Playground Inks Director Andrew Blackman to Their Australian Roster
Andrew’s directorial work has been seen and screened all over the globe. His tour de force, “Inferno” scored two nominations at the Cannes Lions Young Director Award and won the Best Documentary at FilmQuest, 2020.
Often layered and textural, image and sound feel like they’re inside each other, as one, conveying both emotion and the subconscious. Interior landscapes explored through lush visuals, considered editing, and artistic design.
So we wanted to know more, read on McDuff....
Playground> What was the thing, or the experience, that got you into film in the first place?
Andrew> I’m from the tail end of the 90s video store generation, and those were the breakout filmmakers of my adolescence. I inherited a small tube TV and VCR for my bedroom, and my local Video Easy had an alphabetised auteur wall. You could get like five VHS tapes for a couple of bucks on a week's hire. One summer, when I was probably fourteen, I blew my paper run money on video tapes and spent many late nights exploring that wall from Anderson to Żuławski.
Playground> What scene in a film do you wish you could have your name on?
Andrew> There are so many scenes I wish I had directed. I remember watching the opening sequence of Drive for the first time and wishing I had directed it. The intensity. The tension. The suspense. The payoff. The style. It stands tall on the shoulders of the 70s American New Wave crime thriller that inspired it, but with a swag all of its own.
Playground> There are great performance directors, great visual directors, great comedy directors - what's your jam?
Andrew> I’m interested in chasing authentic performances through casting and context, even if those performances can appear quite stylised on screen, because I am into crafting immersive imagery, too.
Playground> Advertising has been ravaged over the past decade, in many ways, what do you see as vital aspects to connect with an audience through moving image?
Andrew> As storytellers, it's our job to make audiences feel, ask questions, and reveal new perspectives. We aim to move people, and I'm not sure if that will ever change. However, it is vital that we continually challenge ourselves and our ideas, exploring new ways to access emotions through immersion and interactivity. I am excited by the ever-evolving possibilities in tech and the medium for experimentation—redefining what storytelling is.
Playground> How do you think ai will effect your role, and filmmaking in general?
Andrew> I am fascinated by this question. Right now, AI is a tool used to augment emotive storytelling – something that is still considered intrinsically human. However, as the possibilities of AI expand alongside the boundaries of consciousness, and with a whole lot of assumptions, this notion is evolving fast. It’s exciting. I believe in human creativity, and while AI might take my job, it won’t stop me from telling stories.
Playground> Directing is a mad job, what drives you?
Andrew> I truly enjoy the experience of making movies. Every project comes with unique challenges and opportunities for process, learning, and collaborating with interesting people. I love the madness.
Playground> Proudest moment ever?
Andrew> Having kids. My kids make me proud and so does their mum.
