WFF2008: Interview with "Spin Cycle" filmmaker Andrew Napier

Andrew Napier is one driven individual. In addition to the creation of several award-winning documentaries, teaching a video production class during his senior year at Mauston High School, and running triathalons, Napier can now also boast of having his second film accepted into the Wisconsin Film Festival. Following last year’s screening of "Keeping the Spirit," a documentary about the Panther Spirit Effigy Mound in Mauston, Napier and his fellow UW student, Michael Anderson will be showing "Spin Cycle," a short narrative, as part of the Wisconsin Student Short Films program.

I recently caught up with Napier via electronic text for a brief chat about the movie:

First off, congratulations on getting your film into the festival.

Thank you very much! Michael and I are both very excited to have our film showing in the 10th Annual Wisconsin Film Festival. It’s an honor.

Because I can't seem to find more than a brief synopsis of your film online, would you mind giving me a little insight into what it's about? It's a short, so I won't ask you to spoil the whole thing, but what can audiences expect from "Spin Cycle"?

It is a short film so I don’t want to say too much: I would describe “Spin Cycle” as a quirky vignette, in which a Poor Sap (while preparing for a date) battles a Femme Fatale for the Laundromat’s only available washing machine in this strange, whimsical comedy. Poor Sap and Femme Fatale are played by the very talented Josh Krevsky and Debra Lopez, respectively.

Where did the idea for this film come from? How did the production come together?

Michael and I first met each other at a meeting of the UW Film Production Club (which, unfortunately, I am not sure even exists any more), and there a group of us decided to make a short film for the sake of making a film. That’s it really. Michael and a few other people came up with the idea for “Spin Cycle” and I took that and wrote the screenplay. Michael read it, liked it, and we agreed that if done right, this might be able to get into the Wisconsin Film Festival – and that was our goal.

Andrew, you seem to focus pretty heavily on documentaries, which "Spin Cycle", I'm pretty sure, is not. Where did the inspiration for this come from?

I have had a strong interest in film since the age of nine, and when I was eleven-years-old I officially started my film business, Napier Films LLC. I have always wanted to write and direct narrative films, like what you go to see at the cinema. So when I was in middle school I made an attempt at this: I shot a feature film called “Sledge” (which was about Al Capone and how he escapes from Alcatraz, takes a super steroid, and starts robbing banks with a sledge hammer). It was great fun, but I realized then that while living in the small rural town of Mauston, a good feature action thriller blockbuster movie (key word: good) was out of the realm of possibility. So I turned my interest to documentaries, which was a bit more feasible. I really do love documentary filmmaking and I love watching documentaries, but after my next documentary is complete, I plan on focusing on feature narrative filmmaking, which is more than possible here in Madison.

Your documentary, "Keeping the Spirit," showed in the 2007 Wisconsin Film Festival, which makes this your second entry into the fest. Seeing as you're just now a freshmen at the UW, that's a pretty good track record. Were you expecting the success? Have any grand plans for the future?

I never know what to expect. As far as the future, I am currently in the editing stage of my second documentary, which tells the story of an 88-year-old woman who competes in triathlons and an 81-year-old man who recently set the national high jump record in his age category. I hope to inspire people to become more active through this film.

As far as Michael and I, we plan to team up again in the not-to-distant-future to produce a feature film. Gulp.

I assume you'll both be at the screening of the film. Are you planning to see any other movies at the fest? Anything you're particularly excited about?

Yes, and yes. I will try to see as many films as I possibly can. Although I haven’t even looked at the film directory yet or bought tickets…I better get on that.

And just for the heck of it, care to name one or two of your favorite/most influential movies and/or directors?

According to my Facebook profile: Adaptation, Memento, Donnie Darko, Reservoir Dogs, Apocalypse Now, and American Beauty, to name just a few. Charlie Kaufman is my favorite and most inspirational screenwriter, and as far as directors go I love the work of Spike Jonze, Joss Whedon, Quentin Tarantino, and the Coen Brothers.

For more info please visit www.napierfilms.com

Spin Cycle

Wisconsin's Own

(USA, 2007, 15 mins)

digital video

World Premiere

Directed By: Michael Anderson & Andrew Napier

writer: Andrew Napier

original story: Michael Anderson, Tim Collins, Luke Jandl, Mara Greenwald

cinematography: Michael Anderson & Andrew Napier

editor: Michael Anderson & Andrew Napier

original score: Mark Anderson

special effects: Michael Anderson

cast: Josh Krevsky, Debra Lopez, Andrew Napier, Kelly Moses, Luke Jandle, Michael Anderson