By Erin Free
In Ashburn Waters, a canny mix of slasher kills and supernatural thrills, a group of teens unwisely set up camp on the site of a spate of previous deaths. Pursued and haunted by a malevolent evil force, the group is not sure whether it has a friend or foe in the form of Bryant, a grim, unsmiling man who is also set up at the eponymous campground. Played by actor James Grace with a winning mix of charisma and quiet power, he’s the real enigma in this low budget chiller from director David Pether.
Tell us a little bit about your character in Ashburn Waters…
“My character’s name is Bryant. He is a man of faith but is also weary of the demonic spiritual realm. Bryant was a diligent servant of God but lost his way. However, he fears God and also the powers of darkness. In the beginning of the film the campers are freaked out because Bryant seems to be stalking them. His long black hair and rugged appearance with a very intimidating demeanour, he scares everyone. When the campers start dying, all fingers are pointing at Bryant. This character is not someone you want to mess with. Not only is he from a warrior race (the NZ Maori) but he is proficient in both physical and spiritual warfare. If you cross the line with Bryant, you will regret it.”
What was the most enjoyable aspect of shooting Ashburn Waters?
“The most enjoyable aspect of Ashburn was shooting most of my scenes at night. Although it was freezing during filming, the time frame was Easter weekend which is usually very warm and pleasant here on the Gold Coast. My entire costume consisted of a light blue singlet, khaki pants and boots. My character is mysterious, mean, relentless and most of all; a bad arse who shows no mercy. The night scenes enabled me to really push into these aspects of Bryant’s character. When you are in your element, then it’s easier to deliver your character’s drive and focus. Side note: During the shoot, I would sometimes hide in the dark when crew members and the cast were walking around; then jump out suddenly. The reaction was always hilarious for me! Ha ha! However, I will say that working with this amazing cast and crew was not only enjoyable but immensely rewarding.”
What was the least enjoyable aspect of shooting Ashburn Waters?
“The least enjoyable aspect of shooting Ashburn Waters was the travel and long hours. I was unable to camp on set with the rest of the cast and crew because of my full time teaching position at Varsity College. I teach drama, HPE and sports recreation. I’ve been an educator for 17 years which I love but one of my main passions is acting. Once I finished school at 3pm I would jump in my car and drive 30-45 mins to set each day. Do my thing as Bryant, then travel back home between the hours of 1.00 am and 5.00 am, get some minimal sleep. Go back to school and teach for the day, then repeat it all again for 14 days straight. Although this was difficult, I would do it all again at the drop of a hat. The staff and teachers at my school had no idea I hardly had any sleep each day. I was pretending that I had the normal 8 hours of sleep. That’s the art of acting. As actors we do a lot for the sake of our craft, including minimal sleep and rest.”
Please describe your writer/director, David Pether, in three words?
“The three words I would describe our director David Pether (aka Fish) are: visionary, funny and talented.”
Who was the most annoying person on set?
“On set I couldn’t really pin point anyone overly annoying. Nevertheless, I reckon we annoyed each other at various times. Especially during lunch or dinner. Which by the way was always good, thanks to Fish’s mum and Sibelle, who were our catering crew.”
Were you surprised – pleasantly or otherwise – by anything that ended up in the final cut of the film?
“I loved the final cut for Ashburn Waters and was very surprised at the sound and cinematography quality. The score was state of the art and audiences will agree that this is a huge achievement for such a low budget film.”
What was the trickiest scene for you to shoot in Ashburn Waters?
“The trickiest scene for me to shoot was the fight scene at the end with the demon (played by well-known Australian stunt performer – Carly Rees). We had to work out the fight sequence, practice this and then shoot. My background is in martial arts, stage combat, fitness and Maori Kapa Haka performing arts. So with this experience it was much easier to channel all my energy and focus during this scene. Working with Carly who was in full costume made it even better. Despite this, the physical and mental demands were extremely high. Very draining and tiresome especially shooting at 2.00 am in the freezing cold. Our stunt coordinator Darko Tuskan and Fish were amazing support. I’m lucky the adrenaline kicked in where necessary.”
What’s life like for a young actor in the Australian film industry?
“Being an actor in the Australian film industry is fun and rewarding. However, opportunities are scarce especially in QLD. You really need to immerse yourself in the game in order to get the gigs. Furthermore, you need to be in the right place at the right time and know the right people. This is huge because a lot of the acting industry is perseverance and luck. Talent is always required but knowing how the industry works is vital.”
What’s your favourite horror movie of all time, and why?
“My favourite horror films are the Resident Evil ones. I love the whole Zombie apocalypse genre. What I enjoy the most is the panic and fear that zombies bring in any situation. In addition, I love the action and gore these movies have.”
What’s coming up next for you?
“As an actor my next goal is to break into the NZ industry. Although I was born in Gisborne, New Zealand I have lived in Australia for the past 25 years. I only got into acting when I moved to the Gold Coast in 2000 and attended Griffith University. I will be looking for a NZ agent. One other goal is to complete my training as a stunt performer here on the GC. However, if Fish has another project coming up, I will be putting up my hand for that gig too whether as an actor or crew member. That brother got skills.”
Ashburn Waters will screen at IMAX Melbourne on February 4 with a special Q&A session afterwards. For all venue and ticketing information, click here. To read our review, click here. To read our interview with David Pether, click here.
