The whole universe depends on everything fitting together just right. If one piece busts, even the smallest piece… the whole universe will get busted
Filmed, where and with an aptitude for meeting challenges is a must, the crew had a movie that wasn’t easy to make; nor was it the type to attract big money. The lead actors; a self-employed baker and 5 year old lying about her age, had never acted before but, managing to bootstrap and having a chance meeting with a non-profit crowdfunder – only adds to the amazement of it being made.
They think we’re all gonna drown down here. But we ain’t going nowhere
The personal story of 50% of the main characters is sufficiently fascinating to warrant a film as Henry, the small business owner/actor is a believer in determination, supported by hard work: I got turned down by every finance company, every friend, every family member; everybody you can think of turned me down. Nobody believed in me. He gathered his bits and pieces of catering equipment (stored in grandmas garage) along with the down payment for business premises, all whilst working in others restaurants…. only then to have Hurricane Katrina deluge his business and home and have to start again.
Everybody loses the thing that made them. It’s even how it’s supposed to be in nature. The brave men stay and watch it happen, they don’t run
With friends and family committed to supporting, production was set up opposite Henry’s baking business. In search of a non-professional cast the film with ecological overtones started as the BP oil spill happened on its doorstep. Three years later, and three days after production had finished, the film took Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival ….. then Caméra d’Or at Cannes…. plus had 4 Oscar nominations … then a further 56 award nominations and another 57 wins – although Henry , who’d baked and rehearsed through the nights of filming, missed the major awards because he had a business to take care of.
Making it wasn’t easy and it isn’t a gentle watch; the smell helps me to be cohesive, states one character. Preparing for a life without grown-ups, Beasts of the Southern Wild is a mythical tale of uncertain futures with a background of isolation.
Sometimes you can break something so bad, that it can’t get put back together
And sometimes… it doesn’t happen very often… things are complex but magic can happen. Costing an estimated $1,800,000 to make it’s current US gross is over $12,000,000… and everyone involved was loyal and motivated.
Image credit: Punk Toad Article credit: Copyright SUF 2013