After "Willa" I took some time to write my first feature screenplay. This proved to be a harder task than I had imagined - but an interesting change from adapting "Willa" and directing/producing it. The working title of that script is "The Right Death" and it's a journey that will take me some time but I know I will end up with a result that I am proud of.
Then, out of nowhere I was contacted by one of my actors and friends from Willa. He wanted to put me in contact with a friend of his, David Bold, who was a writer of several screenplays. I figured this could be an interesting next step, since I clearly would not have my own script ready anytime soon - so I read his synopsis of his different screenplays and pretty much immediately was intrigued by the story of "Brian".
The thing about me is, that when I see a great story, I don't sit around and wait for all the things "you should" secure before you throw yourself into it. I didn't with Willa and I didn't with Brian either. When you have a good story, I firmly believe that good things will happen around it. So in what seems to be a matter of days I met up with David for a chat, some more chats and before we knew it we were casting.
Casting a film is such an amazing experience. Not only do you often see "the one" walk into the room but it's also inspiring just to sit and see so many people and their interpretation of the different roles they are reading for.
We saw a great number of people for the roles in Brian. Over 100 people were seen at the personal auditions and around 50 sent us their video auditions. Cut to a few weeks later we have now cast all the main roles of the film.
This is all early - about 8 months before filming! Why? I did a similar thing with Willa, though it was only about 6 months before - and it didn't seem like too much time at all. In fact, I think it makes everything better. There's time to get to know the roles, the script, for adapting some scenes a little better to the actors in them - time for ideas, suggestions and most importantly for me to get to know my actors so I know how they work and how we will ensure a good relation and a great outcome.
Willa had it's flaws! But only on the technical side. I can honestly say that I continue to be impressed with the performances of the actors in that film, every time I see it. And that's the most important thing for me, as a director. To feel that the result was exactly as it should be and even better! No regrets there! And I know that I will have a similar journey with Brian. We have found an amazing cast, we have a talented and dedicated writer who cares about every step of the production and we have me, the director and producer, who also really cares about this story and who falls deeper and deeper in love with it and its people every time i re-read it.
This, for me, is what it's all about! There is no greater thrill for me than to see this all come together, seeing the excitement and enthusiasm of the cast and the dedication of everyone involved. And everything started with a simple email, suggesting I take a look at someone's work.
This is only the humble beginning for this film. The excitement from people involved and around everyone involved is already astonishing and I know that this will be a proud piece of work for all of us once the fun, hard work and creativity is unleashed and settles around what will be a feature film we all will remember.
Christopher Birk
Director of "Brian"
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