AACTA Spotlight Featuring STARING CONTEST
Featured image credit: Peter Skinner
We chat to Peter Skinner about STARING CONTEST.
What inspired you to create this production?
STARING CONTEST was a film we made during the first lockdown. I was spending my days and nights locked in working on a feature script till one night when I felt particularly emotionally in tune with my past relationships, I decided to open up a fresh page and just write out my thoughts.
Of this process, STARING CONTEST came. It was written in one night, taken straight into a one day rehearsal and one day shoot with the assembly edit becoming the final film.
It felt strange how films in the past have always been massaged over and rethought, where this film just fell onto the page, then imprinted on the screen.
For this I feel the rawness of the emotion matches the rawness of the process. Something subconscious and fated to be.
What challenges did you face in creating this production?
I set the challenge for myself to make a film that had two people, sitting opposite each other, without the tricks of cut aways, multiple scenes, action or really anything other than the fundamental nature of a conversation and yet make it emotionally engaging, cinematically interesting, that holds an audiences attention for 10 minutes and is far bigger than the sum of its parts.
I wasn't sure if I could pull this off, but by the method and attempt in doing so I believed no matter what, it was a good way to practice and could only strengthen my craft.
What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring filmmakers?
I have made short films that cost upwards of $20,000. This film cost me $600. It came out of a want to just do what I love, with the people I love and have fun practicing our craft. All it was was 2 talented actors and a total of 3 crew members in my living room. We had a sushi platter for lunch.
I honestly think there is no excuse to not creating. Whether the world sees it or not. It's the only way to get better, and liberating to make something purely because you had the will to do so.
What are you hoping audiences will take away from watching this production?
I'd like to hope that they see themselves in the story. Perhaps they have had this conversation before with a loved one, or maybe they haven't and this could act as that for them. Something that throws their minds back to the times in their lives when, by no fault of either party, things just aren't fated to be, and that's okay and beautiful, no matter the heart ache.
Follow more of Peter Skinner's work on Instagram @peterskinnerfilm