Mr. Big at VIFF 2007 |
by Jason Whyte
“Mr.Big” is about a Royal Canadian Mounted Police undercover sting that is considered entrapment in other countries, yet is legal in Canada. The documentary follows the story of several people who have made false confessions to murder and been wrongfully imprisoned.” Tiffany Burns on “Mr. Big” which screens at this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival.
Is this your first film in the VIFF? (Or the first film you have) Do you have any other festival experience? If you’re a festival veteran, let us know your favourite and least-favourite parts of the festival experience.
“Mr.Big” is my first film, my first feature and my first documentary.
Could you give me a little look into your background (your own personal biography, if you will), and what led you to the desire to want to make film?
My background is broadcast news. I’ve spent the last ten years as an anchor and reporter, but I had never heard of Mr. Big until the sting targeted my brother. Then I learned that there have been multiple cases of false confessions and wrongful imprisonment thanks to this RCMP scenario. That injustice inspired me to make this documentary.
Growing up, you were no doubt asked the eternal question “When I grow up I want to be a …” Finish this sentence, please!
I wanted to be a writer.
While you were making the movie, were you thinking about the future release of the film, be it film festivals, paying customers, critical response, and so forth?
All the time.
How did this project come to fruition? If you could, please provide me with a rundown, start to finish, from your involvement.
I sold my convertible, bought a camera and PowerMac G5, quit my job and moved back to my hometown of Vancouver. Then I starting tracking down Mr.Big targets and people who understood how the scenario worked. I criss-crossed North America doing interviews. Found a wonderful editor, sound mixer and composer, and put the documentary together.
What was the biggest challenge in the production of the movie, be it principal photography or post-production?
The biggest challenge was getting started. Was I going to walk away from a great job anchoring and reporting for a CBS affiliate, to do a film that people were telling me I shouldn’t be the one to make?
That, along with tracking down some of the “Mr.Big” targets in the movie. After going through the experience of being wrongfully imprisoned, they all just wanted to get on with their lives, away from the media spotlight, mostly in small, remote towns.
Please tell me about the technical side of the film; your relation to the film’s cinematographer, what the film was shot on and why it was decided to be photographed this way.
Unfortunately, on such a limited budget, a cinematographer was out of the question. But after being a “one-man band” at my first news job and reporting and producing stories for years, I had an idea of how to put something together. Of course, when you’re the producer, the director, the interviewer and sometimes the camera person, sometimes the shot suffers. I had a few lighting issues that just wouldn’t have happened if I had a photographer that day! Some of the shots aren’t as beautiful as I’d like them to be, but in “Mr.Big” the content is the most important part of the movie.
Talk a bit about the festival experiences, if any, that you have had with this particular film. Have you had any interesting audience stories or questions that have arisen at screenings?
Vancouver will be the first festival for “Mr.Big”. I’m also doing a “Meet the Filmmakers” panel (during the last week of the festival, more info at viff.org), which I’m looking forward to.
How important do you think the critical/media response is to film these days, be it a large production, independent film or festival title?
Critical response is very important, but viewers going out to watch the film are the reason movies are made.
If your film could play in any movie theatre in the world, which one would you choose?
Can I make a lazy blanket statement here and say “All of them”? (Author’s note: works for me.)
Do you have an opinion on the issue of “A Film by (Insert Director Here)” ? Is this something you use? Many people collaborate to make a film yet simultaneously, the director is the final word on the production.
I have no problem with that, but I’m a director!
What would you say to someone on the street to see your film instead of the latest blockbuster playing at the Cineplex Scotiabank Megaplex?
Any Canadian can be a target of “Mr.Big”. If the person on the street is concerned about social justice issues, then they need to see this documentary.
No doubt there are a lot of aspiring filmmakers at film festivals who are out there curious about making a film of their own. Do you have any advice that you could provide for those looking to get a start?
If you are truly passionate about something, the only person who can get it done is you.
And finally…what is your all time favourite motion picture, and why?
“House of Flying Daggers”. It’s intensely beautiful. I’m going to have it constantly playing on a wall in my next house, like an art installation.
Please Visit mrbigthemovie.com
The 2007 edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival runs from September 27th to October 12th. Hundreds of films from all over the world are being screened over 15 intense, film loving days. For more information on this film, when it is scheduled to screen and information on many other films this year, point your browser to viff.org. – Jason Whyte, efilmcritic.com
link directly to this feature at http://efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=2277
originally posted: 10/05/07 18:18:02
last updated: 10/05/07 18:21:54
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