Feb 13, 20225 min read

Oz Femme Fatale of the Month Gökçe Açıkgöz.

We are celebrating Oz Femme Fatales of Horror with the talented filmmaker Gökçe Açıkgöz.

Welcome Gökçe.

GA - Thank you for having me.

Could you please tell us about your project The Beyond?

GA - The Beyond Horror/Thriller feature movie series : It consists of 4 different independent movie stories. The reason why I created it as a series is that the episodes of the series broadcast on digital platforms such as Netflix consist of a maximum of 40 to 50 minutes. I would like to present this horror spree to horror and thriller lovers, 4 films one after the other, each of which was created as a feature film and consists of one and a half hours.

For example, after the release of The Home, the first movie of the series The Beyond, I aim for the audience to wait impatiently for the second movie of the series. The second movie can be a second story prepared independently from each other, or it can be a sequel to the movie “The Home”. This is all about the decision that the producers will make together after the release of the movie.

We can say that The Beyond horror / thriller film series is an open-ended project that will be shaped according to the audience's reaction or the decision of the producers to take before or after the movie is released.

When did you move to Australia and why?

GA - I came to Australia in 2018. Just after my creative journey in Europe between 2016-2017. I was always filled with the urge to go far. This desire to go formed a whole with my artistic activities during my travels. So I chose this island country, which is too far away for Me, to continue creating. I can say that there is no special reason. I was going to continue my artistic journey in other countries and I thought that this place would be appropriate. Since I also teach on my professions , it is a good option to share my knowledge and experience with the people of the world.

Do you have a favourite Australian horror film?

GA - Yes there is. Wolf Creek. I find this movie series very successful. It has a story inspired by real stories that shudder, and the shooting and acting are very successful. I also love the mad max series, which is in the action and thriller genre. It's one of the best movies ever made in Australia, even if it's not on the horror genre.

Could you please tell us about your two short films Peacock and Seeking?

GA - Seeking is a drama film that I shot in 2012 in Turkey as a graduation project of Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Cinema and TV Department. While working on the script of this movie, I was inspired by the stories of different people. Believing that the script is very strong, I created this movie in medium length (33 minutes). It attracts a lot of attention from different countries of the world and wherever I show the movie Seeking, the audience always asks very different questions. As a director and producer, your journey continues even after 10 years with a film you have produced, and the work you produce can confront you with a subject you have never seen or thought about before.

Peacock is a surreal and experimental film shot in Poland in 2017.

Peacock was adapted into a movie from a poem I wrote in 2014.

Everything I have written so far, poetry, story, aphorism etc. it has always continued to form with me as a part of my life. Being in the right place, at the right time and with the right people determines when and where my writing will turn into a work of art.

In this artistic creation, I act by trusting my feelings and thoughts. The only thing that connects me to art is myself.

The peacock is a natural reflection of my view of the world as an artist. If readers want to reach detailed information about this movie, they can watch Peacock-Documentary. There, I am talking about the formation period of the film and the production phase in detail.

Link to documentary about Peacock Film :Image

How has the Covid Epidemic impacted your life and film making?

GA - Covid has affected my life and my film making process a lot like everyone else. But I am glad that I completed The Beyond Horror/Thriller movie series during the 4-month quarantine period in Sydney. I wrote the first story of the movie in 2018 in Turkey. I started working on the other 3 stories in Australia and was able to complete the project during the quarantine period of 4 months. I believe that anything is possible if people want it.

Could you please tell us about the Art Laboratory?

GA - I established the art lab in 2013, one year after graduating from Marmara University, with the support of my art community in Turkey. We continued our work in the art lab actively for 3 years. In this process, we realized street performances with my team and signed many artistic projects. The art lab especially It was an art laboratory where we focused on acting theories and produced art projects by feeding from different art disciplines such as cinema / theater / performance arts.

The Art Laboratory, which started its work in 2013, continues with training and workshops given in different countries around the world, under the directorship of me, as a related department in association with “Peacock Film Productions"

Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years?

GA - I would like to see myself on movie sets in 5 years. Especially as a director who created The Beyond film series project and undersigned larger projects.

(BTS The Home)

Are there any other projects you are currently working on?

GA - I am currently focusing on The Beyond horror/thriller movie series project. Before The Beyond project, I have a Documentary Project, Far Country People, which I continue to shoot. The shootings are almost completed, but I postponed this project until later.

Any advice for women wanting to embark into a career of film making?

GA - First of all, there is no need for advice for a confident person. If they know very well what they want, I advise them to continue on that road despite everything.

What was the last horror movie you watched or television series you binged?

GA - The last horror movie series I watched is “The Haunting” on Netflix . A successful story combined with good shots and a very good job has been done.

Describe yourself in 3 words?

GA - Art - Love - Tenacity