Red carpet Interview with Stephen Fingleton & Olwen Fouere
Interviewer: Zoe Ball
ZOE BALL: Our first interview on the red carpet, 2016. Stephen Fingleton, congratulations on your nomination for The Survivalist; Olwen, you star in the film. It has had incredible reviews; what does this mean to you and your movie?
STEPHEN FINGLETON: I think it's tremendous. My cast and crew did a huge amount of work creating this film and to get recognition on one of the most prestigious festivals in the world - and, as my actor would say, he's from Belfast, "I'm absolutely flabbergasted".
Q. This is the wonderful Martin McCann.
STEPHEN FINGLETON:. He's incredible, yes.
Q. I read an interview with Mia Goth, who stars -- she plays your daughter in the film -- and she said she wasn't allowed to shower for a couple of weeks. How far did you take it with your actors? What did you put them through?
A. My actors would do the things they felt was most appropriate. Olwen did a very intense diet all throughout the shoot which affected everyone's mood and so on. People spent time in the cabin. My actor actually went on a survival course, worked out how to skin a rabbit -- he skins a rabbit on screen for real. It was about getting into the mindset of the characters and the physical state they would be in.
Q. What did you take on board, Olwen, playing this role? He was talking about your special diet, was there anything else you did to get into character?
OLWEN FOUERE: No, the diet was the main thing, but I grew up in quite a remote part of Ireland so I was able to relate very closely to that kind of environment and possibly that kind of living. I've killed rabbits and skinned them already, so I didn't have to train.
Q. You didn't have to do the course! You could have taught Martin of course. This is your first film, your debut film; how was Steven as a first time director of a feature?
OLWEN FOUERE: He was brilliant. I have to say I'm really, really proud of having been cast in this and having done this and I have watched it four times now and every time I see it it's more and more compelling and it is different every time I see it.
Q. Exactly. I'm imagining your budget is slightly less than The Revenant. There are some similarities.
STEPHEN FINGLETON: It's about 100 times less and we get to make choices that a big budget film doesn't do. We can do terrible things to our characters that on a bigger budget film, they have to be a little softer. So I'm really pleased with the freedom that allowed. Also, you've got a cast that you're not going to be that familiar with their work and you'll believe their characters completely.
Q. You never see them as anyone else?
STEPHEN FINGLETON: No baggage, no headlines; it's just them being people and you're watching people on screen.
Q. You're hooked straight into that world the minute you start watching. It's an incredible film. Mark Kermode has given it incredible reviews. Exciting times ahead. What's next for you? Have you got your next project planned?
STEPHEN FINGLETON: Yes, I'm doing an American film which is a much bigger budget, a bit like "The Revenant". It's going to be a science fiction film set in a future that might be closer than we think.
Q. Fantastic. Good luck tonight to both of you. Well done on making such a brilliant film. Fingers crossed to you both. Look forward to seeing the next film. Thank you. Have a wonderful night.
