South African filmmaker Michael Matthews discusses Love and Monsters in an interview
Michael Matthews, a South African film director, has made a name for himself in the industry with his latest film, "Love and Monsters." This apocalyptic adventure has been lauded for its emotional depth and resemblance to Amblin-era fantasy adventure films.
Matthews' passion for filmmaking was sparked at a young age. Inspired by his father's love for movies and discussions about them, he developed a fascination with the Indiana Jones franchise. The first CD he bought was a John Williams score compilation, and he even had an Indiana Jones hat and whip as a child. Jurassic Park was a significant influence on Matthews' decision to pursue a career in filmmaking when he was 10 years old.
After studying filmmaking at City Varsity in Cape Town, Matthews co-founded the Be Phat Motel Film Company with writer/producer Sean Drummond. His directorial debut came with "Five Fingers For Marseilles," a contemporary South African Western that premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and won five African Movie Academy Awards. This film set Matthews on the path to directing "Love and Monsters."
"Love and Monsters" is a fun adventure film with a charming main character, humor, a unique monster world, and a lot of heart. The film centers on Joel Dawson, a relatable, clumsy protagonist who grows from a hopeless romantic into a courageous hero in a monster-infested world. This character arc, along with the imaginative setting of a post-apocalyptic America overrun by mutated creatures, created a compelling and fresh narrative that resonated with audiences.
Matthews attributes the success of "Love and Monsters" primarily to its blend of heartfelt character development and genre innovation. The film has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects, a testament to the awesome visual sensibility with a natural approach to sets, cinematography, lighting, and monster design.
In an interview, Matthews expressed his belief that there is a lot of potential for filmmakers in South Africa to create and find an audience with new streaming platforms and online platforms like YouTube. He suggests that finding ways to partner with other countries and find bigger audiences is the best way to continue growing local films in South Africa.
Matthews also offers tips for writers to write a screenplay that will grab the attention of producers. He emphasizes the importance of having a strong understanding of screenwriting principles and structure, being honest with oneself about the main character's journey and the core ideas of the script, and pushing and testing the main character's decisions in the climax of the film.
However, Matthews acknowledges that there are challenges in growing the film industry in South Africa, such as the difficulty of creating a strong local paying audience. He believes that the TV series space offers more opportunity for filmmakers now due to the increased consumption of content on streaming channels.
"Love and Monsters" reflects the human condition, particularly with the world gripped in the fear of a pandemic, with a message about facing fears and learning about oneself by following love rather than fear. This emotional depth, combined with the film's unique setting and compelling narrative, has made "Love and Monsters" a standout in the apocalyptic genre.
[1] Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/love-and-monsters-director-michael-matthews-1235016638/ [2] Source: https://www.indiewire.com/2020/10/love-and-monsters-michael-matthews-interview-1234667571/
- Michael Matthews, inspired by his father's love for movies and films like Indiana Jones, nurtured a passion for screenwriting from an early age.
- In addition to his love for films, Matthews enjoys a varied lifestyle that includes an interest in fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and home-and-garden.
- Matthews' success in the entertainment industry has led him to offer advice for aspiring screenwriters, emphasizing the importance of understanding screenwriting principles, being honest about character journeys, and pushing decisions to the film's climax.
- As the film industry evolves, Matthews is optimistic about the potential for South African filmmakers to find audiences with the help of new streaming platforms, particularly in the TV series space, like movies-and-tv, books, and education-and-self-development.
