Design Federation

Director of the new short film Lakemba, Platon Theodoris’s own story could be called from Cofa to Karta

What is your name and where are you located
Platon Theodoris, Newtown, Sydney in cyber space at www.platontheodoris.com

Where did you learn your craft?
The Theory: a stint at COFA in Sydney – a bit too wanky for me though – so ended up at the Jakarta Institute of Arts (in Indonesia – and “NO” I don’t have Indonesian heritage !).
Experience: really learnt the technical craft on filmsets though – directing music videos and tvc’s.

Who are some of your favourite directors?
The usual rabble : Wong Kar Wai, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Spielberg, Hal Hartley, Kim Ki Duk, Spike Lee, Theo Angelopoulos, Gus Van Sant

What are your 5 favourite Films?
Can’t give you 5 only – it’s too hard!
The list is always changing but at some point these films have inspired me:
Spring Summer Fall Winter and Spring, E.T, My Own Private Idaho, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Amateur, Down by Law, 21 grams, City of God, Children of Men, Do the Right Thing

How long has “Lakemba” been in the making and why did you decide to do this film?
It’s been a side project now for about 3 years – from conception to screening.
I wanted to make something longer than 5 minutes. I wanted to make something that felt real and authentic. I wanted to have some fun and develop some Aussie characters we very rarely get to see on screens. Lakemba is our Brooklyn or Bronx so we should embrace it.

Any plans to turn the idea into a full length feature film?
None yet – there is talk of turning it into a TV series – but it’s still just in the idle chatter stages.

How long did the process take from planning to final edit, and what were some of the hurdles you had to overcome?
About 2.5 years – the film was finished at the beginning of the year. I guess the biggest hurdle was coming up with the cash to make it. But the second hardest hurdle was finding the right cast. The film is about 2 hip-hop artist’s struggle to make music - so I needed to cast real muso’s – whose music I could incorporate into the film. How many actors do you know that create cool, personal and cutting edge hip-hop ?!?!? The casting process took almost 6 months. I was lucky to stumble across the boys from DREAMMECCA, Sefin King and Chuxxen Om33ga – who are born and bred LAKEMBA boys. They had never acted but pulled it off remarkably well. Shooting in LAKEMBA was a little difficult because people just assume any camera crew are from Today Tonight or A Current Affair – so initially there was a little animosity. I guess another hurdle was convincing myself I’m making the right film.

How difficult was it to get a distribution deal?
What distribution deal!?!?!? I have no distribution deal here in Australia – it’s self-distributed. I really still am waiting for someone to come forward here and take it on board… Although Dendy Newtown have been very supportive with these screenings. I have just signed a distribution deal with a London based cable TV station to distribute the film in Europe and the US. This came about because the head of acquisitions viewed the film at the Cannes Short Film Corner, liked it and so the deal was done. No Aussie deal yet.

Have you considered releasing the film online, either legally or via torrents?
No.

Where can we see the film after the Dendy and Brisbane dates are past?
52nd London Film Festival in October, - Or on DVD.. I hear that some bootleg copies are already circulating in Newtown, Marrickville, Campsie, Lakemba and Bankstown…

Related Links

www.platontheodoris.com
www.dendy.com.au

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