As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for unique stories and characters, I find Jeremy Harris’s creative process utterly captivating. His decision to create a character that embodies the spirit of artistic oddities living in Poland, a country often perceived as homogenous, is nothing short of inspired.
During the heat of ‘Brat’ summer, Charli XCX managed to slip off to Poland for about two weeks in August. There, she teamed up secretly with playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris and filmmaker Pete Ohs to create a movie.
The movie titled “ERUPCJA” translates to “eruption” in Polish, symbolizing a sudden or violent release of pressure, such as the explosive expulsion of molten rock from a volcano. The narrative revolves around two women who share a volatile bond. One character is Polish (Lena Góra, famed for her roles in “Imago,” “Roving Woman,” and the upcoming series “The Easterngate”), while the other is named Bethany, played by Charli XCX. Joining them are Harris and Will Madden, who have worked with Ohs on several projects before (this being their fourth collaboration).
The film “Erupcja” features Warsaw, Poland as a significant character, implying that the city was filmed extensively for the movie. However, it’s worth noting that much of the filming wasn’t actually kept secret; rather, certain scenes were shot discreetly within the city.
[Charli] was frequently identified multiple times,” Os shares with EbMaster during their Zoom chat, with Harris also participating in the discussion. “She was consistently kind. She took numerous selfies with her enthusiastic Polish fans…
Harris chimes in: “Which is also how our secret project got leaked.”
Absolutely, it was on Twitter where word spread about the upcoming movie after the well-known account @FilmUpdates shared a cryptic message hinting at a project involving Charli, Harris, and Ohs together.
Music artist Charli XCX collaborated on a movie script with Jeremy O. Harris, and this project is now being filmed in Poland. Interestingly, she’ll not only be involved behind the scenes but will also appear as an actor in the film, which is being directed by Pete Ohs.
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) August 22, 2024
Jeremy, you know, is quite a well-known figure in the cultural sphere, always busy, but there hasn’t been a movie project of mine that seemed worthy enough for a leak,” Ohs notes with a smile. “So, it was exciting. It was enjoyable to witness this event unfold.
However, Harris didn’t find it unexpected that news about the movie leaked online. “I had a sense that our attempt to keep things under wraps would be challenging,” he admitted. “And my suspicions were confirmed on my first night in Poland. We were residing at the Nobu Hotel, which is near the LGBTQ+ area. So, I decided to visit a gay bar, and there was a notice advertising a ‘Brat’ party.
Instead of filming the scene at the intended nightclub, the production ended up capturing footage in another nightclub. Harris finds it hard to believe, saying, “It was almost unbelievable!” He chuckles, “Every single person in the club thought Charli XCX was there for a secret performance. Little did they know, she wasn’t the one we were filming.” Intriguingly, this took place during the same week Obama added her to his playlist, making it even more amusing.
It’s important to clarify that the project wasn’t “secret” in the sense of being hidden or clandestine, given Charli XCX’s global fame as a popular pop star. Instead, it was just a part of Ohs’ unique filmmaking approach.
In this approach, the filmmaker initiates his creative journey by selecting a place that sparks narrative ideas; in this case, it’s Warsaw, where he now resides. What excites him, he shares, is the novelty of the language spoken there, Polish, as he expresses an interest in directing a movie with characters speaking a language he doesn’t understand. From this intriguing foundation, he collaborates with his acting partners to brainstorm character concepts. Subsequently, he drafts about half of the screenplay and starts filming based on this outline.
For two full weeks, we travel to a specific site where I serve as the main team,” Ohs clarifies. “We film sequentially, and we compose the scenes on the spot. We often write the dialogue the day before or in the morning, and we immerse ourselves in the story.” He elaborates: “It can be quite chaotic. It’s a tough task, but it makes it incredibly enjoyable, and it eliminates the feeling of work. It feels like we’re just unleashing our creativity.
Oh, by the way, “Erupcja” also features a volcano as one of its elements. This concept originated from a chat Ohs had with an individual who was stranded in Warsaw for a month due to a volcanic eruption in Iceland that disrupted flights across Europe. The filmmaker found the situation intriguing and saw potential, stating, “That seemed interesting. There’s something there,” hinting at the role the volcano plays in the narrative without revealing specific plot details.
But, how did this Charli XCX, Harris and Ohs come together in the first place?
In the month of May, shortly before she launched “Brat” and ignited a cultural movement, Charli XCX encountered Harris and Ohs (both collaborators on the HBO documentary “Slave Play: Not a Movie. A Play) at a Lower East Side bar in New York City. It was close to 3 a.m., and when Charli and her friends arrived, Harris – knowing Charli – introduced her to Ohs. During their casual conversation, Harris shared details of Ohs’ distinctive process. “Charli expressed interest,” Ohs remembers, “‘I want to try it,'” to which Ohs replied, “What are your plans for August? Would you like to join me in Warsaw?
The following day, Ohs received a message from Charli in his private messages. After conducting her own research, she confirmed that he was indeed authentic. (Ohs is a director who transitioned from editing and cinematography, and his independent films such as “Jethica,” “Everything Beautiful Is Far Away,” and “Love and Work” have received notable screenings at SXSW, Sundance, the Los Angeles Film Fest among others.)
Charli XCX describes discussing movie-making with Ohs as if they were creating an album, similar to their spontaneous conversations in his films. She explains that while on tour with Troye Sivan, this encounter seemed fated and thrilling. In her words, their creative processes seemed connected, making a collaboration feel natural and exhilarating.
In their initial discussions, Charli proposed the idea of deviating from her usual image. “She said something like, ‘I believe it should be entirely different from me. I feel like I could portray extreme shyness,'” Ohs recounts. “As a result, Charli XCX transforms into an almost unrecognizable Bethany.
Charli is making a strong impression in the acting world; her upcoming roles include the erotic thriller “I Want Your Love,” alongside Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman, the remake of the 1978 horror film “Faces of Death” featuring Barbie Ferreira, and the adaptation of the graphic novel “100 Nights of Hero” starring Emma Corrin and Maika Monroe. In addition, Charli will be appearing in Bentio Skinner’s Amazon comedy series “Overcompensating,” where she’ll also be creating original music for the show.
According to Ohs, Charli is an exceptional talent in acting. She truly embodies a performer, grasping the nuances of being under the spotlight. She’s adept at expressing emotions through various means of communication, such as body language, tone, and facial expressions. In one particular scene where she cried without prompting, she demonstrated her prowess as a true actress. I am proud that we were able to produce such a film during Brat summer.
Pete, how did you develop your filmmaking process?
HARRIS: Have you told her about the “table of bubbles?”
The “bubbles table” is symbolic. It originated around the time I was producing my first film titled “Youngstown,” which was created using an unconventional method – making a movie as if you were 15 years old and letting that guide all your decisions throughout the process. Instead of writing a script, having producers or permits, all you have is a group of friends with a camera, brainstorming ideas, enjoying ourselves, and eating pizza. That’s it.
During the lead-up to the shoot, I found myself feeling unusually stressed despite spending a delightful 10 days with friends in a quaint town, capturing moments with my camera and having a blast. Upon reflection, I came to understand that this stress stemmed from self-imposed pressure. What I needed to grasp is that creativity thrives under no pressure. It’s like a delicate table made of bubbles – it can’t bear any weight. It won’t support your ambitions, aspirations, financial obligations or anything else. Instead, it should be cherished and appreciated for its intrinsic beauty and magical qualities. However, it’s essential not to burden it with expectations because that’s not its purpose.
In essence, this metaphor can be extended to these films: “Avoid burdening it with expectations, whether financial, personal, or professional. Let it breathe freely.” This is crucial because such pressures contradict what creativity thrives on. Creativity flourishes in an unencumbered, open environment where it can take risks, experiment, learn from mistakes, and feel fearless.
Jeremy, what was it like to work in an atmosphere like that — when there’s so many things swirling around your career and other projects in development as an actor and producer?
HARRIS: It wasn’t just a coincidence that I encountered Pete when I did, at a time when the pressure was intense for me. Every choice I had to make felt like it could determine whether I’d win a Tony or an Oscar, or risk being forgotten if I didn’t do any of them. But then, Pete rekindled my love for creating, reminding me of the genuine joy that inspired my initial works.
Similarly, I believe each of Lena, Will, and Charlie chose to do this movie for reasons that suggest a pivotal moment in their lives, where every choice seems critical, even existential. Pete offered us the chance to embrace mistakes instead of avoiding them, to view them as opportunities rather than setbacks. In my case, I found myself needing to reboot my perspective, and this experience was something I longed for once it had ended. Reflecting on it now, it seems that every film, even one like “Oppenheimer,” should be approached with such a spirit. If we can cultivate this mindset in our productions, even when there’s minimal pressure, who knows what extraordinary outcomes might arise later.
Instead of spending $30,000 on creating an unsold script featuring Jude Law or Judi Dench as the lead, which might languish in development for years without being produced, I could opt for investing in a project that allows us to innovate and experiment instead. This decision seemed crucial for our company’s growth and identity.
Jeremy, what ideas did you have about your character?
PARAPHRASING: What particularly caught my attention during my visit to Poland were the hidden communities that celebrate uniqueness. At first glance, one might think Poland is uniform, but it’s been a sanctuary for artists, graphic designers, and visual artists who are considered unusual by the global community. Therefore, I knew that the character I was portraying would likely be connected to the art world in some way and would exhibit an unconventional charm.
Among the aspects I enjoy most about Pete’s method is that on our first day, we spend it selecting costumes. Essentially, we visit a second-hand store, try on numerous costumes, and present them to him, saying something like, “I believe this costume represents Claude.” The outfits I chose were those that would convey the image of an African-American individual born in America but living in Europe, finally liberated to express his true, eccentric self. I managed to find a hair braider, a Black woman from Sierra Leone, who had an unusual flair. I also came across an amazing group of Asian-Polish individuals who possessed a certain uniqueness. Many people in Poland have a distinctive 90s rave style. The aim was to grasp where he might frequent at night, identify his potential friends, and understand how he transitioned from America to wind up in this location.
You were teasing folks a little bit, sharing TikToks from Poland while searching for costumes. People who were paying attention knew something was brewing…
HARRIS (PARAPHRASING): Indeed, they went ahead with it! The fascinating part was that experience. Now, we can discard the anticipation and concentrate fully on making the film as excellent as it can be.
Pete, you’ve begun editing the movie. Tell me about moving from the ideation phase and the production phase to crafting what the movie’s going to become?
Despite the production process, the movie’s essence remains vague. As we progress, certain aspects become clearer, but the overall picture is yet to be fully understood, not even by me. To be honest, I’m comfortable with this uncertainty. I’ve been through this before. This phase of the project is both thrilling and terrifying. Yet, fear doesn’t aid us, so we let it go and instead, embrace the journey. It’s a sense of exploration. So far, I’ve completed one eighth of the movie, and already, it feels like uncovering its essence, which is quite fascinating.
HARRIS: I’m hoping the outcome will encourage more young filmmakers to experience less pressure in making their initial, subsequent, third, fourth, fifth films not as massive $10 million, $20 million, or $30 million blockbusters featuring the most popular online personalities. Instead, perhaps they can create something genuine, enjoyable, and distinctive to them, something smaller-scale, that might require a bold and adventurous distributor to back it.
There’s an immense emphasis on financial feasibility since the pandemic, making everyone strive for the most profitable endeavors, especially when it comes to filmmaking. I worry that if this becomes our only focus, we may miss out on creating future masterpieces like “Daughters of the Dust,” “Paris, Texas,” and “Stranger Than Paradise.” I hope that young creatives, as well as their contemporaries, will discover the vibrant world of micro-budget productions and realize they too can contribute to this exciting field.
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2024-10-07 18:48