Director Scott Mann on Fall Movie, Filmmaking

Fred: What’s up, everybody? This is Fred Richani. We have right here via Zoom a very special guest. He’s a critically acclaimed director. You may know him from such films as The Tournament, Heist, and now coming to theaters this week a thriller by the name of Fall. We are talking to director Scott Mann. Scott, thank you so much for the time. How’s everything going?

Scott Mann: Thank you. Good, thank you. Good. Thank you for the intro. That’s good.

Fred: Hey, I do what I can. Now, no pun intended, let’s dive in. Fall, it is a film that is getting a lot of people talking. I kind of describe it as new fear unlocked because it takes my fear of heights to new heights. Also, vultures, a lot of things going on in this film. Can you talk a little bit about it?

Scott Mann: Yeah, absolutely. Well, I guess principally we wanted to make a movie that kind of really captured that fear of falling, horror of heights. That was the core principle. Like I think we all feel that way. I feel that way and I share that fear of heights a lot of people do. And I think it’s been kind of tapped into in different movie sequences and you’ve seen things, but it was really to try and kind of do a cinematic experience that really takes you there and puts you through that. And kind of takes you on that roller coaster ride so you feel your way through this journey and you kind of feel your way all 2,000 ft up there, really.

Fred: So, are you an adrenaline junkie at all? Or are you just randomly wake up one day and say, “You know what? I want to make the scariest possible film that involves heights.”

Scott Mann: Well, I think I definitely did the brief of wanting to make the scariest horror film ever. But for heights, for sure. But no, I love the movies. I love cinema and I think it’s all about I do think it’s all about the experience of why, you know, going there. And I think there’s a combination of like sharing a story and sharing something that matters to you. But the experience and escapism you can get when things are done in a certain way, I think can be great. And it’s And I think I really wanted to accentuate that. And so yeah, I absolutely I’m not a crazy junkie, but I do I guess I’m a junkie for good cinema, in truth.

And that’s really what we were really pushing for the experience of Fall, for sure.

Fred: For sure. And you had a fantastic cast, Virginia Gardner, Grace Caroline Currey, Jasper Cole, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. They’re just a fantastic little cast you had. And obviously you had the challenges of the pandemic as well. From what I understand from the lead actresses, they did a majority of their own stunts. What were some of the challenges that they kind of incorporated not just the stunt work and just the challenges of filming something so unique, but also during this unique time we’re in the world?

Scott Mann: Yeah, I know. It was I think there was a few there was a few things that led up. Like it’s a strange one. In a way, it’s the perfect film to shoot during COVID, right? Like when we were avoiding kind of groups and avoiding being inside, kind of the idea of having like two leading actresses in the desert on their own, it’s about as COVID friendly as you can get in terms of a film set. So weirdly, it was you know, it kind of leaned into that. And it also kind of played into how we decided to shoot the movie, which was we could have made this movie? Well, I say we could have had it wouldn’t have gotten made had we tried to make it the 50 100 million dollar way of doing it in the studio and faking it and doing all that stuff, right?

So we were very aware to kind of shoot the film for real and doing it on location practically and doing it and capturing it was very important to kind of bring that psychological tension to life. And I think the challenge of the movie, biggest one is probably filming at 2,000 ft. And finding a way of doing that was a big kind of technical engineering challenge that went on behind the scenes. But once we’d done that, once we got to the position where we could do that, it was a case of being in this one kind of like small place where we could really kind of use, you know, old school film grammar, filming it for real on these IMAX sized landscapes.

And really kind of film make in a very intimate way at the top of that mountain.

Fred: It definitely worked out and you had a fantastic cast as I mentioned. How did you narrow it down to those few?

Scott Mann: Those I So look, I think I went through quite an extensive casting stage where I met a lot of actors. A lot of which, you know, would say they were okay with heights, but I knew they weren’t really okay with heights. And I wanted to kind of really push the edge on it. So I showed them kind of diagrams of how we were going to do it and I showed them like the cliff edge and this height and the 100 ft tower thing that we were building. And it kind of washed away a lot of pretenders, let’s just say. And then yeah, and then we did chemistry reads. Got it down to kind of 10 10 people and did chemistry reads with Hunter and Beckys.

And when Ginny and Grace did theirs, it was just it just came to life. The chemistry was real. They absolutely nailed the scene. Their dynamic was perfect. And in truth, they had like they had elements of the characters within them. And I felt like that was also an important part of this that if they cuz they’re going into this environment and they’re going into this very kind of the because they it’s going to be almost reactive kind of being up there and doing it the way we’re doing it, to fall back into their own characters quite helpful, right? So that so they can kind of keep it in character. And the method of it all kind of and the recipe of that method it really works out.

So I was No, they were absolutely amazing. And to your point before, like they actually they ended up just doing like one getting up and doing it and filming it from the height was one thing, but then feeling comfortable enough to really give a go of doing the stunts and getting in and then ended up doing most of the stunts themselves was just a extra layer that I didn’t think we’d get to, but they absolutely went for it. They just They wanted to do it. Like they were absolutely eager and keen to keep it them, keep it real, and do that on the top. So they totally Tom Cruise’d it and it makes the movie.

Fred: Oh yeah, they did a such an awesome job. Everybody could check out Fall in theaters this week and of course in the coming weeks. So I got to ask you, Scott Mann, how did you become Scott Mann director?

Scott Mann: I just directed loads of bad movies to get to this one. No, I don’t know. I No, I think I love films. I absolutely love films. And I’ve wanted to I made a bunch of films throughout the years. And but I’ve I’ll be honest, I’ve never really owned one of them as fully as Fall. And it’s usually been a case of I always want to make films from I’ve been a kid and to short films. And I kind of just got into the adoption of just do it. Just like make the films, make yourself a better filmmaker by making more films and like understand story and understand character. And as you grow as a human, like try and explore it.

And that’s the joy for me actually is like when you I think with Fall it’s an example of it where I take I think I’ve taken something from my own life that’s quite serious and kind of wrapped it into a character story. And I think it allows you to explore it properly. And I think it’s a very healthy kind of process. But yeah, I ended up doing kind of I would often rewrite films that myself and Jono we would rewrite films then and do it that way. And I always, you know, again, love film making and love films and make the most out of them. But this one was a kernel of an idea that we came up with ourselves and we very much wanted to do something from kind of ground up that could be this cinematic thrill ride.

And so it was really I think it’s a culmination of It’s probably worth saying it’s a culmination of 15 years of failure to get here. But it’s hard, you know, I’ve drifted I’ll be honest, I’ve I feel like I’ve with films, I’ve definitely felt the fact that the industry has changed over the last 20 years. Like that the room for these kind of movies has been shifted so far. And I found myself in a strange world where people want to make a movie that’s like that kind of looks like 20 million for 5 million. And you end up with these weird things and it’s all kind of backward engineering and it’s not good. And this was a very different kind of film.

It was like this is a very honest movie. It’s like it’s stripping it back to kind of the realities of film making and actually doing it right. And it’s it was a joy to do really cuz of that. But yeah, I absolutely I think that I would like to see more films like this, more kind of you know, the films that can kind of claim the space to be able to be enjoyed in the theaters. So I’m really thrilled that Lionsgate, you know, loved it so much and are pushing it so hard and doing everything they’re doing cuz that’s it to have the opportunity to watch it at the biggest screen possible is absolutely what I’d hoped for.

So I’m over the moon and proud that’s happened, honestly.

Fred: Now, before we let you go, we always like to ask our guests some kind of random and rapid-fire questions just to get to know you better. Here we go. Right. Are you ready, Scott?

Scott Mann: No, not for rapid-fire. I got These are the ones I fail at. Go on.

Fred: There’s no wrong answer here. Favorite late-night snack or cheat meal?

Scott Mann: British chocolate, definitely. Fruit and nut, Cadbury’s. Yep, 100%.

Fred: All-time favorite director?

Scott Mann: Oh, hello. James Cameron.

Fred: Good choice. All-time favorite actor and actress?

Scott Mann: I was going to say Jasper Cole. And then joint between Ginny Ginny Gardner and Grace, for sure. But yeah, I Any alternatives? I guess all-time. That’s hard. I actually No, I love I’ll be honest, I’m a huge fan of Cruise. I think, you know, for all the madness, I think he is an incredible filmmaker. And I think yeah, DiCaprio is probably there as well as an actor. Yeah, these are hard questions. You said they weren’t hard, but this is hard.

Fred: Hey, all fantastic answers. Now, as far as filming Fall, from what I understand, you guys did use real vultures, the actors did do a majority of their stunts. It is a thriller, for sure. But was there any awkward moments when filming Fall? Something that maybe seemed a little chaotic at the time that makes for a funny story now?

Scott Mann: I think, to be honest, every single day was Okay. It was You know, every day was a challenge, truthfully. Like more or less. Like it was Like you know what I mean? Every day we set off from Victorville, right? During the pandemic, driving out into the middle of the desert on these dusty roads. And then we stop at the base of a mountain. And then we get then we have to wait put the sunscreen on cuz we’re burning like within within seconds. And then get these little carts take us up a rickety road which you know has got these huge drops and very scary to be even be on them all the way winding winding all the way at the top of this mountain where there’s a little square which we’re calling our set and that just all swarms of wasps and like rain and thunder just crazy every day was happening.

So it was really it was kind of a survival thing for the crew as much as anything else and we just had we had like a biblical list of disasters that occurred including like our set blowing down one time which is a bit crazy and it was just yeah so it was definitely very kind of Bear Grylls no luxuries whatsoever barely any shade it was nasty conditions and then to be fair like Grace and Jenny had the worst of it right cuz they’re trapped up there with literally no no kind of whatsoever. So they you know no one can complain because but yeah the filming for this was the most uncomfortable most difficult I’ve ever endured in my entire life but I’m glad we did it ultimately cuz we captured something really interesting and I think that’s you know so the flip of it is our journey our step to the top of the tower was worth it I would say for sure.

Fred: There you go.

Scott Mann: Yeah.

Fred: Hey you made it to the finish line.

Scott Mann: Yeah. All good and now people can check it out. Yeah now people can check it out. Hopefully you enjoy it too and yeah yeah see it see yeah see the madness on the screen yeah for sure.

Fred: What’s the best piece of advice you give for success?

Scott Mann: Don’t be afraid to fail. Yeah. No yeah for sure. Just don’t worry about embrace failure. This is actually probably the best advice for success. Yeah.

Fred: Love that and no pun intended but we’ll get you out of here on a high note.

Scott Mann: Yeah.

Fred: Why should fans watch Fall?

Scott Mann: Fans okay people I think should watch Fall. I keep saying this but I think I dare people to watch Fall on the biggest screen possible because I think it straps you in for a literal cinematic thrill ride and it’s an escapism from now that traumatizes you and pumps you out the other end and gives you something more than just what you thought you went in for it and I think it will break your expectations. So I think it’s a thrill ride that you really should go on it’s a rare thrill ride that you get to the cinemas.

Fred: Scott I thank you so much for the time. Bonus question is there anything you wish I asked you in this interview?

Scott Mann: That’s a tough one. I don’t know. I you know tap into myself like are you happy Scott? But no I think no it’s great. You look it was great. Thank you. I you know I tapped I think there’s a lot to it’s one of these things 15 minutes is a sandwich of a squeeze to ask all these things and I think it’s a it’s great but no no I loved it. Thank you very much and I think it’s you know you asked plenty of you it was all very it dove deep so it was great. Thank you.

Fred: Awesome and actually one more question where can we find you online and where can we find you next?

Scott Mann: Oh so I’m very pure on both fronts. So find me online Scottymann79 with an Instagram account that probably has about two posts but I will try better in the yeah I’m but yeah in terms of what I’m doing next honestly I’m not entirely sure. I’ve loved this experience of this kind of raw real filmmaking and I would like to do something more but to be honest I you know cinematic experience wise I’m I’ve shifted my notion of what is important there. And I think that is you know I think we all should be making more films like this for that theatrical we should all be like working on that theatrical experience to make more of this kind of stuff.

So I’m very much kind of focused on that but exactly what we will have to see ultimately after I recover from this one yeah. It says I’m still just over the finish line. I need at least two weeks off.