Interview with director Frank Aron Gårdsø (O)

Frank Aron Gårdsø’s short film O was the winner of BEST FILM at the October 2016 Horror/Thriller Film Festival.

It was a pleasure to interview him about his film and what’s next:

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film?

Frank Aron Gårdsø: I wanted to see if I was capable of making a scary film in broad daylight that did not have any monster, killer, villain or beast to scare you.

MT: From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

FAG: I would say that the process moved rather fast. I think we were talking about it in the middle of summer, and we were out filming by the beginning of autumn of the same year. So from when we started to think about making the movie until we had a finish product it took us half a year or so.

MT: How would you describe your short film in two words!?

FAG: Oh, only two Words… ? What can I say…. Mysterious and Ominous

MT: What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

FAG: There were a few obstacles along the way for sure. First of all I learnt that making a non budget movie is very expensive. There are always things that are needed that one did not think about. And then we had the weather. Since the whole film is shot outside, we had big challenges with the elements. One day it was perfect sun. And perfect sun is what I wanted for the movie, cause I wanted to make a scary movie in broad daylight. The next day it was foggy like crazy and then came the rain. At the end it was starting to snow..To top that up, we had to reshoot most of the film due to a lead character shaved off his hair. We had to replace him and find another actor to play his part and start all over. So enough obstacles for sure.

MT: What were your initial reactions when watching the Toronto audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

FAG: I am very happy to hear and see that there are audiences that actually like and enjoy something you make.

To see people talk about it after watching it, well thats just fantastic.

Interesting to see how the audience was trying to figure out why they end up in the hole. What the hole is? Why they get drawn to it?

It was interesting to hear that some saw the comedic elements of the story and the different references to other movies.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK of the Short Film:

MT: How did you come up with the idea for this short film? 

FAG: It was more of a talk with another friend of mine who also works in the film industry. We just wanted to make something so we chatted over the phone for a while and it suddenly popped out of my head. Why don’t we make a film about some friends who find a black hole in the ground in the forrest. So we went from there.

MT: What film have you seen the most in your life?

FAG: I think I have to say it’s not only one. After giving it a little bit of thought I end up with 3 movies. And it’s kinda funny cause one of them is totally different from the other two. The first one is The Exorcist. I remember watching this for the first time sitting on my mother’s lap. Intense childhood for sure. Growing up watching exorcism on tv. Loved it. Second one is A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. I am laughing just thinking about it. Freddy is fantastic in that one. Talking about it now make me want to see it again. The last one is Grease. It has this amazing good vibe. Great music and great cast which is fantastic to watch.

MT: What is next for you? A new film?

FAG: I am currently working for Fremantle Media on a new groundbreaking TV gameshow as a game developer.

But I am also in the middle of the editing my new short film. This time it’s not in the horror genre. It’s more of a drama with some dark comedic elements. Hopefully I will have it finished by the end of this year.

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 10-20 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto on the last Thursday of every single month. Go tohttp://www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.