[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eJT7RnULa4&eurl=http://www.centigradethemovie.com/[/youtube]
Independent Canadian filmmakers Colin Cunningham and Madison Graie are starting at ground zero of the Oscar race with their much-lauded short, Centigrade.¬† Written by, directed and starring Cunningham (produced by Graie) there is already buzz for a feature. This still isn’t a guarantee that the film will be chosen by the voting Academy. They are a prickly bunch. The shorts are generally good, often from foreign countries (Americans have no imagination, just kidding) and sometimes the filmmakers attached to them are well-connected and when they aren’t they have the funds to hire a publicist. Such was not the case with Cunningham and Graie, thus they must do it the old-fashioned way. Their film has already been nominated for scads of awards: Best Short at Method Fest, Best Emerging Director¬†- Vancouver International Film Festival, Best Cinematography – Leo Awards (B.C. Film Awards), and Best Editing, not to mention the awards they’ve already picked up.
I was curious about them at this stage of the game and should they be nominated we can keep track of their journey. Even if they aren’t nominated, we’ll be keeping an eye on Cunningham and Graie. Here is a Q&A with them. You can find out more about the film and the filmmakers by visiting their website.
What brought you to this project?
We entered the script for the DGC’s (Director’s Guild of Canada) KICK START AWARD (along with hundreds of other filmmakers) and took first place. $20,000.
Was it difficult getting it made?
Making movies is kind of like root canal, only not as much fun. But anything in life that’s worthwhile, isn’t going to come easy. We’ve always said, “You want easy? Make a sandwich.” Film? That’s another story. Manifesting ‘thought’ is a painful birth no matter what kind of budget you have. So, you beg, borrow and steal. But we’ve rarely found a door that couldn’t be opened with a good bottle of scotch.
What is the film about thematically?
It’s a thriller. Something you don’t see a whole lot of anymore. Similar in tone to Spielberg’s almost forgotten classic ‘Duel’, there’s barely five lines of dialogue in the whole piece. In a nut shell, a man lives in an old, busted up camper trailer… but wakes up one morning to find himself (and it) rolling down the highway. Towed by a mysterious black pick-up truck, the man is taken hostage aboard a rolling nightmare and has to use his wits in order to survive. Theme? Karma, Judgement day.
What was the hardest part of getting it made?
Making the jump from ‘critic’ to ‘criticized’. Having the guts to stick your neck out in a room full of blades.
If you get to go to the Oscars whom do you hope will host?
DOG the Bounty Hunter would be an interesting choice. But should we get a nomination, Charles Manson could host the show for all we’d care.
Who are your influences? (I mean both you and Madison, obviously)
Taylor Hackford, Alex Proyas, Lumet. But then of course, our parents usually float to the top of the list. I remember once being seventeen and depressed. And my father asked me if I “needed” anything. I told him that what I needed was a ‘life’. He said, “I’ve already given you life.”
What is your favorite film of all time?
The Idol Maker (Colin) – Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Madison)
Who is your favorite director?
New guys? Tom Twyker. PT Anderson.
Old school? Frankenhiemer. Billy Wilder. Kazan.
Do you have a feature in mind after this?
Because of CENTIGRADE, we’ve been approached to shoot ‘Centigrade – the Feature’. But with everything that’s been happening with the film, it’s a little hard to stay focused. We simply can’t stop pinching ourselves.