weekends with your friends.” I had the concept of making a comedy about being an actor, so I wrote the script (based on real experiences), cast my friends then just picked up my iPhone and started filming.

MMM: Are there any filmmakers or films that especially influenced you?

Narelle: For this one, I was inspired by “The Blair Witch Project.” It would have been the perfect film to make on a smartphone if they’d had the technology back then.

MMM: So you see your film as being in the found footage category?

Narelle: Yes. I think the genre lent itself perfectly to filming on an iPhone.

MMM:  Do you take selfies in your own life?

Narelle: Haha. But no, I’m not much of a selfie person myself. In this case my title really refers to our collective obsession with the self and how social media fuels that. I read about a story in India where there was a car accident and while the victims suffered and bled on the street, some people took selfies in front of the carnage instead of actually rendering assistance. And it struck me how other people’s misfortunes have just become entertainment to us, just a small inconsequential part of the “movie” of our own lives. So I imagined this girl who put her whole life out on social media and had all these followers who she considered friends, but when she was in danger, they just watched it unfold online instead of helping. To them, it was all entertainment and the nature of the Internet meant that they couldn’t be sure if it was real.

MMM:  How did you plan the shoot?

Narelle:  I had a basic script and a shot list, but I love to let my actors improvise because I find the best stuff comes out of that.

MMM: Sontaan Hopson’s performance is brilliant. How did you find her?

Narelle: Isn’t she wonderful? I know a lot of actors. She is a friend and I thought she’d nail it, so I offered her the role – and lucky for me she jumped at it.

MMM: Would you be willing to share your thoughts on directing this kind of movie.

Narelle: Well, it was easier in the sense that I didn’t actually film this movie– ha! Cast a highly competent actor and let them do all the work. Not actually holding the camera phone meant I could concentrate on the directing, and it was a more enjoyable experience for me.

MMM: Tell us about the camera work.

Narelle: Sontaan was responsible for that. She had a hand-held stabiliser (which she’d never used before) and got the hang of it very quickly. One Rode plug-in mic and natural lighting was the rest of our “gear.” We shot it in one day–about 8 hours.

MMM: The location with all those mirrors plays a big part of the story. How did you find the place?

Narelle: We had planned to film it in a large opulent house, but two days before the shoot that location fell through. So, I rejigged the script and ended up going ahead with the shoot…at my parents’ home. You’ve got to be resourceful as an indie filmmaker!

MMM:  Could you say something about the advantages and disadvantages of shooting with a mobile?

Narelle:  Smartphones are accessible, practical and easy to operate. The only down side I’ve encountered is the image can get blurry without enough light. When shooting interiors, I always use as much natural light as possible (windows, skylights) and then ceiling lights and lamps, where necessary. I’ve haven’t needed to use additional professional lights yet.

MMM: During the shoot, did you encounter any unexpected problems?

Narelle: Mostly just that in order for the film to make sense/be believable as found footage, meant that scenes had to be shot in one take. Our opening scene was the longest and therefore had to be re-shot the most, to get it all looking and sounding how we wanted it.

MMM: What about the editing?

Narelle: The trick with this one was to make it look like it hadn’t been edited, so accordingly I kept it very simple. I didn’t want it to look over-produced.

MMM: What kind of reaction are you getting to the film?

Narelle: It’s still on the festival circuit, but since it premiered as part of SF3 in October last year, the feedback has been really positive—mostly about my actress Sontaan’s performance. It has since gone on to be semi-finalist at the Los Angeles Cinefest, and a Finalist at Changing Face International Film Festival and the Reel Escape Short Film Festival here in NSW, where it will screen next month.

If you’d like to keep up with Narelle, check out her YouTube channel. She’s also on Instagram.

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The editors of MobileMovieMaking have chosen “# Selfie” as the Mobile Movie of the Week.