Matthew, how did you manage to build the tension and escalate conflict between the couple as the conversation progressed? How did you work with Eloi Moli (director of photography) in order to bring your vision to life?
Building the tension was easy, it was built into the script.John's script was so well paced that the actors just needed to get the tone right, which I think they did, and the tension would be there.
Eloi and I discussed framing and a dim restaurant vibe and that was it. He's so great - I was lucky to get him.
How did you approach the casting process for the film's two main characters, and what qualities were you looking for in the actors who played them?
I know all these actors. The waiter was from the movie I produced, Fell, Jumped or Pushed, and John and Julie have actually been a couple for a while.
I actually picked this script with them in mind. I also went to middle and high school with Julie.
The film has a very intimate and claustrophobic feel, with most of the action taking place in a single location. How did you use the setting to create a sense of tension and drama in this great film? and how did you manage to shoot it in only 12-hours?
I used the close-ups to get the claustrophobic feel. Also, the single location allowed me to do this in one day. The setting and striking of the set took the most time.
The actors were actually only there for 6 hours. I did single takes on most angles and just kept rolling while I made adjustments. Time was of the essence.
This is an adaptation from a play by John Yearly. How was the process of working on it and how were you able to focus on this trauma that tends to appear on relationships and the topics that aren't usually talked about?
I shot the script word for word. The poignancy and ease that comes across on the screen is owed to the writer, John Yearley. He made it easy for me.
