Directors Jarrod Theodore & Lachlan Ryan opens up about his passion project Reverse Runner, a delightful Australian sports film that celebrates the underdog in the tradition of The Mighty Ducks and Cool Runnings.
YOUNG ADULT: Tell us a little about REVERSE RUNNER. What makes this film different?
Jarrod Theodore & Lachlan Ryan: It’s a passion project for us not only because it’s our debut feature length film, but also because of the story. The film is about a young guy who doggedly pursues his dream of doing something out of the ordinary, which was ultimately the story of us making this film.
YA: Would it be safe to say that this is a sports film about the underdog? Have you always identified with the underdog?
JT & LR: We love rooting for the underdog. ReverseRunner’s main character Kid Campbell is by all means an underdog. He is not only physically slower but also mentally; other characters around him are able to grasp life with a degree of ease compared to Campbell. As writers we decided to pile as many hardships and tribulations we could think of for Campbell to overcome. People love watching a character achieve the impossible—it’s why we keep watching until the very end—we simply want to know ‘how does it end?’
Growing up in a regional country town very far from Hollywood and having a dream to become filmmakers meant we stood out from our friends from an early age. If you’re passionate about something that isn’t an ordinary task it can be difficult at times to keep following the dream. We learned that if you can somehow channel all the negativity into a positive action you could use your situation for the better, which is what Kid Campbell ultimately learns.
YA: You wrote, shot and directed this movie. What was it like to be involved on so many levels?
JT & LR: We had full creative control of the film and the story and that’s a great way to make a film. The story should ring true, and not be manipulated for better or worse by people who are only involved in the telling of the story for a short time. It’s also a very slow way of filmmaking, but we are fortunate that there are two of us which means every decision is run by both of us and we always have to agree; there are times when our opinions differ, whether creative or business decisions, but that’s when the power of teamwork comes into play. It means you must stop and discuss the issue to work out the best result, and sometimes both of us will end up being wrong, but together by talking it through we arrive at a better place.
YA: What do you hope the young adult audience will take away from REVERSE RUNNER?
JT & LR: It’s not what they take away from the film, it’s what they bring to it! At the heart of Reverse Runner is a universal story about childhood dreams, what happens in a person’s life when he/she has to make a big life decision, either to go for it and make it happen or take the easy road and not risk it.
Every scene, every character and every moment only exists because it directly points back to the central theme. Hopefully the film provides a degree of clarity and encourages young people to realise their dreams and potential and trust that it’s worth pursuing.
YA: Who and what are your major filmmaking influences? List directors and/or specific films.
JT & LR: The classic genre of sports comedies predominately released in the 90’s—The Mighty Ducks, Cool Runnings and Karate Kid—were all major influences for this film and our filmmaking choices. However, as we grew up we have looked towards darker directors who have been able to establish a unique tone to each of their films. These are filmmakers such as David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, George Lucas and Peter Jackson.
YA: What are you plans for next steps? Any details on upcoming projects?
JT & LR: This film has required us to personally preform every aspect of the filmmaking process including distribution which we are currently doing, so it hasn’t given us a great amount of time to get started on the next film, but on the plus side there is no doubt that we have really cut our teeth on this film. It’s taught us what is possible both creatively and commercially. So we’re excited to take all that we have learned and apply it to the next film. Looking back we really started this film with little knowledge compared to what we now know, which makes moving into the next film seem like a walk in the park, but we’re positive it will present a new chapter of challenges.
It appears that once you learn the craft of filmmaking you’ve got it. Which may explain why most of our favorite Directors made their best films early on in their career; sometimes it was their second or third film that stand out the most. For example: Jaws, The Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars. Perhaps the best films are made by young people with too much passion and enthusiasm!