Crazy8s2018: Director Spotlight

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In this interview, we talked to Maxime Beauchamp about directing Small Fish.

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Can you start by telling us a little bit about you and your film?

My name is Maxime Beauchamp, I am French-Canadian from a little town in eastern Ottawa. I come from a background of dance, theater and performing arts and made my way to Vancouver to learn more about film and create short films such as Small Fish. Showing the story of Laurie an amateur painter who struggles with the rejection of others on her journey to become a professional. So much, that the world starts to transform into the fish she paints. The film is what we call a visual short film, which means that no dialogue is used for storytelling, only interpretive movement.

Can you tell us about how the idea for your film came to be and what your creative process was like in making it come to life?

The film was inspired by the traditional saying of being a small fish in a big ocean. I wanted to tell the story that rings close to home and such as other artists when you put your work out there you always feel like the smallest fish in the ocean. To make this come to life, we surrounded ourselves with a talented team of visionaries who each had some special skills that could elevate the film. With the big picture in mind we went with our instincts, brainstormed and created this beautiful film.

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“Aim high and do something that showcases your talent.”

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What was the most memorable moment for you in the Crazy8s process?

On a project like Crazy8s where things goes so fast not all departments are able to understand the entirety of what the others are doing. Therefore, the most memorable moment was on day 2 when lighting, PD, makeup and choreography all came together to create this incredible underwater scene. Seeing the faces on the team who finally was able to see it come together and see how each element acted in synergy was a great feeling.

What would your advice be for filmmakers considering Crazy8s?

Aim high and do something that showcases your talent. You have a very short amount of time but the sponsors and Crazy8s team do give you the support to reach your vision. Also, with such a big platform it is the perfect time to showcase what kind of artist you are or want to be.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?

I learned this in film school actually from one of my directing teachers. Is that there will always be a gap in between your work and where you aspire to be. You have to keep pushing your art and make mistakes to develop your style and close that gap.

What other projects are you working on and where can we find out more about you?

I am currently working on a few commercials and promotional videos for local business’s. I also like to keep a close relationship with the music video industry and in the talks with different producers to work on the next short films. All my work and demo reel can be found on my website MaxBeauchamp.com.

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Thanks to Maxime Beauchamp for speaking with us!

You can check out Small Fish and the rest of the Crazy8s films on February 24th as part of the Crazy8s2018 gala.

For more information, please visit Crazy8s.film.