Summer CodaWho:
Danielle Marsland speaks to film director Richard Gray
Why:
Gray's film Summer Coda showing at Somerville Auditorium for Perth International Arts Festival's Film Season
When:
Until Dec 5, 8pm nightly, tickets here
Win!
Thanks to PIAF, we have 2 dbls to Sun Dec 5 screening up for grabs! Email perth.win@rightanglestudio.com.au with subject 'the best orange juice you've ever had in your life'.Print Email Share
So, PIAF was all like 'you should totes interview Alex Dimitriades, the star of the new Australian film, Summer Coda', but I said, 'nah, he is too daggy'. Then they were like 'how about the director? His name is Richard'. Immediately, visions came to mind of a mid-fifties, silver-fox-type director, with thick-rimmed black spectacles and a wise guy attitude. I was wrong - Richard Gray is only 30 and is mad for Twitter. He started making his debut film, Summer Coda (read our review here) when he was only 24. Heck, that's how old I am. I am way less interesting, which is why I was happy to let Gray do the talking over breakfast at Cantina.
Danielle Marsland: You've pulled some decent Australian actors out of the woodwork for Summer Coda, most notably the kid from The Heartbreak Kid. Were you keen on Alex Dimitriades from the beginning?
Richard Gray: I remember watching Alex growing up, in The Heartbreak Kid and Head On, and that TV show Wildside, and thinking, 'this guy's a romantic lead. Why isn't he doing romantic leads?' He's just got such a beautiful presence, but he's been doing more crime roles. He jumped at the role. He had to learn how to drive tractors, he grew a beard, he was right into it.
DM: What was your starting point for Summer Coda?
RG: I was listening to Bruce Springsteen, this one particular album, Devils & Dust, where he takes on all these different characters and they sound quite country. I was listening to it and thinking, this sounds like a movie, this music. Read the rest here...
Australian Competitions Club
