JOHN SHEEDY ABOUT H IS FOR HAPPINESS - "OH SHE IS ANNOYING!"
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
I n t e r v iew
John Sheedy about H IS FOR HAPPINESS
“Oh she is annoying!”
H IS FOR HAPPINESS, a feel good film unexpected ally.
for all ages, tells the story of two
young outsiders… and a miniature In Candice’s opinion the secret of
horse. The film watches the world happiness seems to be in solving
through the eyes of a quirky girl, in a other people’s problems.
joyous celebration of all things slight- John Sheedy: I think happiness needs
ly odd. After the international pre- to be found within ourselves first and
miere at the Berlinale 2020, the Kplus once we have found it we can pass
children’s jury (who gave the film a it onto others which ultimately will
Special Mention) described H IS FOR make you even more happy because
HAPPINESS as “a motivating film from they’re happy.
start to finish… humorous and at the
same time profound.” Enthusiasm can be tiring. Would you hold a fine balance of humour and Hoppe had done a wonderful job of
define Candice’s enthusiasm as con- pathos. Save for Baz Luhrmann, we adapting it from the novel by Barry
I have been involved with the arts since tagious or annoying? don’t really do romance on Austral- Jonsberg. With producer Julie Ryan
I was a child,” says John Sheedy, “act- Sheedy: Oh she is annoying! Charm- ian screens. Nor do we have many at the helm of an all female producing
ing in stage productions and TV spots. ingly annoying! But we forgive her films with a sharp and witty 12 year team, I knew the project was in excep-
After my studies and my post grad in because it always comes from such old female lead. There’s something tional hands. We then assembled the
directing, I ran a theatre company that a good place and her vulnerability is wonderful about dipping into the cast, including our outstanding lead
created works for young people and never too far away. world of children and their perspec- protagonist Daisy Axon and Wesley
family audiences.” Thus it is no sur- tive. As for them everything is slightly Pattern as Douglas Benson From An-
prise that in Sheedy’s feature film de- Why did you consider this the right heightened and exaggerated, you are other Dimension. These two young
but young people are taking the lead. story for your feature debut? allowed to have more fun and the im- actors both had a different approach
In H IS FOR HAPPINESS, Candice Phee Sheedy: I have always enjoyed authors agination can go wild. to their performances, Daisy always
is determined to spark happiness in like Cormac McCarthy, Will Self, Vir- leads with her head and thinks things
the lives of others, and becomes a ginia Wolf and anything Shaun Tan Was it you who found the story, or through methodically, while Wesley
peacemaker in her quarrelsome, grief does. In cinema I admire the works did the story find you? leads straight from gut instinct, he is
ridden family. Her new schoolmate, of directors like John Hughes, Pedro Sheedy: The script was already writ- a natural clown.
Douglas Benson turns out to be an Almodovar and Wes Anderson that ten by the time I came on board. Lisa
10 | Journal 03 | 2020
I n t e r v iew
Candice’s face is like an open book. The actors worked on their physical- sensitivity, heartbreak and comedy The basis for this film is the perfect
Was that in Daisy Axon’s acting, or ity’s quite a bit in rehearsals and on to the role. Myriam was always Miss balance you found between grief
in the camera work, or maybe just set. You will find the same physical Bamford for me, right from the begin- and fun.
in me getting carried away by this quirks in Rich Uncle Brian and all of ning, that was a no brainer. Sheedy: When dealing with a young-
wonderful creature? the extras throughout the film. It’s er audience in particular it is impor-
Sheedy: I think you’re definitely you a deliberate inclusion to make the How did you create Miss Bamford’s tant not to water down the tougher
getting carried away. But I have to say world a little cooky and awkward as it exceptionally busy lazy eye? themes and trust that young people
it is all down to Daisy Axon’s insight is all told through Candice’s eyes. Sheedy: Myriam was quite nervous will be able to emotionally navigate
into the character. Daisy is Candice their way through. Equally important
Phee! is to allow them to step out of the
darker moments and laugh at the
What is it exactly that Douglas sets mess we sometimes make as humans.
in motion when entering Candice’s It is a fine balancing act but ultimate-
life? ly you need to put trust in the young
Sheedy: She certainly wasn’t expect- audience!
ing love to enter her world, but how
can you not fall in love with Douglas What enabled you to tell a story,
Benson from Another Dimension? He combining so many difficult emo-
is super charming. Adding a whole tional moments in the lives of chil-
new set of complications for Candice, dren?
he is definitely the catalyst for the Sheedy: As artists we always end up
unfolding events throughout the film. applying personal moments in our
Yankee Doodle, our miniature horse, lives into our work. I unfortunately
might also have something to do with lost my younger sister a few years
it. ago so I could certainly apply my ex-
Not to forget Miriam Margolyes, about it, and rightly so, but once I ex- perience of grief to that of the Phee
Between the two of them, their ges- known as Professor Sprout from plained the approach we were taking family.
tures seem strictly choreographed, the Harry Potter films, and the out- she was an absolute trooper, throw-
like a strange ballet scene. standing Richard Roxburgh as Can- ing herself into it. We had to shoot You know how to use colours to cre-
Sheedy: This is something I was very dice’s father. each of her scenes twice, once with ate that slightly aberrant universe.
conscious of bringing into the world. Sheedy: Richard and I studied at the no eye rolling and then again with no Walking through town with Candice
The dialogue is so particular and de- same drama school. He is one of the dialogue and just eye rolling. It was in- is like entering another world.
liberate that I wanted the physicality best actors we have in this country. credibly funny to watch! The rest was Sheedy: We created three worlds
of the characters to compliment it. I knew that he would bring a certain all done in VFX post. across the film all through the per-
11 | Journal 03 | 2020
I n t e r v iew
spective of Candice. There is her home allow?
which is a house of grief and silence. Sheedy: Not much, I wanted to keep
Then there is her school, a heightened the themes of the film grounded,
world of colourful characters and especially as we are dealing with
strange assignments. And then there such things as grief. The visual world
is the town which is full of quirky ec- around them is heightened enough so
centric locals that all have something if there is any hint of magic, it would
special about them. Creating theatre be in the forest with a miniature horse
for families. I have always enjoyed the and its disappearing acts.
challenge of how to tackle tough is-
sues in the storytelling, how to make The story is equally ‘placeless’ as
it accessible to a young audience timeless.
whilst also making them feel safe and Sheedy: Whilst there are specific ref-
allowing them to laugh... A lot. I drew erences to contemporary technology
on this experience in sensing how to and in the vocabulary of the young-
grant the audience the space to sit-in er characters, it still needed to have
on the more heart-breaking moments be a setting that could be anywhere who is always watering his garden, a timeless feel to it. All this required
while navigating Candice’s emotional in the world. A world where children and named him after my grandfather. some extra efforts from the costume
ups and downs; to be able to laugh and adults alike would both feel an in- Naturally I had to play his voice. I con- department and set designers. They
and be entertained by entering a stant familiarity to, as though it were sider Germany my second home and went above and beyond to create this
world that is so visually appealing. a seaside town not too far from home. love returning there to visit relatives. colourful and quirky world. Like the
The colour palette throughout the best of Disney, I never want H IS FOR
That is why you went to the picture Did it bring back personal memories film reminds me of my origins: the HAPPINESS to have an ‘expiry date.’
postcard seaside town of Albany. for you? green takes me to the beautiful for- I hope that the children who watch
Sheedy: This town was the perfect hit, Sheedy: Not in that sense. But I did ests of Europe, and the warmer red it now will engage in a story that
projecting a sense of old world charm put a little of my German heritage tones feed into the emotional land- doesn’t feel dated and then be able to
in its architecture and landscape, the into the film. My mother comes from scape of our characters. When com- relive that memory again sometime in
beautiful bay, the quirky hills and Fulda, my grandmother from Bad bining these two colours, it takes me the future with their own children.
boulders. Albany has such a cinemat- Neuenahr. After WWII the whole fam- to Christmas in Germany! Needless to
ic feel to it and no matter where I ily moved to Australia, started a new say I was very honoured to have the –
pointed the camera, I knew I was go- life and became florists. So as a little film premiere at the Berlinale. Uta Beth
ing to be able to frame the moment nod to them I popped a little florists
beautifully. I didn’t want it to be geo- shop in the film called ‘Schatzis’. I also All this takes the film to the ‘edge watch trailer
graphically specific because it had to created the character of Mr. Wiegard of magic’. How much magic did you
12 | Journal 03 | 2020You can also read
