"The Good Things" is a British film based on the stage play of the same name. It tells the story of a touching first love and the budding sexuality that happened in the lower residential area. Reporter Phillippe Cahill told screenwriter Jonathan Harvey that this humorous and touching movie is a beautiful thing in itself.
Question: To what extent does the movie retell the stage play?
"Hettie MacDonald is both a stage play and a film director. I have always believed in her feelings. The stage play and the film are different in setting. The former are all set in the aisles outside the apartment building and in the boys' rooms. The film can be used to take the shots. Stretching to other places, the narrative can also be more detailed. You can describe more, get closer to the characters, and make the story more touching. We used older boys as the protagonist in the stage play, because the sense of distance from the stage can dilute age. Older actors can hold up to 2 hours of performance every night-but you won’t get the same feelings as the movie. So I’m very happy that some boys of the right age appear in the movie.
Q: The cast of the movie impresses me deeply. Are you satisfied?
"I am absolutely satisfied with the young lovers Ste and Jamie starring Scott Neal and Glen Berry. We spent a long time interviewing many people. Both boys went through eight to nine auditions before being finalized. But this is thanks to director Hettie. She is very good at casting roles and can find a suitable position for them, especially for children of such a young age to interpret so much content. Of course, she did the same in the selection of supporting roles. I am very happy with everyone's work and it is clear that we made the right choice. "
Question: Is it difficult to change from a stage play to a movie script?
"It's very exciting, like playing freely in a toy store. Because I have anticipated the characters and the story, I know exactly what will happen next. I just need to find the best form of expression, and then make it happen in In the studio. My biggest gain is: as a playwright, I find myself obsessed with dialogue too much. I am surprised that the film needs so little dialogue! In the movie, you can get close to seeing the faces of the actors, so no It takes so much ridicule. But the choice is very troublesome. I used two years to revise the draft seven times.”
Q: I’m glad that you didn’t overstate the discomfort of living in government-relief public housing. You also didn’t write it down as a dull one. A miserable place. I have to say that these are all clichés.
"I know it's easy to walk that old road. All apartments can be boring, or Sandra's apartment can be dilapidated. But the fun of the stage play must be moved to the screen, and you must ensure that these characters are not deleted. . Sandra is a strong woman with a good job. She should have enough money to buy clothes and decorate her apartment. "
Q: This kind of treatment really gives the film a strong sense of hope. Do you really believe that these people can cope with poor social conditions, and even handle the cognitive conflicts that are both working class and gay?
"This was originally my purpose-to give a story that is both gay and from the bottom, and then bravely come out with a happy ending. Although I have not seen it in any film and television works, it is actually in my life. This is true among people and people I know. Yes, there will be conflicts and sadness. But since any heterosexual teenager can watch the dance and hold hands (like "flying over Beverly") on TV, then "Good things" should also make gay teenagers feel hopeful.
Question: Movies-even stage plays-often have a problem: we only see people struggling with their homosexuality. The characters either torment themselves or do it for this This has been tortured by others. It is often resolved (or approximately resolved) until the end of the play.
"Yes... (laughs), I don't think it is necessary. Just like I am a comrade, I don’t know the reason, and I don’t care. This is how I am, this is the real me. I am not born out of hatred, I don't find me weird or strange. I know that society thinks I should do that, but it is natural for me to be gay. "
"The two male actors in the film are both heterosexual, so this became my top priority during the rehearsal process. You must know that if this film is about a boy and a girl, it won't start shooting at all, because it's too common. The society will say it’s okay. The reason for the filming is because it is about two boys. But you must not take the film with the idea of “this is unusual”. I let the two boys act with ordinary hearts and speak lines. , Remember that all this is very ordinary. At least I hope the effect of the shot is this. If it proves that I am an overly romantic optimist, I don’t mind. But I think I should give this idea a place, especially in the present age "
Q: How did the two heterosexual boys deal with the pressure of being gay?
"I think the two boys did a great job. They have concerns, but they really want to play because they take their acting career very seriously. And you won't refuse the opportunity to perform a mainstream British film."
Q: Of course the film It's not just relying on the performance of the two boys. All the actors are great, especially Tameka Empson, a young and active, first-time-photographed girl who plays a neighbor girl with a big mouth and a lot of problems. She is absolutely brilliant.
"She's super fun. She is the best cure for hangovers I know."
Q: The soundtrack to this movie is very beautiful, and Mama Cass's song is very suitable.
"Indeed. I first thought about Mama Cass because my mother said that I ate too fast. If I didn't pay attention, I would choke to death like her. I knew this female singer with a huge stomach since then. In addition, I have an aunt. She’s a super fan. But I didn’t like her very much, until I started to write scripts of the “good things”. I saw her tapes in a record store and bought them home as background music for writing. Then I started to get more and more. The more you pay attention to the lyrics, and realize that her song is about self-awakening, optimism, and encouragement to be different-this is really great! It is just an excuse to introduce the girl played by Tameka to her crazy obsession. However. We really can’t use all of them in movies, because the copyright fees are very, very expensive.”
Q: Why are the British people tolerant and open in shaping homosexuality, but they tend to be conservative on the same topic in politics?
"I think this (film) is a response to our real life. At least for me, the reason that inspired me to write a warm and optimistic, a little joke boy meets a boy movie is because I feel that there are many more in this society. Change is needed. Creation comes from the fact that we live in a society that is full of discrimination and prejudice every day.”
Q: Will being labeled a gay playwright/screenwriter trouble you? Many artists don’t like to be defined as gay, even though I personally think it’s an escape...
"I haven’t considered this issue. I’m gay, and I’m also a writer, so I’m a gay writer. I know they don’t call me Gay writers, but I really don’t mind what they call me. When people say they worry about being defined as gay, it’s more like an inner self-homology.”
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