Dark Mountain Film Spotlight
Today’s film spotlight focuses on the short film Dark Mountain directed by Andrew Richardson.
What is the title of your film and what inspired said title?
The film is called Dark Mountain. I was struggling with exactly what to call the film when I listened to a lecture by Alan Watts talking about the aesthetic principles of Zen. Yúgen is the indescribable beauty of the universe, something akin to Kant’s idea of the Sublime. The Japanese characters for Yúgen directly translate as ‘obscure mountain’. It was one of those serendipitous moments. I was making a film about a man who has lost the ability to connect with and see the beauty in the world around him, and here is this poetic translation of exactly that. It all just slotted into place. I took a little poetic license with the translation, but I think it still works.
Tell us a little bit about the story and origins of your film.
The film was inspired by Tim’s (the lead actor) personal journey. After the unexpected loss of his father while he was performing in a run of Hamlet he had struggled with his mental health for a number of years. I’d previously worked with him on an improvised film, and when he decided it was time to get back into acting he approached me to work on something together. We spoke about his recovery involving horse therapy, his environmentalism, and the core messages he wanted to project about object vs subjective reality and finding harmony with the world around you. I wrote the script giving it my own Irish mythological twist.
Any films or filmmakers that inspired this film?
I’m a huge fan of Denis Villeneuve, and Arrival was a film that I remember referencing in pre-production a few times.
What is the goal of the film for you?
All my films have the same goal really, I’m either trying to express some emotional experience that hopefully people recognise in themselves which makes them feel just a little more understood and a little less alone. Or I’m trying to inspire a conversation as they walk out of the cinema about the themes of the film. Preferably both.
What has the journey been like getting the film into production?
Ufff… not easy! Once we had the script, which wasn’t easy to write. We really struggled to find a producer who was interested in taking on such a challenging short film. We have horses, trees on fire, and stunts all on the side of a mountain. It’s a lot to ask of a producer on a short film! So the film was stuck in limbo for a long time. Eventually, we managed to get our intrepid crew together and we set off for Snowdonia where the film was shot. Unfortunately, a few days before, they had the largest rainfall in 40 years, and all of our locations except one were washed out. So, with some quick adjustments, we finally started shooting.
One thing you learned from this project?
Everything takes longer than you think on the side of a mountain in the Welsh rain!
How can folks find you and your film online?
The film is starting its festival run right now, so if you want to keep track of where its showing follow us at….
INSTAGRAM @dark_mountain_film
TWITTER @dark_mount_film
FACEBOOK @darkmountain2021
www.goatboyenterprises.com/darkmountain
Or you can follow me at…
INSTAGRAM @goatboy_enterprises
TWITTER @goatboy_ent
WEBSITE www.goatboyenterprises.com
YOUTUBE www.youtube.com/channel/UCteVhvD4sOe3c-sZhjgB8DQ
VIMEO www.vimeo.com/user28553564
FACEBOOK @goatboy.ent
Any last pieces of advice for fellow filmmakers?
Keep it contained and concentrate on your craft as a director, rather than having to contend with so many elements beyond your control on a short. Save the epic mythological masterpieces for your feature films!
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