INTERVIEW: Laurence Cohen on RUSTED PYRE by Telefilm Canada @ Cannes

REPUBLISHED FROM TELEFILM CANADA:

Rusted Pyre’s script, written by Daniel Audet, was the third place winner at the Canadian Short Screenplay Competition in 2008. From there, producer David Cormican, also one of the founders of the Competition, recruited Laurence Cohen to bring the script to the screen.

Cohen’s first film, The Rocket Man, was named Best Canadian Short Film at the Okanagan International Film Festival.

Rusted Pyre is set to screen at the CFC’s Worldwide Short Film Festival later this year.

What was your inspiration for this film?
The primary theme of the film, I hope, will be pretty clear by the end of the movie. A small kernel that I wanted to truthfully portray or address in this film is the motivation for risk-taking behaviour or self-destructive tendencies.

Which Canadian actor or actress do you dream of directing and why?
Rachel McAdams is not only beautiful, but good looking, stunning and gorgeous – and I hear she can act pretty darn well too!

Which three words best describe your cinematic style?
Playful, Innovative, Geniu….er… Genuine

Which Canadian film personality would you like to have dinner with and what would you talk about?
James Cameron. He has incredible craft and an expansive knowledge that ranges beyond the film world, into engineering, biology and mythology. I would particularly like to hear anecdotes of leadership, positive or negative, and his notions on sequels.

Which is your favourite film or filmmaker and why?
Braveheart. I’ve seen it at least 30 times and it still enthrals me just the same.

In one word, what does the Cannes Festival represent for you?
Cannes-ception