Whistler is where Coquitlam native Joel Ashton McCarthy will be this weekend as the Port Moody secondary graduate premieres his latest flick, After Film School.
The 91-minute mockumentary that will be shown as part of the Whistler Film Festival - on Friday at Millennium Place and Sunday at Village 8 Cinemas - was written, directed and edited by the 24-year-old McCarthy, who shot many scenes at his parents' home in Coquitlam.
Last week, The Tri-City News caught up with McCarthy as he was putting on the final touches.
TCN: Growing up, what teachers inspired you?
McCarthy: My film teacher Kerry Heywood at Port Moody secondary really helped me take my filming passion seriously as well as guide me towards post-secondary schools and career options in film. He also helped me find loopholes in the school system so I could take Film 11 three times and Film 12 twice.As you may have guessed, I was always an eager filmmaker.
TCN: Why did you choose film as a career?
McCarthy: When I was 10 years old, my friends and I decided to steal my parents' camera and make videos of us doing dumb, dangerous stunts. After a few broken bones and way too many trips to the emergency room, I fell out of love with the craft of filmmaking and knew that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
TCN: What do you think your audience will get from your new film?
McCarthy: There are a few themes I want the audience to take away. I'd like people to see the movie and feel inspired to stop waiting and just follow your dreams without worrying about the consequences. The other theme I'd like audience to start discussing is the age-old debate over comedic taste. I feel like so much of the best comedy in this world comes from crossing the line and playing outside of an audience's comfort zone so I am hoping that I can make the audience believe that serious subject matters can be approached in a comedic matter.
TCN: Who is your audience?
McCarthy: I would say our primary audience is 16- to 28-year-old millennials and, more specifically, people who are finishing university and worried about what they are going to do with their lives. Also there are guns, drugs and jokes about malegenitaliaso 16-year-old boys will love it.
TCN: What projects are you currently working on?
McCarthy: I've just come off finishing two feature films back to back. The first one was a documentary Taking My Parents to Burning Man and the second one was After Film School so, intheory,I should take a little bit of time to get back to being a normal human being who isn't fully consumed by a giant project. That being said, I've already started writing a new sci-fi romantic comedy. I am starting to see some offers to direct some prettysizeableprojects so, knowing me, I'll be back in the directing chair before I know it.
After Film School will be available for viewing after the Whistler Film Festival at nfb.ca.
@jwarrenTC
