
This week’s Staff Pick Premiere — “All These Creatures” from writer and director Charles Williams — tells the story of a boy reflecting on his father’s bouts with mental illness. With magical cinematic flair and a standout performance from lead actor Yared Scott, Williams manages to bring a sense of curiosity to a subject that would normally be rendered bleak.
Over the course of “All These Creatures,” which took home the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, we watch as the son struggles to understand the source of his father’s erratic behavior. We also witness firsthand how it feels to have a loved one rendered unrecognizable.
In speaking with director Charles Williams, we learned that the film itself was largely informed by two people in particular: His daughter and the lead actor Yared Scott. Read on for excerpts from our conversation. And be sure to check out “All These Creatures,” right here on Vimeo.
On the inspiration for the film:
“When I sat down to write, my daughter had just been born. I was thinking about how we all reckon with the images we have of our parents over time, and how we eventually come to see them as people instead of these mythic figures in our heads. If they’re destructive, it’s kind of essential to separate yourself from that impact and find a deeper understanding. Were they ‘bad’ people or damaged themselves or mentally ill? Can we find compassion for them on some level?”
On casting the lead:
“It was essential to find the right presence — someone in early adolescence who was really compelling to watch. I wanted someone who was reacting and thinking with a depth that would translate on film, which is not easy to find in someone so young. I felt that if I could find the right soul, I could rewrite the story around them, so I cast without restrictions on race or gender. After an extensive search, we found Yared Scott, who has an Ethiopian-Australian background. I cast the other family members around him; I also brought on four Ethiopian-Australian advisors to make sure what I was making was accurate and culturally sensitive. This was a bit unorthodox, but ended up being a gift. The encouragement and generosity of the advisors really helped me.”
On the challenges of making “All These Creatures”:
“Working with kids under the age of 15 meant very short days. Combining that with shooting on film — plus animals, bugs, untrained actors, dilapidated locations, weather problems, and filming in a moving car — was like a laundry list of challenges bundled together. The film was also made with sponsorships and everyone working for free, which makes these problems that much more complicated.”
On advice for aspiring filmmakers:
“One piece of advice I used to hear a lot was ‘Listen to your gut,’ which never made any sense to me. But I’ve realized: Another way of putting it is just listen to the film. Take yourself out of it — your ego, your needs, your insecurities — and serve what you feel the film wants. Follow that, adapt the process, and ignore all the noise.”
On future plans:
“I’ve been writing a feature called ‘Inside’ for some time now. In some ways, it’s an extrapolation of ‘All These Creatures’ in its themes and tone. I’m hoping to get rolling on that soon. There’s also another film I’m in the early stages of developing. It’s called ‘Kingdom Come,’ and it’s a true story I’ve had a crush on for a long time…”