Having graduated with a degree in Screen Media in 2019, Adam Chapman may not have an extensive history of film making, however this talented up and coming film maker is one to keep your eye on in the future. His production companies short film Cherry Swamp Road is a sinister and intriguing glimpse at how being a good Samaritan can lead you into deadly situations. It is definitely a short film worth watching and highlights the fantastic future possibilities for Adam Chapman Productions.
Welcome to The Australian Short Film Network Adam Chapman.
Adam - Thanks a lot for having me, it’s a pleasure to be a part of such a great group made up of super passionate individuals.
When did you realise that you wanted to create films?
Adam - I realised I wanted to pursue a career in the film industry when I was in year 12 (2014) struggling to find my identity, so after I finished high school I went to acting school at 16th Street Actors Studio. I was in training for a couple of years before I made the transition to behind the camera which led me to completing my degree in Screen Media at Victoria University which I graduated from at the end of 2019.
Who have been your biggest inspirations when it comes to film?
Adam - My biggest inspirations are Christopher Nolan and Roger Deakins because they have such a knack of creating unique stories and visually captivating films, both of which is what I strive to create.
What is your favourite Australian film?
Adam - Hands down my favourite film is Sweet Country (2017) made by Warwick Thornton. I vividly remember going to see this film and the Sun Theatre in Yarraville and being left sitting in the theatre stunned, even after the credits had finished rolling.
So I made sure to go out and purchase the DVD to further support the film and the Aussie industry.
Do you think that there is enough support for Australian film makers within Australia?
Adam - Absolutely not, I think most every day Australians don’t understand how the industry works and how many people dedicate their lives to producing the things they watch. I think Aussie film makers are a very under-appreciated breed of people, yet Australians are known to be big consumers.
I hope one day that the government and public realise how important our community is to their everyday lives and really get behind us and stop taking the content they consume for granted.
Can you tell us about what you are currently working on?
Adam - Currently I’m scoping out film festivals and ways of distributing my short film. Other than that, I’m trying to use this down time to recharge my creative batteries and make some fun super short videos at home.
What is your favourite genre of film?
Adam - To be honest I don’t think I have one. I enjoy almost every genre and as long as the film is engaging I can watch anything. I know that’s not a very exciting answer but I truly believe that if you can make the story engaging and the visuals captivating, anyone can watch and more importantly enjoy the film.
What is the last film that you watched?
Adam - The last film that I watched was The Castle, yes the Aussie classic. That’s always such a fun one to watch.
Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years?
Adam - In 5 years I’d like to have an established and positive reputation within our community because I think that is super important. But other than that, I’m just going to be myself and give my all in everything I do and see where life takes me.
Has the Covid 19 pandemic affected or influenced your work?
Adam - It has definitely affected my work because I was working at a sports media company and they’ve had to make the tough decision to lay off some staff for the foreseeable future and I have a short script that I wrote at uni, but due to social distancing all of the precautions I can’t shoot it even though this would be a great time to do it.
I’m just now using this time to really connect with what is truly important in my life.
If you could remake any film what would it be and why?
Adam - I’m not a fan of remakes because I feel that it’s almost disrespectful to the original cast and crew who worked so hard on the film the first time around.
I’d much rather make original content for audiences so that they can see new and more current stories, which have more relevant themes to the world events that confront them at that moment.
Plus, original content is so important because it gives more people the opportunity to express themselves and stories that have never been heard before.
If you could give any new film maker advice what would it be?
Adam - I’m not a super experienced or a veteran of the industry, but at this stage of my career I would say just enjoy everything you do, work hard and most importantly be yourself!
Where can our readers find your work/ social media?
Adam - You can find me on Facebook, Vimeo and YouTube at Adam Chapman Productions.
You can also find my short film Cherry Swamp Road on Vimeo, which is on my co-producer’s profile, Josh Cummins.
Thank you for your time Adam.
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