By Josh Timewell.

The following is part-nine of a series of interviews with filmmakers who are featured in the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, which takes place from 9-16 July, 2017.

Directed by Samuel Hutchinson, and presented by Must Go Faster Films, We Are All Snakes follows the life of artist Bill Flowers. It explores his lost faith and identity through his love of snakes and painting.

I was able to speak with Samuel and ask a few questions. His responses are below.

Could you provide a brief summary of the film in the Documentary Film Festival?

“We are a all snakes is a short documentary that explores wildlife artist Bill Flowers relationship with faith and the environment through his art – specifically the painting we are all snakes (which is of the virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus in a field of snakes).  Bill, at one point in his life, was very religious however it was something that became worn down over time and in a way nature has become a spiritual element for himself.”

What was your motivation to put together this film?

“This project started off very differently. I kinda found bill through something else I was working on, I saw his art and then heard he was having a show later in the year.  My main motivation was that I found him to be a very interesting guy, and I think his experiences in life are ones that we can all relate to, or at least I can. Oh and I like what he was doing with the painting, it is very confronting.”

What have been your favourite/most rewarding aspects of the making of the film?

“My favourite part of making the film is when we went snake catching. Bill believes the best way to draw an animal is to experience it, to get up close with it.  I think we spent about 5 hours walking in a marsh looking for copperhead snakes, as bill wanted to use those in his painting.

There were a few other scenes which we filmed that didn’t make the cut, which is a shame, but we were able to get into a Tasmanian Devil enclose and film bill sketching them while feeding.  We have put this video out on our social media.”

What is on your radar for the next few years of your career?

“I’m just about to finish up another short documentary and I’m in pre production for a feature documentary. This feature will touch on belief and the role it plays in people’s lives. That said however it does involve extraterrestrials.”

How has the making of this film been any different to other films you have been part of?

“The biggest difference is this is an art documentary. Other projects I’ve done have been a bit more ‘out there’ – be it aliens or yowie hunters.

It was nice being able to work with a guy who is a bit more grounded but at the same time was very similar to other subjects I’ve worked with.  They’re all looking for a place to fit in.

Also filming painting is honestly the hardest things I’ve done.  We’d film for 6-8 hours a day of painting and I think in the end we shot 5-6 days of it.”

 

We Are All Snakes is showing July 15, 8.45pm, Longplay.

For more information and tickets, visit www.mdff.org.au

*featured image credit: https://www.facebook.com/mustgofasterfilms/photos/a.173806103040815.1073741827.172852703136155/264087350679356/?type=1&theater

To learn more about We Are All Snakes, visit https://www.facebook.com/mustgofasterfilms/