DIRECTOR’S NOTES - Steve Ayson
“Watching The French Doors for the first time with an audience was quite possibly the most exhilarating and frightening experience in recent years. Although I was very proud of what we had made, I sat in the Lido theatre, frozen with fear as the film started.
Never before have I put myself (a piece of work) out there in front of people in such a way. A projected film is so big and raw and open that I couldn’t get low enough in my seat.
However the greatest reward came from watching a group of 8-12 year old kids (well known for a low attention span) sit riveted to the screen as our film played. To hear people react, get frightened and even yell, and watching those kids sit glued to the screen was the biggest rush I’ve ever had. If you could bottle that rush it would have a very high street value.
When I set out to make The French Doors my mission was to frighten the audience in 12 minutes. I wanted to slowly build tension within this time frame resulting in a fright and leaving people slightly bewildered. My partner overheard a woman leaving the theatre exclaiming to her friend “I was freaking out, I was so scared” so I decided I had achieved my goal, if at least with these two women. Having an audience respond or think or react to a story or a message or quit simply an idea is what interests me about film.
I am currently writing another two short films along with directing commercials/music clips with Curious Films in Auckland, New Zealand. I’m interested in creating ideas/scripts as much as I am in directing.”
