Will Stewart’s ALL WE ARE introduces itself as a deceptively simple two-hander. The short film, which recently screened at the Oxford Film Festival, begins as a young gay man appears at an older gay man’s door following an email exchange. It’s a date with rules and regulations – anonymity being a primary one. However, while both men are selling it as basic and straightforward, it doesn’t feel that way. Their minds seem to both say yes, while their eyes seem to betray something else – more than attraction? Real emotion? Information withheld?

The beauty of Stewart’s directorial debut is the answer is “all the above” and even “all the below.” The longtime casting director doesn’t simply excel in mining multi-layered performances from John Lacy and Matthew Risch, who deliver fine performances as the two men, he also packs a visual punch with his frame composition utilizing the simplicity of the setting to allow the two characters to fill the frame with their longing for connection. Ironically, with a film whose story turns on the question of trust and the acceptance or rejection of it – Stewart succeeds by easily clearing a major hurdle for a first time director: trusting his audience to “get” what he’s going for.

 

1 This is a contained story that packs a very emotional reveal. Were there concerns of “tipping your hand”, and if so, what steps did you consciously take to make sure you maintained the right balance throughout the film?

Good question. I think the main focus for us was to keep everyone invested in the characters until the big reveal at the end. I don’t think a lot of people saw the twist coming at all. In fact, most people, who have seen the film, told me they were worried after the small reveal at the beginning that it was going to be a basic premise. I enjoy watching the reaction in the theater when people realize it is much more than that.

 

2 Since you ARE a casting director, what were the intangibles that John Lacy and Matthew Risch had that made you entrust each with these roles?

John Lacy is someone I had cast before on Private Practice and had auditioned many times on various projects. I already knew he was a top notch actor, but on top of that, I really wanted someone that was able to convey so much without saying a lot. John has one of the kindest faces I know and those baby blue eyes are a dream for the camera, conveying sadness and empathy, which was very important for this role.

Matthew Risch is someone that I first came to know as an actor when he recurred on Looking.  He has a way of making his presence known whether it be one scene in a TV show or an entire movie. What was interesting to me is how much I didn’t know about Matt when we started talking about this. My IG moniker is @thewalkingimdb because of my encyclopedic knowledge of actors and their credits, so it is always refreshing to discover someone new that isn’t brand new to the business, if that makes sense.

When I watched his reel, I think the most exciting part for me was I was going to be able to show a softer side to him that I don’t think he gets to play as often because he is so good looking and has such an intense look. A casting director reached out after a screening to say that he saw something completely different after seeing him in ALL WE ARE.

I might be biased, but I think both of these guys are stars.

 

3 What surprised you about the directing process, even though you have been this close to it for so long?

It was like being in a boot camp. I had to learn so much in a short period of time. Going into it, I knew I could direct the actors. That’s what we do every day in the room as casting directors. So I felt strong about that one aspect. But the technical side of the process could feel daunting. Luckily, I had an amazing producer, Troy VanderHeyden, and he surrounded me with pros in every department. And I got to watch and take it all in. I had complete trust in my crew and they let me stand on their shoulders every single day. I also couldn’t have done it without my DP, Xavi Grobet. He has worked on so many big projects and has an amazing visual eye. Plus, he made the long hours fun and that is how I want all my sets to be. At the end of each day, I was exhausted, but excited to do it all over again. It felt like I finally found what I was meant to be doing.

 

 

4 What was the experience like for you screening the film in Mississippi (after having grown up in the state)?  

You have no idea what this meant to me. When I dropped out of the University of Mississippi and packed up my car to move to Los Angeles 20 years ago, I didn’t know anyone out there. I only knew that I was closeted and had to get out of Mississippi. I didn’t know if it would be for good or if I just needed time to figure some important things out in a different environment.  It never crossed my mind that I would even have the opportunity to bring an LGBTQ film to screen in MS. That is a testament to Melanie Addington and everyone at the Oxford Film Festival. The atmosphere was that of a love fest….for filmmakers, for artists, for film fans. And for me, to have my mom and sisters and family friends and friends I have known my whole life in attendance, it was an experience I will never forget. It was a really beautiful thing.

 

5 What have you taken away from the making of ALL WE ARE that has already directly influenced your approach to the feature film you are currently developing?

When I sat down to write my feature, I had never written more than 25 pages before. I didn’t know if I COULD write a full script. But the first draft poured out of me in about 7 days. Part of that is how personal this story is to me. But a huge part of it is how much I learned from my good friend, Jon(athan) Herman, while writing ALL WE ARE. And he continues to mentor me through this one as well.

All of that to say, ALL WE ARE was such a collaboration on every level and that is what I want on every project I undertake. My hope is that if you surround yourself with quality, knowledgeable, kind people, it directly correlates to the kind of film you make.

6 Popcorn or Candy?

Popcorn with M&M Peanuts mixed in.

 

BONUS – What film festival or film festivals are coming up where people can see ALL WE ARE?

We have the Santa Fe Film Festival next and are waiting to hear back from a few others. Stay tuned.