Hanna
May 15, 2008 04:13PM

06 May 2008
THE INDIE CORNER

Among the many perks of being a noted filmblogger, I am sometimes given the chance to watch incredibly tiny indie movies that most of you would otherwise never hear anything about. What better way to pass the time between bloated, over-budgets summertime commercial epics than with their very opposite: tiny, intimate films made for a sum of money that probably wouldn't have purchased one day's worth of sandwiches on the Prince Caspian set.


A New Zealand production that embraces its hand-hewn nature like a badge of honor, Wait Up Harriet begins with what ought to be two strikes against it: the co-director is also the lead actor, and almost every scene consists of long dialogues that end in a stalemate. Fortunately, Angus Benfield is a strong enough actor, and Hanna Eichler's writing is unexpectedly smooth and natural, and thus these apparent sins are turned into strengths, enough so in fact that the film ends up transcending its microscopic production scale to find something quite beautiful to say.

That's not apparent from the opening scene, in which Jack (Benfield) and his wife Harriet (Melanie Cannan) sit around yammering mumblecore style with a couple of friends. As is often the case, the strain put into making this group of people seem like really laid-back pals is almost enough to strangle the film aborning, particularly in the gloppy application of exposition. That makes it even more of a shock when the rest of the film unfolds with enough subtlety that most of the subsequent reveals seem almost like accidents. Not least of which is the immediate discovery that Harriet is in fact dead, and the opening was the first in a line of non-linear flashbacks by which the mourning Jack remembers his loss.

The present and past scenes are divided according to a simple technique: if it's a flashback, everything is saturated in reds and yellows, if its "now", everything is blue. That's hardly an original concept, but sometimes clichés are clichés because they work. And Wait Up Harriet is about other things entirely, and relying on an quick shorthand to differentiate the two time frames is an easily forgivable choice. The meat of the film is in how Jack deals with his grief, long after everyone else thinks it's time to move on; the flashbacks are a literal representation of his inability to move out of the past.

For the most part, the film moves at a slow crawl; Harriet's spiritual mentor Marty (Lynda Milligan) shows up and Jack ignores her; he pays no mind to his friends; he avoids his son. In another script we might well regard this as "pointlessly slow", especially given that when things happen they happen quickly. But that would be to miss the point of the story entirely: life keeps going on but Jack refuses to engage with it, and every day for months is just the same damn thing over and over again. As directors, Benfield and Eichler are brave to keep the momentum in their film dampened to this degree, but it works.

There are a few moments where the film's budget gets the better of it; besides the cheap video that was used, some shots have the telltale feel of "we don't have time for another set-up, just use this one for a lot of different scenes." One moment is particularly marred by some kind of problem with the tripod, and a very long conversation is rendered almost unwatchable because the camera keeps wiggling back and forth for a good two minutes. But in the main this is a perfect example of what indie movies are supposed to be about: showcasing the talents of people who might not otherwise get a shot, proving that they can tell a reasonably smart story in an appealing way.

Hanna
Apr 07, 2008 09:06PM

Here is a recent review of "Wait Up Harriet":

INDIE FILM SPOTLIGHT

Wait up Harriet



Limelight Motion Picture Company
Directors: Angus Benfield & Hanna Eichler
Screenplay by Hanna Eichler

WAIT UP HARRIET is an Indie film about holding on and letting go. It was done in a Digital Video format that doesn't have the warm fuzzy film look, but It's a fantastic example of what HD/DV Video is supposed to be. The Digital Cameras readily available now are supposed to empower creative filmmakers with the ability to get their visual message across without the consent of major financing interests. This film does it very well. WAIT UP HARRIET is a touching, emotionally engaging film that hits a home run for these independent filmmakers. Many ambitious Indie films tend to have a series of shots lacking emotional continuity. It's so refreshing to have fallin' into WAIT UP HARRIET and to see how it has been beautifully achieved. The directors, Angus Benfield & Hanna Eichler, have brilliantly directed the cast consisting of Jack, played by Angus Benfield himself, his 12 year old son played by Mitch Potts, Marty played by Lynda Milligan and Harriet played by Ashleigh Southham. The supporting cast was much more than supportive, but more a necessity to bring the film to the height of it's total sense of reality. The plot is... well actually, I won't tell the plot, only that the experience of the film is a memorable trip that you should definitely take sometime. The film touches on loss, death, religion, depression and the power of friends & family. The choice of music & songs complement in the film all the way to the finish line.

Official Website: http://waitupharriet.com/about/

HOLLYWOOD2YOU.TV

Hanna
May 13, 2007 09:21PM

www.waitupharriet.com
www.waitupharriet.com
www.waitupharriet.com

Get the message?? :)

Russellpb
May 12, 2007 05:13AM

To be a part of this project was one thing..... but to see it on the screen, so awesomely edited and finished...... Wow that was the best. Great writing, directing producing and crew. The acting carried the story and the atmos very well. The inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit capped it off into the moving dramatisation we all enjoyed last night. Well done again to you all, especially Hannah and Angus. My hand is up for the next one. Cheers and Prayers, RPB

Hanna
May 11, 2007 11:46PM

FILM MAKERS’ BLOG – The Story So Far

Check out our new look website here:
www.waitupharriet.com
The original idea for “Wait up Harriet” was first inspired by an oil painting by Christchurch artist André Catherall. Some years later, after a personal tragedy in the writer’s family, Hanna Eichler’s core inspiration for the story was formed and the writing process began.
Hanna had initially begun developing the story into a play and it wasn’t until meeting filmmaker Angus Benfield in late 2005 that the thought of turning the play into a film was even imagined...
With the independent film spirit of John Cassavetes, Jim Jarmusch, Hal Hartley, Spike Lee, Ed Burns, Kevin Smith etc etc we felt that for around 20k a film could be made and made well. So, armed with Dov Simens 2 day film course book under our arms, we set out to do the impossible and to do it in 10 days...
Utilising the latest digital high definition technology from Canon and the 35mm micro adaptor from Red Rock, we embarked on creating the ‘film look’ without the ‘film price’.
We couldn’t afford a more experienced crew, so we went for enthusiasm! Some of our crew were straight out of film or broadcasting school, others had never even set foot on a film set. We cast local actors who had varied experience on film - some none at all or just in theatre. We couldn’t pay them but we did feed them in exchange for their time!
We shot 60% of the film at Angus’s house and the rest around Christchurch at a break neck speed with only 10 days to complete all shooting. With much faith and sheer determination we made the film on schedule and on budget, and got it “in the can” or at least the cassette tape, at sundown on day 10 of the shoot.
We then launched into post production. With our editing time donated we could cut the film together then, with music once again donated by local artists and the incomparable Nathan King from ZED www.nathankingmusic.com , the sound and feel of the film was formed. With a few added digital tricks from Final Cut Pro and Magic Bullet the final film was created. Shortly after completion Echelon Studios www.echelonent.com, in Los Angeles contacted us after we sent them a screener and immediately wanted to contract with us as our international sales and distribution agents. “Wait Up Harriet” had a private preview screening in May 2007 and will be submitted to around 20 film fests around the world.
“Wait Up Harriet” is a film with heart and soul. It was birthed out of passion and formed out of love and we believe we have made a film that will touch your heart too.

Hanna
Mar 04, 2007 01:53PM

Hi all. if you are looking for some more info on Echelon Studios - here's a link that might be an interesting read.

http://riversidefilmfest.org/echelonstudios.htm