From Writer/Director Robert Connolly and by book Tim Vintonfamily drama blueback tells the story of Abby (played by Mia Wasikowska, along with Ilsa Fogg and Ariel Donoghue), a young woman who grew up in a coastal Australian town with an understanding and understanding of the beauty of the world’s oceans and what is contained in them. Beyond simply wanting to ensure its survival, Abby became a marine biologist to protect the ocean and its creatures from the dangers that threaten it, especially the wild bluefish she met and befriended as a child.
During this interview with Collider Wasikowska and Eric Bana (who plays local fisherman Mac) talked about why they keep working with Connolly, the appeal of the story, the connection to their characters, the experience of working so deep underwater, and the benefits of working with a fish puppet instead of leaving it up to CGI.
Collider: Eric, as a producer, why do you feel it’s important to tell this story? Did you have an agreement with Robert Connolly that if you were going to do Dryabout what a drought can do to a city, that you then had to make a movie in which water plays such a big role.
ERIC BANA: No. I knew that Robert had been developing this for a very, very long period of time and that he was very passionate about it. The first suspicion that this could potentially become a reality occurred to me when one day he entered the office with a fish catcher cut out of polystyrene and sat down at his desk for a while. I thought, “What’s going on with the foam fish?” And then the foamy fish got bigger and bigger, and I realized that this was becoming a reality, and in fact the fish would be a real mechanical fish, not a CGI fish.
Obviously we enjoyed working together and I love this story. I felt it was a really great experience for the viewers. Rob has a great history of bringing together great people and I’ve heard so much about Mia. [Wasikowska] through Rob because we are both friends. When Mia joined us, I was very excited. I just really wanted to be a partner. It’s a small role, but I really, really like the idea that Maka is a mysterious solo character that exists. He is an old sea wolf. It was a lot of fun.
Since you both know and have worked with Robert Connolly before, when he comes to you about something, does he always say, “Yes, I will work with you,” or does he send a formal message, “Is that what I want to say? » what am I doing and what do I want you to do with me?
BANA: He has a real charm, he knows how to interest and present ideas with real enthusiasm. I encourage anyone to sit down and spend more than 10 minutes with them and then say no to Rob. It’s almost impossible. His projects always have this pedigree and attract many like-minded people.
MIA WASIKOWSKA: As a person, he has such a heart and such enthusiasm, and I really felt it in this film. I just found it really touching and very emotional, with ups and downs. It really brings all the emotion and passion and heart.
Mia, you made your directorial debut with a clip from his film. Turn. What was this experience like for you? How did you establish that working relationship and build the trust you’ll need to do something like this?
WASIKOWSKA: I have such a soft spot for Robert Connolly because he gave me the opportunity to film the part Turn. I was 20 when he said, “Yes, you should put on one of those plays.” A few years later I had to do it, and he just blindly trusted me. I had a great time making this short film. It really took me on a completely different journey. So, we’ve remained friends ever since, and we’ve always had this really wonderful friendship. I know whatever I do with him, I’ll have a great time. He sent me the script one night, I read it that night, and the next day I thought, “Okay, I agree. I’m going to Western Australia and we’re going to see killer whales.” He has an infectious enthusiasm. I don’t think you can feel bad about him.
Eric you did too Power of nature with him. What was his evolution as an actor with interesting characters in the films you made together?
BANA: Power of naturewhich is a continuation Dry, was a huge buzz. When we decided to do Doctory, it was in our wildest dreams that we could make a sequel and we got the chance to do it. We just finished post-production. The film looks amazing. We can’t wait to share it with everyone. This is our fourth or fifth collaboration. We really enjoy working together. We share an office together. We have an official agreement. We each do our own thing, and we get together when it’s convenient for both of us. We just really like to advise each other. It is very funny. Acting is really a solo job, so finding people to collaborate with makes it more exciting. This makes it less lonely, and it means successes are twice as pleasurable because you can share them with someone. That was great.
Mia, did you immediately get in touch with Abby and her story? There is something beautiful about her and the way she perceives her own surroundings. What hooked you the most when you met her?
VASIKOVSKY: When I read bluebackThe character Abby really reminded me of my nephews and niece who all grow up in small Australian coastal towns surrounded by nature and just very inspired by it. The attention to nature and to animals in particular, I found wonderful. It really reminded me of my family and I find them inspiring. I wanted to make a film that I would like to see as a child. And Ilsa [Fogg] and Ariel [Donoghue] just did an amazing job bringing it to life. They brought Abby to life in such a charming way. Women scientists are leading the work on climate change, so this is kind of a nod to them, and hopefully it will also help inspire the next generation.
Eric, did you do any research or talk to anyone to figure out what this guy was like, or do you know anyone like him?
BANA: I liked Mackey’s loneliness. It has something dark and mysterious, but at the same time fun. As a child, you really gravitate towards that kind of character and that kind of aura. I remember as a child, if there was a guy in the local suburb who seemed a little mysterious, there was always something about him that drew you to something a little dangerous. And I love being with two young Abbys. They are two great young actors and we had a lot of really funny scenes together. Ilsa, who plays the eldest of the young Abby, is her first acting job. This is her first film and she was great. It’s always great to work with such young actors at the start of their career.
He’s like the kind of guy you’d like to hang out with because he could tell you endless stories if you could just get him to open up and talk to you about them.
BANA: Yeah. I also like that less is more feeling. We are left wanting to know more about Macka, which we don’t really get. I really liked the little window in it.
What do you think it is about this mother and daughter that reaches him in a way that it doesn’t even seem to reach his own family? Is it because they all share this very specific bond with water?
BANA: I think so. It’s mutual respect in this common playground. For him, it’s a job. For Abby, how she was introduced to this world, and how our audience was able to experience a truly immersive experience, is really something special. This is a unique game between a child and an adult. There is also mutual respect with the community.
WASIKOWSKA: It’s intimate, but no. You don’t have the deep family closeness that is so dramatic, but you do have the feeling that you are from the same place.
The ocean is so interesting because it’s beautiful, but it’s also terrible. It is so huge that you don’t know what might be hiding in it. Mia, what surprised you the most about being underwater and working underwater? How did you feel most prepared for this, and what were the biggest challenges in doing so?
VASIKOVSKY: I liked it. I love water and have always felt quite comfortable in it. I am completely obsessed with the ocean. I really had a great time. I learned how to scuba dive for a movie, which I’ve never done before. I remember a moment during my first dive when I was underwater for about 20 minutes and I went a little crazy. I’ve never been out of my element for so long, and being so deep underwater for such a long period of time, it felt quite surreal, like I was in outer space. You depend on this machine and buttons to survive, which gives you a fragile feeling being so far underwater. Thus, you feel its power. I just loved it. And we had an amazing puppet that we worked with, at Robert Connolly’s call, to have a real puppet instead of a computer fish. Seeing these guys move this puppet and bring it to life was pretty impressive.
As an actor, what was it like working with a puppet and having such an important relationship with that fish?
WASIKOWSKA: Actually it was very simple. They made him move so easily. It also had gills that flapped. The only thing they animated was blinking and eye movement. It was pretty easy to forget that it wasn’t real. But besides, young Abby did most of the work. I only had a couple of symbolic moments with Blueback, but the girls did an incredible job of creating this relationship and letting the audience feel in awe of them. It’s all their hard work.
BANA: This is really a beautiful old technique created by the artists who created it and brought it to life. It’s really beautiful and I think you feel it as a viewer. We are so used to seeing computer graphics. There is something that draws you to Blueback and that is the fact that it is a real physical thing and not a tennis ball at the end of a pole.
Mia, how was it to understand what the relationship between Abby and Maka would be like and how he would affect her, because you are not alone in those scenes with Eric? How did you find this dynamic?
WASIKOWSKA: Yes, I really just inherited his boat. That was my main connection to his character when we were filming. Eric and I didn’t even cross paths during filming. We were in different parts of the film. It wasn’t something we really thought about that much. But I enjoyed driving the boat.
BANA: It was a cool boat. Today we are truly together for the first time.
Mia, how did you incorporate Abby’s different ages into your performance? Did you get to spend time with the two junior actors you shared the character with?
WASIKOWSKA: We moved on for a couple of days. At the end of my part of the film, they were just about to start, so we had a few days of crossover. Rob brought us all together to meet, but we didn’t go deep or deliberately try to cross paths. We wanted the children to feel free to be who they are and not be confused by thoughts. They were so wonderful. It was really great to get to know them. And then, to watch the movie two years later, it’s great. They were very nice.
blueback now plays in theaters.
Source: Collider
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