Palm Springs

Synopsis: A bullied boy tries to get even with his tormentors by sticking a razorblade through a crack in a waterslide. When he realizes his revenge is out of proportion he starts a race against time to set things right.

In an interview with Peter during the festival, here is what he had to say:

What was the inspiration behind this story and was it based on an actual event?

I'm really not sure that it was an actual event, but growing up I heard about something similar to the boy-razor story. Apparently someone had stuck a razor in a water slide close to were I was living and the word got around. But I don't know if it actually happened. But it became this urban myth that people used to tell each other every time you were about to got to the water park. 2What can you say about violent behavior among children? Do you think it's something they express as frustration or do you think it is mirroring adult behavior they have witnessed? Or both?

What can you say about violent behavior among children? Do you think it's something they express as frustration or do you think it is mirroring adult behavior they have witnessed? Or both?

I definitely think it's both. Adults project their own fears, frustrations and short comings on to their children. But in this case I think it's deeper than that. I wanted to explore a very primal mind set that I think exists in everybody from the day we're born. And in the film that mind set is provoked and comes to life by the humiliation the boy goes through. I mean the whole film revolves around very primal feelings and primitive behavior that only comes out in an adult during very extreme circumstances - with kids it's more on the surface. I think it comes out easier because they are driven by pure emotion. And emotions are very hard to contain if you're that age. But I think the general mechanism are the same regardless if you are a child or an adult.

How did you find the 'Boy'? Did you hold auditions? He was a very talented actor.

I literally found him playing in the street with a couple of friends. We had all ready tested a bunch of children. And I had a really hard time finding what I was looking for. But seeing him in an actual situation playing and teasing with his friends made me want to audition him. He had never acted before but he was so natural and easy going so I knew he was going to be great right from the start. Then I worked with him for a couple of weeks before shooting so we got to know each other really well. I was able to build up a trust between us that help me a lot during shooting.

Do you think you will turn this into a feature? And will you be making a feature in the near future?

I don't think I will turn this into a feature, but I have two feature projects that I'm working on that has a similar feel to them. Both are very suspenseful, kind of thriller/dramas with stories that you build tension right to the end. And both involve young people actually. Not as young as in Boy-Razor but characters in their late teens. So it's in the same vein as the short and I'm hoping to make one of them very soon.

What was your experience at PSSFF?

It was overall an amazing experience. The most rewarding was to talk to, and getting to know all the other filmmakers. It's so rare that you get an opportunity to, under so relaxed circumstances, meet people that is in basically the same situation as yourself. I mean you're given a chance to share your film making experiences, watching each others movies and build relationships that maybe lasts for a long time. That was fantastic!

What are your plans next for this film and for future projects?

Boy-Razor will go on to a couple of more festivals this summer and then we'll try to get it distributed (mainly through European broadcasters). As I mentioned I'm working on two feature projects so I will go back home and continue writing.

About Palm Springs International ShortFest: Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA and BIFA as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market, one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world, will take place in Palm Springs on June 16-22. Now in its 21st year and recently taking 8th place in the annual USA Today 10Best poll, ShortFest will showcase over 300 short films from more than 50 countries. The concurrent Short Film Market will feature a library of more than 3,000 films available to film buyers, industry and press, the only Short Film Market in North America. The ShortFest Forums are four days of panels, roundtables and master classes staged free of charge for attending filmmakers.

For more information and tickets, call (760) 778-8979 or (800) 898-7526 or visit the website: www.psfilmfest.org.

Interview held by Vanessa McMahon