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| VIFF 2007 Interview – The First Saturday in May co-director Brad Hennegan |
The First Saturday in May at VIFF 2007 |
by Jason Whyte
“40,000 thoroughbreds are born each year. Only 20, however, will make it to the gate in the Kentucky Derby. Known as "the most exciting two minutes in sports,? the Kentucky Derby is racing's holy grail and every horseman's ultimate goal. Follow six trainers and their horses (including Barbaro) as they jockey for position along the 2006 Kentucky Derby trail. From Hot Springs in Arkansas to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, you're along for the ride.” Co-director Brad Hennegan on “The First Saturday in May”, which screens at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival.
Is this your first film in the VIFF? Do you have any other festival experience? If you?re a festival veteran, let us know your favourite and least-favourite parts of the festival experience.
This is our first film in the VIFF as well as our first feature length film! We are excited that the film is being screened at the VIFF, but our sister is getting married on September 29th (when the film first screens) so we won’t be able to attend. Our film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York which was a great experience.
Could you give me a little look into your background (your own personal biography, if you will), and what led you to the desire to want to make film?
We grew up at the racetrack. Our father was a racing official at the New York tracks for almost 40 years. All of our jobs growing up were at the track from ice cream vendor to security guard. We wanted to make a film about horseracing because there are so many characters and stories. We decided to make a film showcasing the Kentucky Derby because everyone has heard of it, but very few really know the rocky path to get there. We tried to make “Hoop Dreams” at the racetrack.
Growing up, you were no doubt asked the eternal question “When I grow up I want to be a…” Finish this sentence, please!
I think we both wanted to be on the New York Rangers. We knew that there was a possibility that we wouldn’t make it to the NHL so our backup plan was to play for the Knicks.
While you were making the movie, were you thinking about the future
release of the film, be it film festivals, paying customers, critical response, and so forth?
No. We were too busy. We were just trying to do our best and stay positive through the ups and downs.
How did this project come to fruition? If you could, please provide me
with a rundown, start to finish, from your involvement.
We were sick of working for other people and we knew there would be great stories on the Derby trail if we just followed it. In terms of involvement we were involved in the entire process of making this film.
This project is as indie as indie gets. Our friends and family have all chipped in to help finish it.
What was the biggest challenge in the production of the movie, be it
principal photography or post-production?
Everything. Trying to raise money. Convincing people the film could and should be made. Shooting. Traveling. Editing 500 hours of footage was possibly the most daunting task.
Please tell me about the technical side of the film; your relation to
the film’s cinematographer, what the film was shot on and why it was decided to be photographed this way.
My brother and I shot the majority of this film because we are awesome cameramen. I’m kidding, we couldn’t afford to hire “real” DP’s for the 100 plus shoot days so we shot it ourselves. We did however have help on Derby Day where 4 very talented DP’s shot for us as well. The entire film was shot with Panasonic 24p 100dvx which were small and unobtrusive and that helped our subjects forget that they were being trailed 24/7.
Talk a bit about the festival experiences, if any, that you have had
with this particular film. Have you had any interesting audience stories or questions that have arisen at screenings? (This can also apply to non-festival screenings as well, if you have had one.)
At the Tribeca Film Festival we were ecstatic with the audiences’ reaction to the film. We were honoured to learn that the audience had selected us as one of the runner-ups for the audience award out of 180 films!
Who would you say your biggest inspirations are in the film world (directors, actors, cinematographers, etc)? Did you have any direct inspirations from filmmakers for this film in particular?
We really liked the film “Hoop Dreams” and we tried to emulate that.
How far do you think you would want to go in this industry? Do you see yourself directing larger stories for a larger budget under the studio system, or do you feel that you would like to continue down the independent film path?
We would love to do a studio film. If you are reading this studio heads we’re available. We also enjoy the process of making an independent film so I’m sure we will continue on that path; that is unless my cell phone rings in the next two minutes.
If you weren’t in this profession, what other career do you think you
would be interested in?
A jockey. We would both need to lose about a hundred pounds though, if we both drop the weight maybe we can get a Subway commercial like that dude Jared. That would be cool.
Please tell me some filmmakers or talent that you would love to work
with, even if money was no object.
We have a project that we would love to work with Steve Buscemi. Steve, call me. If my line is busy I’m probably on the phone with the studio heads so leave a message and I’ll call you back .
Do you think that you have “made it?” in this profession yet? If you
don’t believe so, what do you think would happen for that moment to occur?
We made the film we wanted to, so in that respect we’ve made it, but now comes the hard part: getting audiences to see it.
How important do you think the critical/media response is to film these days, be it a large production, independent film or festival title?
Incredibly important. Luckily we’ve gotten great reviews so hopefully the word gets out that this is a really enjoyable film. Sports Illustrated gave it three out of four stars.
If your film could play in any movie theatre in the world, which one
would you choose?
The Ziegfeld in New York. [It’s a] cool old theatre.
What would you say to someone on the street to see your film instead
of the latest blockbuster playing at the Cineplex Scotiabank Megaplex?
You don’t have to like horseracing to love this film. It’s a story about people trying to realize their ultimate dream; it just happens to be set at the racetrack. It’s also really funny.
No doubt there are a lot of aspiring filmmakers at film festivals who
are out there curious about making a film of their own. Do you have any advice that you could provide for those looking to get a start?
I don’t know why they would want to know from us, but here’s our two cents worth - quit procrastinating. We did for far too long. There is never a perfect time; it’s a leap of faith to really get out there and start making your film. Good Luck.
And finally, what is your all time favourite motion picture, and why?
I’ll say “American Movie”. Mark and Mike rule!
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Visit the film’s official website at thefirstsaturdayinmay.com.
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The 2007 edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival runs from September 27th to October 12th. Hundreds of films from all over the world are being screened over 15 intense, film loving days. For more information on this film, when it is scheduled to screen and information on many other films this year, point your browser to viff.org. – Jason Whyte, efilmcritic.com
link directly to this feature at http://hollywoodbitchslap.com/feature.php?feature=2272
originally posted: 10/01/07 02:54:01
last updated: 10/03/07 14:38:49
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