Hot Spots: Richard Gray makes his MIFF debut

With the Melbourne International Film Festival raising the curtain last week, the delicious stench of popcorn already hangs heavy in the air and the choc top cravings have well and truly kicked in.

Hot Spots caught up with director Richard Gray, whose first feature film, Summer Coda, is debuting at this year’s festival.

 We can’t wait to see the film. Can you tell us a little bit about it.

I can’t wait to see it on the big screen too! Long time coming. Summer Coda is a romantic drama starring Rachael Taylor, Alex Dimitraides, Susie Porter, Angus Sampson, Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath and Jacki Weaver. Phew! It’s a big cast, but boiled right down it’s about a young woman, Heidi (played by Rachael Taylor), who comes home to Australia seeking some family closure, which doesn’t go to plan. And that’s when the adventure begins.

She meets an orange farmer, Michael (Dimitraides), and decides to hang around in Oz – fruit-picking with a bunch of crazy pickers, all the while falling love with Michael. But like any good story, things are never quite that simple – there are secrets, twists and turns along the way.

 How did Summer Coda evolve into a film project?

I wrote the first draft soon after completing film school at the VCA. The screenplay was Runner Up in Project Greenlight, which gave us a great kick along. To begin with I had an image of a girl busking and hitchhiking her way home, after growing up in the US. It always intrigued me and I could never shake it.

Next step was to find a great location. We found Mildura. It’s such a romantic setting with the orange groves, vineyards and the Murray River. We filmed there for six weeks, plus two weeks in California.

Summer Coda is your first feature film. It must feel pretty amazing to wrap that up! Was it difficult to get it off the ground?

Very challenging! They say your first film is always the hardest, and I really hope that’s true because it was hardcore. The financial crisis didn’t help us much either, but where there’s a will there’s a way! We never gave up and assembled a team of absolute champions who never gave up hope. The script had a great response from the actors, and once we attached the cast everyone started jumping aboard.

Do you think Australian-made films are instantly recognisable?

Usually, yeah. But maybe that’s just to us – ‘cause we know the locations and the actors so well. The key is to make a film that has international appeal. A story that will work wherever it plays.

What have you been enjoying at MIFF?

I love MIFF. I grew up in Box Hill and used to come into the festival on the train. It’s such a special time, running from cinema to bar to cinema in the cold.  I can’t wait to check out Red Hill and catch up on a few fine docos too.  

Where will you be heading post-screening?

Summer Coda is screening at ACMI, so Movida Next Door is nice and close –but there are so many options! I also love The Toff, Gin Palace and Siglo.

Summer Coda is screening at MIFF on Wednesday 4 August. Book your ticket here.  

LINKS:

Melbourne International Film Festival
Summer Coda
Project Greenlight
Red Hill