When you only have a tiny window of time in which to produce a film — say, three days of shooting and five days of post-production — it's prudent to keep it manageable: small cast, simple concept, short shot list.
But when Mackenzie Gray's idea was selected for the 2013 edition of Crazy8s — the annual filmmaking competition so named for the eight days in which films must be created — his instinct was to throw prudent, small, simple and short out of the window.
Instead, with help from a veritable army of cast and crew, the Vancouver-based actor-director filmed and locked Under the Bridge of Fear, a highly stylized black and white homage to film noir, in the requisite eight days.
"My film was crazily ambitious," said Gray during a recent phone interview. "We were a period film with eight locations, 100 extras, 17 speaking parts, 10 principal actors, exteriors, night shooting, and cars. [The Crazy8s people] were nervous about letting me do it but I convinced them I had the confidence to pull it off."
Even though he was working under the Crazy8s gun, Gray was driven to produce a film that was true to noir in every sense. "Even as a boy I was allowed to stay up and watch Humphrey Bogart movies late at night on the CBC," said Gray. "It's a fantastic, edgy genre, with beautiful style and beautiful lighting."
As with iconic film noir of the past (including The Big Sleep, one of Gray's primary inspirations), Under the Bridge of Fear features a world-weary private investigator, and a bevy of femme fatales and gutsy dames.
Indeed, Under the Bridge of Fear is chock full of women from all walks of noir, and makes good use of Vancouver's thriving burlesque community. "Burlesque is very dear to my heart," said Gray. "They put it out to the audience to enjoy, but it's 'watch me, this is what I'm all about, and I'm having fun.'" Local burlesque performers featured include Nikki Ninedoors, Voracious V, and Burgandy Brixx.
Under the Bridge of Fear was filmed over three days in February 2013. Locations included an upscale Vancouver home, the Burrard Bridge, and the Waldorf Hotel during a tumultuous time in that venue's history.
Gray contends that the compression of Crazy8s ultimately enhanced his film.
"[Crazy8s] makes you think on your feet, and makes you smarter in how you do things," said Gray. "Sometimes necessity truly is the mother of invention."
To date, Under the Bridge of Fear has screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Whistler Film Festival, the Vancouver Short Film Festival, and at Cannes' Court Metrage (yes, that Cannes). More recently, Gray sold the film to the CBC.
Gray — whose television is usually turned to Turner Classic Movies — might soon get the chance to direct a feature-length version of Under the Bridge of Fear.
"I met a number of producers at Whistler who are interested in turning it into a feature," he said.
It's a wonder that Gray found the time to direct — and then promote — Under the Bridge of Fear at all, given his packed acting schedule. His is a familiar face to film and television viewers all over the world (he has 111 acting credits on IMDB and, according to Gray, another 20 that need to be added).
Gray is the prototypical chameleon actor, moving seamlessly from one character role to another. His credit list reads like a summary of recent filming in Vancouver: Smallville, True Justice, Fringe, Once Upon a Time, Supernatural, Sanctuary, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
He is perhaps best known for his role as Jax-Ur in 2013s blockbuster Man of Steel, which starred Henry Cavill as Superman.
Gray has nothing but love for the Crazy8s team and process. He served on the 2014 video pitch jury and will soon be seen in the Crazy8s film Earthlickers.
Earthlickers and the rest of this years Crazy8s films will screen at The Centre (777 Homer) on March 1. For tickets to the gala and after-party at Science World, visit http://www.crazy8s.cc.
