We interviewed Richard Bakewell, director of the film that won the third edition of the Indiecinema Film Festival
The third edition of the Indiecinema Film Festival ended on 13 October 2024 at the Circolo ARCI Arcobaleno in Rome. And the FIRST PRIZE of the Feature Film Competition went to Roswell Delirium by Richard Bakewell (United States, 2023), with the following motivation: “For the beautiful photography, convincing acting and a plot with many twists. Getting children to act is not easy, but here they made the difference. In one of the genres we love most.“
Also in those days we had a stimulating conversation with the American director, who answered our questions like this!
An original crossover, which also looks at uchronia
The deep originality of “Roswell Delirium”, Richard, thanks to the brilliant crossover of genres, has a strong impact on even the most cinephile audiences. How did such an idea come about?
The idea for Roswell Delirium began years ago when I was working on a documentary about kids with cancer trying to do their bucket list. One of the kids had cancer 9 years, and ultimately couldn’t fight it anymore. His mother told him if you want to go, you can go. His mother did everything she could to keep him alive but ultimately couldn’t save him. So I thought what if there was a place where people could take their dying loved ones to the aliens, and they could save them. The film was a short at first. Then in 2020 we were going to film it, but couldn’t because of the pandemic so I wrote it in a feature film and it ultimately became a 80s film about mental health.
Among the ideas that may have inspired the script is there also, by chance, the love for chronic science fiction stories, for alternative versions of the past in cinema and literature?
Of course there is a deep-rooted love for the world of science fiction. Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, Back To The Future, ET, Alien, Predator, and The Terminator are all films that have inspired me and been the driving force behind me wanting to be a filmmaker. And if you listen to the film carefully or at the ham radios you will see signs or dates that are relevant to a lot of those films.
Cold War and alien presences
Even if in an “alternative reality”, the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union seems to be frighteningly relevant again, with the war in Ukraine, where the Russian, American and European high commands speak of the nuclear option with far too much ease. When you were making the film did you also have these thoughts?
I read a story about how the Cold War almost actually happened during the 80s because of a false reading of satellite information where the sun was setting in a certain way and the Soviets thought they were under attack so they nearly deployed dozens of warheads. I then used that piece of history as a backbone to the story, and set it in a 80s apocalyptic world. Only when I finished the script in 2022 did the Russians go to war with the Ukraine. I think it was a matter of days after that, it was very surreal and seeing the devastation on TV inspired other thoughts about the idea that if the Russians did win the war we would have to read their books in our classrooms, and adapt to the way they wanted us to live.
And what fascinates you instead of the “Alien trace”? Is there a science fiction cinema from the past that you took as a model?
I don’t know if there is one piece of science fiction that was a model for Roswell Delirium. For me it was every film I ever saw in the 80s, whether it was Ferris Buellers Days Off or Sixteen Candles, or The Last Starfighter, I just wanted to make a film about characters that the audience would fall in love with and a TRUE 80s film minus all of the cheesiness. And I was tired of seeing films about aliens where they are the villains. In this film I wanted them to the heroes for a change. Reading all of the stories about alien encounters, and how several people in high command positions said that they were going to launch nuclear weapons and they made several reports of UFOs in the vicinity and it was as if they stopped the destruction from happening. So who knows maybe aliens are really here to help save us from ourselves after all.
Music and actors
The soundtrack is very vibrant, intense, accompanies the different moments of the film well. Especially in the parts closest to electronic music, how strong was the desire to pay homage to a 80s mood?
When I first met with Troy Van Leeuwen, the guitarist from the Queens of the Stone Age, I gave him a rough cut of the film with temporary music. It was more a blue print of what emotions I wanted the music to help bring the emotional visuals to life. Because the film takes place in the 80s, and then in an alternate 2000, there had to be two unique blends of music. I couldn’t stress the upbeat goofiness of the synthesizer enough. And Troy’s music gives each scene its own feel, and if you close your eyes and just listen you can feel every moment of the scene whether it’s fun or sad and don’t even need the visuals to go along with it.
The performers, both young and old, also seemed intense. And the serious changes alluded to in their story also pass through their bodies, their faces, their scars. How did you go about the casting and are you satisfied with the result?
Kylee and Arie, the young Mayday and the mother, were direct booked from the past movie. I knew what they could do and wrote the film for them. In 2022 we still couldn’t do a proper casting. I couldn’t get a casting director to come out of the house. They all wanted to do a zoom call and I said that won’t work I won’t be able to feel their performance and make proper changes if I’m not in the room. So I took Kylee, Kylee’s mom, Arie, and my producers Glenn and Larissa, and we cast the film ourselves. The parents of the younger actors are the reason the film is a success. They brought their kids into a casting room with someone they didn’t know during a time when we still had to wear masks and all that nonsense. I found Kayden right away who plays Becky. She said to me at the end, “I hear you’re great to work with and guess I will just see you at my trailer.” I’m so happy with the younger actors and old that we found. Kayden, Romyn, Georgia, and Ashton are stars and have a screen presence that is hard to find these days. They all walked into the room with confidence and overwhelming talent, and I knew a minute into each audition that they were the best fits for the role. And I guess I did something right because the actresses and actors in the film have won over 40 awards at film festivals. I’m proud of their work and they trusted me, which is why the film is such a success.
Production aspects, prizes and new projects
The visual aspect of the film is very careful both in the more intimate scenes and in the visionary, spectacular ones. How difficult is it to achieve this with a budget that is certainly smaller than that of many “blockbusters”? So how could you describe Lightforce Pictures’ production approach?
To make a film like Roswell, you can’t film in Los Angeles. It’s too expensive and they make ridiculous fees at FILM LA. I was very cautious with every penny we had and shot a lot of the film out at the Salton Sea, Riverside, and Lancaster. It was more of the look of the film, and I have been in the business for 20 years so I asked a lot of favors from my friends and colleagues. And some of them gave up their time for free to help out. Without them I couldn’t have financially made the movie that I did. We only had a table read, one run through of an unfinished script, and sometimes the rehearsal and blocking was being orchestrated right up to the moment we rolled cameras. It was maximizing the time we had, and sadly some days I had to let certain shots go but knew we captured the performance of a lifetime every single day.
The Indiecinema Film Festival jury awarded Roswell Delirium the most important prize, with this reason: “For the beautiful cinematography, convincing acting and a plot with many twists. Getting children to act is not easy, but here they made the difference. In one of the genres we love most”.
What do you think about it? And how has the film been received so far at festivals and among American audiences?
I’m honored to win any award. That is truly amazing that the jury members think so highly of the film. Getting children to act is not easy, but these kids are so unique. We did one run through the classroom scenes during the day we were pre lighting the set and I told my producer Larissa, that was so good we should be shooting today. They made my job easier, and I felt like Richard Donner every day on the set of The Goonies. A film doesn’t work unless have the right people in every department. Carter Ross lensed the film and after day two I didn’t have to over explain myself anymore, we had a short hand and he knew what I wanted. I would glance at the monitor and then sit on the ground next to the camera and watch my actors. That was the beauty to be able to concentrate on the performances knowing that he was behind the camera. And I’m still overwhelmed by the reactions from all of the festivals and the audiences. We have over 89 awards now and counting. They keep coming in and everyone wants to see it, again and again, and talk about it. For me that is a success. I made a film that those who have seen it can’t stop talking about it
After Roswell Delirium, Richard, have you already started any new film projects?
Yes I actually finished writing my first draft of another feature film called Into The Fray. It’s about government control in a world where people are left to survive without any food as all of the animals have gotten sick, the gas has dried up, and electricity is a thing of the past. Hoping to have that script done in 2025, which will also be the time when Roswell Delirium gets released. I think January of 2025 is the time line so be on the lookout.
