“Level 16 is a female-driven dystopian thriller about a group of teen girls who are trapped in a mysterious and cruel boarding school that hides a dark secret.” Director Danishka Esterhazy on LEVEL 16 which screens at VIFF 2018.
You are back this year! Tell me about what you have had here in the past, and your favorite aspects of the city.
I love VIFF! Both of my previous feature films BLACK FIELD and H&G had their world premiere at VIFF. That history, and the fact that I used to live in Vancouver, makes returning to VIFF feel very special.
So how did you get into this business? Talk to me a bit about how you got your start and what you have worked on in the past.
I started out making short films as a member of the Winnipeg Film Group. Then, I went to film school in Toronto attending the Director’s Lab at the Canadian Film Centre.
How did this project come together for you? Give me a rundown from the preparation, to shooting, to post-production to now!
LEVEL 16 had a long journey from screenplay to film. I wrote the first draft of the screenplay back in 2007. I had hoped that LEVEL 16 would be my first feature film. But, ten years ago, there was very little interest from funders in female-driven science fiction. So, while continuing to pitch the story, and struggling to raise money for the film, I made two other features and about a dozen short films. Luckily, I have an amazing producer Judy Holm who is never discouraged and who never accepts “no”.
What keeps you going while making a movie? What drives you? How much coffee are we talking about here?
Lots and lots of coffee. So much coffee! Judy also brought excellent dark chocolate to set. For an extra boost!
What was your biggest challenge with this project, and the moment that was the most rewarding to you?
The biggest challenge was convincing funders and distributors to invest in this story. To find support for a feminist dystopian thriller. There were so many “no”s along the way. The most rewarding part is showing the film to an audience and hearing how much they love the story. Knowing that the struggle was worth it.
I’m about to get technical, but I would love to know about the the visual design of the movie; what camera did you film with, your relationship to the director of photography and how the movie was photographed.
We shot on an Alexa Mini with vintage Cooke anamorphic lenses. I designed the shots to incorporate a lot of negative space where the actors are often positioned in the lower quadrant and to emphasize their emotional isolation. My Cinematographer, Samy Inayeh, used a lot of haze to underscore the sense of emotional claustrophobia. And my production designer, Diana Magnus, carefully designed and installed a range of practical lighting to give the Vestalis Academy a realistic yet sinister look.
What are you looking forward to the most about showing your movie here in Vancouver?
The audience. I’ve always enjoyed my screenings at VIFF because the audiences bring a lot of enthusiasm and cinematic knowledge. There is always a great Q&A with thoughtful questions and insightful feedback.
After the film screens at Vancouver, where is the film going to show next? Theatrical, online, more festivals?
More festivals next. We will be playing the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival soon. And other great festivals that I can’t announce yet. Then, a theatrical release in early spring. Then, a nation-wide broadcast release on CBC.
What would you say to someone who was being disruptive through a movie?
Stop! One great thing about screening at the Alamo Drafthouse cinemas during Fantastic Fest is that they strongly enforce a quiet zone free from phones. No texting tolerated.
We have a lot of readers on our site looking to make movies or get into the industry somehow. What is the ONE THING you would say to someone who is wanting to get into the filmmaking business?
Never give up. Making films is never easy but it is worth the struggle.
And final question: what is the greatest movie you have ever seen at a film festival?
BLIND by Tamar van den Dop. I saw it at TIFF in 2006 and bawled my eyes out. Great story.
For more information on the film screenings at VIFF, point your browser to www.viff.org!