Emerging Creative: Emily Macrander
Tell us a bit about yourself, and how you became interested in film.
I'm not sure I can pinpoint a specific thing or moment in my life that made me interested in film. It kind of feels like filmmaking made its way into my life pretty naturally. I grew up not watching a lot of films and my parents are very visually-oriented (photography, architecture, art) which, looking back now, I can see influencing my path quite a bit. I have always enjoyed writing and capturing things and at some point figured that film combined most of the things I enjoyed doing.
How long ago did you start making films?
I got little digital camera when I was about 8 which I guess led to the creation of my first films. These are highly confidential now though and will only be used for my personal entertainment (and embarrassment). Only in the past four or five years have I made work of which I will proudly declare myself the director.
What is a piece you always go back to?
Strangely enough, I rarely revisit things. I think my reception of art, films, photography is very situation- and mood-based or I will seek out something that fits what I am working on and inspires me in that certain moment. There are, of course a few films that I can watch over and over again: Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders, La Haine by Mathieu Kassovitz, if…. by Lindsay Anderson, The Virgin Suicides by Sofia Coppolasomething new and exciting.
What is a something you like to channel through your work?
I really hope that whatever I make is honest. Honest about feelings (whether they are my own or fictive) or honest about the world in a way that portrays the good and bad sides of things. I really like writing about characters who are in a situation that brings up moral question and makes people reconsider how they see things. I also try to find interesting ways to use the form of the medium to reflect a specific story. Film has so many facets that can be experimented with to make something new and exciting.
What drove you to make Rave?
I wanted to make a film that explored questions of guilt and how it's often difficult to realise how small choices we make can have big consequences, especially in the context of a night out. Also exploring nightlife after Covid restrictions had been lifted suddenly made both the good and the bad sides of clubbing and raving very apparent. On the one hand, you could see how much this part of life had been missing but also how this led to an excess that in some tragic cases went too far.
What are you most proud of about your film?
It’s always very humbling to think back on everything that happened from first draft of a script to the final film. Also considering that Rave is rather unconventional in its structure, I’m happy that people are receiving it well and the risk of doing something differently has paid off. A lot of amazing people were involved in the making of Rave and I'm incredibly proud of their work and to have been able to call them the crew and the cast of a film that wouldn't have been possible without them.
Do you have any women in that industry that serve as role models to you/particularly inspire you?
I'm a big Sofia Coppola fan and also love the films of Claire Denis. I think both have a sensitive and stylish way of telling stories that I look up to. But to be honest, I admire any woman who is out there making films - it's inspiring to watch directors who are fighting to get their work made and are also paving the way for the next generation of female filmmakers.
About rave:
On a night out, a girl overdoses at an underground rave. Unfolding in reverse chronology, Rave traces the
events of the night back to the beginning, revealing the intertwining stories of the people involved, including
Jade whose night takes an unexpected turn after she finds herself alone at a rave.
Rave trailer: https://vimeo.com/746829994
You can follow Emily on instagram @emilymacrander and her film Rave @rave_film or contact her on her website: www.emilymacrander.com
