JustArts had a conversation over email with David French '13, who has been working on an original surrealist short film since the spring.
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JustArts: Would you tell us briefly about your film, Wild Ruse, and how the project got started? Where did the idea come from, and with whom did you collaborate to make it? 
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David French: In the summer of 2011, I was a part of Brandeis'   [Justice Brandeis Semester] summer film program. It was a really good experience, combining the three production classes into one unified whole, which I think is the ideal way to learn that kind of stuff. Brandeis has some really excellent hardware and software for making film, and a good pool of knowledge to draw on for it. I made a promise to myself that before I left I would make my own film. I was already planning on doing film once I graduated, but once you enter into the professional world you have many greater obstacles to deal with. As a student you are the most free and capable to do some of these things, and I knew I had to take that chance while I had it. A lot of the people who were on crew for Wild Ruse were people I had met in JBS. My assistant director, Jennifer Recinos, for instance, or my production manager [Alexandra] Zelle Rettman '14. That's the other thing that's important to take from college, is people you know you can count on to work with. 
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JA: Where did you find inspiration from while creating and producing the film?
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DF: A lot of things. My official field of study is Fine Art, and I've been told by fellow filmmakers that I approach film like painting. ... I actually came to the school to major in Creative Writing, so a large part of my influences were literary. I have an interest in magical realism and the way that text can play on abstract or non-linear themes. I also have favorite filmmakers of course. The color treatment of Panos Cosmatos, the character heart in Rian Johnson (Brothers Bloom is my all time favorite film), the intricate plotting of Christopher Nolan. Throw in some texture from David Lynch, too. 
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JA: Were there any resources at Brandeis that you used to help bring the film to life? What have you been able to take away from your studies at Brandeis that has helped you to continue working with film after college? 
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DF: The Getz Media Lab and Brandeis Television were absolutely invaluable. They really helped support the film and make it possible. The Getz Media Lab provides amazing equipment and software and I think it's sort of the "hidden" gem of the campus. I'm surprised by how many people don't even know what kind of stuff they have free access to. ... BTV is also amazing. The current [president] and leading board is really dedicated to getting students making things, which I think is important. The advantage of a student-led organization is that it has a lot of freedom, but also sometimes people can fall asleep at the wheel. This isn't the case at all with BTV now, and I'm very proud of what people are doing. 
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JA: As Wild Ruse starts to make its way around the festival circuit, what sorts of festivals will you be pursuing, and where do you see the film going in the future? 
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DF: We've targeted a couple of big festivals but we're unlikely to get in due to length. I want to be realistic about that. I'm really looking at smaller festivals, or free ones, hopefully a couple in the Boston area. Honestly there are so many festivals it's a little hard to choose!
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... I chose to go back to Austin, [Texas]. rather than head to the more expensive and crowded job markets of Los Angeles or New York. There are some alumni working in film from Brandeis but the industry is really cutthroat and I don't think we have as strong of alumni relationships in that field as we could. Brandeis does advertise its creative side, but there isn't as much of a professional creative focus as I personally would like. That said, there really is nothing stopping people from making their work. The tech is cheap and the information free. I'm currently doing freelance music video work in Austin and hopefully we'll see stuff getting more pumped up as I settle back in and make connections. 
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-Rachel Hughes 
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*Editor's note: Alexandra Zelle Rettman is a staff writer for JustArts.