Film Name: Darner
Director: James Edward Newton
Writers: Lauren Jane Barnett
Starring: Lauren Jane Barnett, Tony Mardon
Darner is a brutal and intimate portrait of a couple consumed by a woman’s dire need to preserve her terminally ill husband.
In a new interview on Blazing Minds ahead of the Horror-On-Sea Takeover at the Southend Film Festival, I got a chance to ask Director James Edward Newton a few questions about his film ‘Darner‘
You can watch Darner at the Horror-On-Sea Takeover on Saturday 6th June at 11:00hrs.
Q. Your film Darner has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Take Over Day at the Southend Film Festival. Can you tell us what we can expect from the film?
A. I think your synopsis is all people need before they see the film. I think the experience of a film is beyond any adequate description.
Q. What first attracted you to the script which was written by Lauren Jane Barnett?
A. Initially I was interested because I hadn’t made anything for a while and I didn’t have any ideas. But also, I had read some of Lauren’s other work previously, and so I knew whatever it was would be thoughtful and considered and have a unique tone.
I have been asked to make other people’s scripts before and this is the first instance that I didn’t make any significant changes to it in terms of structure, character, or adding or subtracting scenes. I only say yes to directing something if I can see a way of visualising it and if I can find the right mood for the piece. As soon as I figured that, which was quite soonafter reading it, I said yes.
Lauren gave me complete freedom in terms of what to do with the film, and from working with her before I knew she would be nothing but supportive during the production.
All these things considered, there was no real reason not to make the film.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. I don’t consciously have any influences. I consider myself literate in cinema and the arts generally, and so after I have made a film I can detect where I have got certain ideas for shots from etc. But it is rarely self-conscious during the process. Of course, cinematic language is there for us all to use. A novelist may use a particular word or sequence of words that first appeared in someone else’s novel, or a painter may have picked up from another artist that to mix certain paints or use certain brush strokes creates a particular effect. That’s just want happens when working in any medium. It’s not always a deliberate, planned thing. It’s just a by-product of having deep knowledge of the form you are working within.
I suppose the short answer is ‘I don’t know’.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. I never have any favourite moments from making any film. I find it a tedious and uncomfortable process. I like it when it’s finished.
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. As far as film shoots go, it was unremarkable and without serious hitch. As far as I remember, anyway. Me and the cinematographer Andy Boothby did get stuck in traffic on an industrial estate in Dartford for five hours the night before day one of filming. That was the worst thing.
Q. What makes Darner stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. That’s something for the audience to answer.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. I hope they like it. But if they don’t, then that doesn’t bother me either. I like it. Lauren likes it. That’s
all an artist can be in control of.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. Yes, I am making a short film now called Rupert. And I am working on an anthology with the
production team from Darner, in a project that is being led by Lauren with Tony Mardon.
Q. If someone was looking to direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. Visualise it in your head beforehand down to the last detail. Prepare as much as you can in terms of what is on screen and everything you will need to bring together to make that happen, including the people you are going to need to help. And then expect the constant issues that crop up to be a normal part of the process. It is literally the hardest thing in the world to do. The top film professionals on the planet, given hundreds of millions of dollars, still make films that disappoint them or aren’t commercially or critically successful. So perhaps you need to go easy on yourself too.
You can find out more about Darner on IMDB and and the films Instagram page
You can follow Director James Edward Newton on Instagram
You can watch Darner at the Horror-On-Sea Takeover on Saturday 6th June at 11:00hrs.
You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here.
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!