This is part of an ongoing series of interviews with the people behind In-World War. Filmmaking is a team sport; it takes a village to make a movie.
Brian McHale-Boyle played the role of Brendan in the film. He also served as Unit Producer for the Dublin filming unit.
How would you describe In-World War (the film itself) in no more than seven words?
Dystopian futuristic sci-fi with a current social commentary.
Why did you get involved with it? How did you hear about it? What interested you in this film in particular?
I originally played a version of Brendan in Brant’s [director DJ Bad Vegan's] Gameplay, a forerunner to IWW. It was a surprise to receive the IWW script a few years later, and find out how much the concepts and characters had been expanded. It was a fun script with obvious political undertones, but it never lost the sci-fi elements at its heart.
Did you enjoy working on the film? What was the best part for you?
It was a great experience working on the film, albeit flying by the seats of our pants at times. The best part was probably the wrap party, where we could finally take a breath and say we got through it.
How long have you been working in film/involved with film?
I’ve been working in film for 7 years.
What is your goal in filmmaking generally (director, writer, director of photography, key grip, etc.) and why?
My goal is to make a living by making projects that genuinely interest me, be that as an actor or as a producer.
In your view, why is filmmaking and making art important to society as a whole?
I believe film captures times, characters, social mores, and events more vividly than any other media. It stands as a testament to the drive and determination to capture a vision for current and future audiences, and expose them to stories from different countries and cultures.
Did helping make an indie film leave you with a positive or negative outlook on this type of ultra-low budget filmmaking (and why)?
It left me with a positive outlook insofar as I know now that it is possible to make a film in this way, but a negative outlook in regard to the time required to complete it.
How do you feel about the genre of science fiction? Is sci-fi just for fun or can we tell serious stories that are culturally relevant? (Okay, that’s a loaded question....but still, what do you think?)
It’s in the eye of the beholder, I guess. The great thing about sci-fi is that is accessible on so many levels, rewarding the science-geek and the thrill-seeker alike.
The film takes an unusual sci-fi approach to issues around the so-called “war on terror” (specifically racial profiling and Islamophobia) and the consequences of massive personal debt -- how have these issues impacted your life and your work?
Being honest, I don’t see to much of an impact to the “War on Terror” in my daily life - although I guess overbearing airport security and travel restrictions are an extension of it that will disrupt my travel from time to time. As an actor, I am lucky/unlucky(!) enough not to be in a position to amass large debts. I do, however, have friends that are in financial trouble now as a result of fueling what is without doubt a debt-based economy.
Before you started with IWW, what did you expect it to be like working on the film?
I expected it to be challenging but rewarding. I hoped that I would pick up some tips for producing a feature film myself in the future.
How was it actually, compared to that? What was exactly as you expected it? What was very different?
It was pretty much exactly as expected. There were no hitches that couldn’t be overcome or improvised around. And I got quite a few tips from Brant too!
DIY filmmaking can be rough. What was the worst moment? If you have one, share a painful memory from making the film, to give a taste of how tough it got.
Shooting a scene at Filmbase, Dublin. An adjacent coffee machine in the cafe was the loudest that I have ever heard and kept revving throughout the day. Also, we were unaware that a band was recording some songs that day in the lobby! I was dreading that we might not get any usable audio.
What did your experience of working on IWW tell you about humanity and people in general?
If people believe in a script or a filmmaker’s vision, they will go to great lengths and often make sacrifices to find a way to contribute their time and talents to see it reach an audience.
What have you been doing since you worked on the film? What other film projects have you done?
Since the shoot of IWW, I have acted in many theatre productions and independent film projects. I am also currently producing a series of art documentaries, the second of which, Thou Art Dublin, is in production now.
Why should people get involved with, donate money and/or help out on IWW?
Post-production is the time when every cent counts towards getting the film finished and out to an audience. Donate and you will be part of that journey and that experience.
What else would you like to say about your experience on IWW? Any funny anecdotes or behind the scenes stories?
Overall it was a good experience. Funny anecdote? Shooting a scene at Filmbase, Dublin! Brant was bellowing “Quiet on set!” at baristas, customers, staff and musicians throughout the building before each take! He got his quiet and hopefully his audio too.
To learn more about Brian's work or just to say hi:
Shoot me an email at briarz@gmail.com.
