Torquay filmmaker Nick Cooke on his new film Torquay

Torquay filmmaker Nick Cooke is gearing up to make a poetic coming-of-age film set in Torquay. Called Torquay, the film 21-year-old Elliot as he explores the town he once called his home. D+CFilm caught up with Nick to find out more…

What gave you the idea for the film and setting it in Torquay?

The idea came from my friends and my own experiences. It’s really a combination of everybody I know. I’m not quite sure how they would react when they see it. However, I think the film will be so contemplative it’ll cause them to be reflective rather than angry with me. Torquay is just a beautiful place and it’s not used enough.

The trailers you’ve use as examples in the call for auditions have a haunting, lyrical quality – what atmosphere are you trying to evoke and how do you plan to achieve it?

I’m a big fan of watching films late at night or when I’m quiet tired. When you watch films like this your embarking on a certain voyeurism, they’re slow and nothing ‘huge’ seems to happen but when you put into context of your own life sometimes the simplest things carry the greatest weight. They’re voyeuristic because in all these films it feels like you’re not watching drama,  just those times when the camera shouldn’t have been turned off.

It also seems to be the cheapest way to make a low budget film, each one of these films uses a technique described as ‘cine-writing’ which Agnes Varde uses a lot. It’s where you use documentary elements, ie real-time footage of a location to reflect your fictional character’s emotions. It’s a nice way of placing your story into a larger picture. What’s more all those vistas and found moments are free.

I’ll also be using a long lens so the audience will feel like a true observer.

What’s the hardest part of putting a project like this together?

The hardest part is the fact that although I’m based in Torquay, I study in London (although Torquay never leaves you…) So I’m prepping everything from a computer or by phone. Thankfully, I have good friends, like short film maker Martin Lejeune with whom I went to college. He’s acting as my voice in Devon.

Is there anything you like to add?

Nothing else really, thanks for asking. I’ll keep you posted. Oh and if any body is interested in being and extra and looks under 30 please e-mail me on nickcooke16@hotmail.com

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