According to A Heartbeat Away Director Gale Edwards, theatre directors can make a “wonderful” transition into film if they learn about the collaboration process it requires.

“Sam Mendes had a wonderful transition, and so did Stephen Daldry, so we’re following a course which is not uncommon anymore. Theatre directors are directing more and more films around the world,” she said.

Edwards, who has directed musicals such as The Boy From Oz and Sweeney Todd and won an Emmy for her filmed version of Jesus Christ Superstar, is currently shooting her debut feature, the musical comedy A Heartbeat Away, in Queensland.

“It’s a very exciting journey for me and I feel thrilled to have the opportunity and take this new direction in my career.

“I feel like a duck taken to water, completely at home. I’ve always loved working with actors, and I love the process of shooting a film, the possibilities the camera offers, and the degree to which I can control the storytelling,” said Edwards.

However, Edwards is aware that not all theatre directors have successful transitions, and that the medium requires a high level of collaboration.

“Film is so dependent on so many things coming together. It’s so easy for a film not to be wonderful.

“All I can do is to approach the material honestly and with as much energy and focus and analysis as I can bring to it. I’m in the middle of making it, so I’m very cautious about making any sort of outlandish statement about what I’m doing, but I hope it will be beautiful to look at and move people and bring a tear to their eyes.”

The film is about an aspiring rock guitarist who is forced to take over the musical direction of his father’s marching band four weeks before a major competition. It stars Sebastian Gregory, Isabel Lucas, Williams Zappa, Tammy Macintosh and Colin Friels. It is produced by Chris Fitchett.

“It’s a story about the power of music to divide and reconcile people. It deals with the question of what it is to be an artist, with love and values such as loyalty and honesty, and the pursuit of your dreams.

“It’s very charming and archetypal. I set out to create a modern day fairy story, deliberately steering from Australian naturalism. I pushed the design, the colour, and the performances so there is a heightened reality in the style of the movie, but it’s not a caricature and it’s never pushed into the ridiculous,” explained Edwards. “I hope it’s totally moving and amusing. “

While it is not a traditional musical because characters won’t break into song, music plays a vital role in the film, which will combine the work of musical director Sean O’Boyle, and existing work ranging from indie rock, dance and band music, to opera and piano concertos.

“Because the movie has a contemporary setting and deals with music, we needed a certain number of recognisable songs that everyone would know. Of course the budget didn’t allow us to have as many as we would have liked,” explained Edwards.

The cast has also learned how to play their instruments well enough to feel comfortable performing their scenes.

Edwards says they’re shooting an average of 3.5 minutes per day and, because the film is being shot mainly on location, the production has been susceptible to high levels of rain and humidity. Next week the production will start work on the big competition sequence, which will see crew and cast working nights at two different venues with shots that Edwards defines as “complicated”.

A Heartbeat Away will be distributed by Hoyts in late 2010/early 2011, but it does not have a release date yet.

- From encoremagazine.com.au