by FilmInk Staff
Four years later, his remarkable Oz-indie RISEN has emerged, conquering the world (territory sales and combined box office has topped US$1million) and finally getting a hometown premiere, at the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival.
Eddie Arya took time out from scouting locations for his new feature to answer some questions about the genre that he loves and the film that has taken up a big part of his life for half-a-decade…
What have been the science-fiction works – books, films, art of any kind – that have inspired your work and forged your love for the genre?
“Movies are inspiring, and I think it’s safe to say that we all are influenced and inspired by the work of those we love, but my main inspiration came from the vastness of space, other planets and the possibilities of extra-terrestrial life. It really fascinates me. While others look up at the night sky and see the moon and the stars, I see life! I see other civilisations out there somewhere in galaxies far beyond. At the same time, I can’t help but feel a little threatened. Space is a scary place and I actually have nightmares about planets colliding, or we’re being invaded by a much hostile species, changing our atmosphere and we can no longer breathe this air. I wanted to make a movie about how the world could end according to my nightmares. RISEN is slightly different to other alien invasion movies. My true passion for storytelling and my obsession for science, space and extra-terrestrial life [meant] RISEN was a perfect movie to make.”
How did the original concept for your film take shape? What aspects of your film’s narrative and your protagonist’s journey were most important to you?
“The original idea came to me a few years back from this meteorite explosion in Chelyabinsk, Russia. It got me thinking about what sort of toxic chemicals this meteorite may have brought with it. It was just an idea at the time, and it wasn’t enough for me to make a movie about it. Some time passed and one day, I was in my backyard, and I noticed a seedling growing through a gap in the concrete. All alone, there was just something so inspiring and beautiful about it, and it reminded me of that quote, ‘Life always finds a way.’ That was the moment for me. Turning that meteorite into a seed was good enough for me to write RISEN.”
Does the ‘science-fiction’ genre have deep roots in the art and cultural history of your homeland?
“I didn’t think it did, until I started getting private messages from Afghanistan and other Afghans around the world, basically they were saying how much they enjoyed and loved the storyline. I got some amazing responses from the Middle East and South American regions. They have a deep appreciation for a good drama, while other regions expected to watch another Independence Day movie, filled with action and aliens.”
Were the resources, facilities and talent pool required to bring your film to life easily sourced?
“I had an epic script and a vision of a $200 million Hollywood blockbuster, but was working on a micro-budget. The goal was to make a Hollywood movie with no money. I built my sets out of free wood from demolished homes being advertised on Gumtree. I built props and miniature sets in my home as I was trying to stay away from too much CGI. Panavision helped us with major discounts; shooting with their camera and lenses gave the movie a truly cinematic look. A lot of people helped us out building sets in their warehouses, as we couldn’t afford studios. Also, RISEN would not have been possible without the help and support of the people and council in Airdrie, a small town in Alberta Canada. It was basically a ‘thinking outside the box’ project for me. I learnt carpentry thanks to making RISEN, for goodness sake!”
Describe for us the very best day you had in the life cycle of your film…
“The day it finally got released. Knowing that we were faced with major obstacles and many heartbreaks, including my lead actress Nicole Schalmo being diagnosed with brain cancer halfway through the shoot. She was determined to finish the film in -40 degrees Canadian conditions, it was extremely brave of her and brave of any other cast and crew who were involved. Despite all the challenges, the film got released and is sold worldwide, already earning nine festival awards.”
Having guided your film from idea to completion, what lessons and advice would you offer a young science-fiction filmmaker about to embark on a similar journey?
“Do not write your script around a budget! No matter what the budget, write it the way it should be and deal with it. Most importantly, stay in control of your project. It’s your vision, your story, stay true to it and finish it. Have a ‘do it yourself’ attitude. Just being a filmmaker isn’t good enough. You need to become a magician to make a movie with no money! Give your movie production value. Make it look big! Don’t just shoot it all in your mum’s backyard. Give it contrast. I hope RISEN’s story gives many young filmmakers inspiration.”
RISEN is rated M and it is available to watch as part of the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival VIRTUAL Screenings here: https://xerb.tv/channel/sydneysciencefictionfilmfestival/virtual-events/2597. It will screen with the short film Order & Chaos (rated G).
Tickets to the LIVE Festival session at The Actors Centre Australia, 30A Italian Performance Precinct, 23 Norton St., Leichhardt: https://filmfreeway.com/SydneyScienceFictionFilmFestival/tickets
Session and ticketing details can be found at the Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival OFFICIAL WEBSITE here: https://www.sydneysciencefictionfilmfestival.com.au/
