Behind the scenes of the award-wining SA sci-fi/horror film ‘Fried Barry’ – Q&A with director Ryan Kruger – Bizcommunity.com

Celebrated music director Ryan Kruger's first full-length feature film, Fried Barry has been winning over both local and international critics and fans alike. Most recently, it won three awards at the RapidLion South African International Film Festival 2020; for Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best South African Film.

The film is the feature-length adaptation of the award-winning eponymous short film. The short has built up something of a cult following, gaining hundreds of thousands of views across platforms and over 100 examples ofFried Barryfan art.

We got in touch with director Ryan Kruger to chat inspiration, improvisation and cult followings.

Fried Barryis just so different and very entertaining! Not a minute goes by in the film that makes you bored the breakneck pace always keeps viewers engaged. But I think, most of all, the film is a character study of Barry. Hes fun to watch, he has this amazing presence on screen and you cant help but fall in love with him by the end.

Ryan Kruger

I never planned to make the short into a feature it was just designed to be a short, crazy experimental. When it started receiving all these great reviews, awards and fan art submission, I knew I was onto something with this character. People kept asking if they were ever going to see a feature-length adaptation and, honestly, it had never even crossed my mind. But once I got the idea of the story and how to make it work with our lead actor, Gary, I knew I had the perfect way to pull it off.

Fried Barry Trailer from aryankrugerthing@gmail.com on Vimeo.

At the time, before I decided to make this film, I went through a really bad time with my health and fell into depression and nearly kicked the bucket. My biggest number one thing in life was to always make a film, so I not only did I need to make a film ASAP to get me out of depression but it just felt so right.

Once the idea came to me, I wrote a brief scene breakdown in just three days. I knew I had to make this film in a certain way or it wouldnt work. I wrote a handful of dialogue and the rest of the film was all improvised. I worked closely with all the actors and we workshopped each scene on the day. The improv was great because we came up with so many great ideas on the spot, which ended up forming some of the funniest and most moving moments of the film.

All my inspirations for this film came from 80s films I grew up watching likeET,Aliens,Star Man, Terminatorand especially the Australian indie filmBad Boy Bubby. Once I had this story in my head, I just knew it was going to work and be something totally different.

The funny thing was I have so many other scripts and ideas but when I got this idea I just knew that this is the right one to do. But there was only one way to make this film and it had to be improvised. Gary is not a trained actor he has great instincts, but we didnt want to constrain him by having everything set out in a script. Gary Green reallyisFried Barry and the best way for that to come out is just to roll cameras and let it happen. The whole improv-based approach certainly made the movie better it ended up creating some of the most hilarious and affecting moments on set and makes the film what it is!

The cast was made up of many people Ive worked with over the years and a handful of people Ive always wanted to work with. There were maybe 10-15 actors in the whole of South Africa that we werent able to fit in our massive cast, but besides them, we had pretty much every big-name local actor you could imagine. I am extremely happy with who I cast in the film there are so many amazing actors in South Africa and Im glad this film can show off their amazing talent.

As a music video director, my style which is very visual and narrative-based. I always try to tell a story within each music video. Ive always loved characters and striking images, soFried Barrywas just a very natural progression. The film really represents me as a director in so many ways and I think people that know my work will know that its a Ryan Kruger thing.

Working with Gary was just amazing. Ive worked with him for about 10 years now, placing him in small, featured parts in my shorts and music videos. As I said, I love characters and Ive always loved Garys look. I also love working with non-professional actors as they havent picked up all the bad habits that a lot of actors usually have. Working with Gary onFried Barrywas like having a blank canvas every day. He didnt have any assumptions about how each scene would play out. Each day was a challenge and a fresh start where we were just living in the moment, which worked great because were really open with one another and we trust each other. Nobody could have played this role like him this role was made for him. He gave me 110% each day and was always willing to give me more. I truly believe this is his time. I know I saw something in him that no one did. Gary used to work as an extra on set normally and he hasnt got the best name for doing that. However, Gary is so committed to the art form he just wants to be noticed and seen. I am so happy and proud of him how far he has come. Once you see this film, trust me, hes going to blow everyone away.

I am definitely an 80s kid at heart. I love all American 80s cinema I really think theyre the best films ever made, hands down. Theres something about the look, the feel, the old-school VFX that I just love!

Release in local cinemas TBC.

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Behind the scenes of the award-wining SA sci-fi/horror film 'Fried Barry' - Q&A with director Ryan Kruger - Bizcommunity.com