Filmmaker Interview for “Deja Vu”
Deja Vu
Director: Pete Bridges (Australia)
Ben, a solitary artist, has been experiencing vivid moments of déjà vu involving a woman named Dani — starting first in his dreams, then increasingly in his waking life. As the experiences grow more intimate and often disruptive, he searches for clues and meaning, only to encounter another man living with the same phenomenon.
Narrative
What drew you to create this film?
It was based on a dream I had almost 30 years ago that I could never shake. It was only a one-off dream, unlike in the movie, but it felt incredibly vivid and real and detailed. The emotion of it was what made it linger though. It was very clear in this dream that I had really strong feelings for this other person. That there was a history and future there. So I kinda felt robbed when I woke up from it. Depressed. Like I had seen another world and was missing out on something. And then it just grew from there. What if I had the same dream again? What if it spilled over into daydreams? What if it wasn’t just a dream, but a window to another world or timeline?
What does filmmaking mean to you?
Everything. It’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was 12 or 13. I never wavered from it. I may have gone in a different direction at times temporarily, but I was always pulled back because I love the emotional impact a great film has. It’s such a technical form of storytelling, but it’s like magic when it just works.
What advice would you give students or beginners that want to make films?Watch everything. I dropped out of high school and was therefore not eligible for film school, but I created my own film school. I would go to the theaters every week and watch whatever was on. And if I liked something, I’d look into who wrote it or directed it and I’d track down all the other films those people had made. Then I’d find out who their influences were, and I’d track down everything those people had made. Rinse and repeat. It’s incredible interesting to find something or someone you connect with on an emotional level, and then do these jumps back through the history of cinema as you find a trail of influences that led all these people to this point.
What films do you watch again and again?
The movie I’ve seen the most is Michael Mann’s HEAT. I think it works on so many levels, but the craft of it is epic and amazing. But the films I tend to be drawn back to are more character and emotion-based. I really love Jeff Nichols’ TAKE SHELTER and LOVING. Kenneth Lonergan’s YOU CAN COUNT ON ME and MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. John Cassavetes’ A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE. Over time, I care less and less about plot. You will never remember a great movie for its plot points. All the moments of a movie you will remember and come back to are ones that made you feel something.
Deja Vu will screen during the second short narrative screening on Saturday the 19th that starts at 3:15!
