With his new movie Hamlet’s Ghost director/writer and actor Walker Haynes mixes time travel, Shakespeare, murder and mystery in an interesting way. My Filmviews talked to him about the development of the movie, his experiences and the consequences of a changing movie landscape thanks to the rapid development in the field of technology, allowing more people to make movies themselves.
How did you come up with the idea for this movie? What inspired you?
I’ve always been intrigued with the concept of time travel, and I thought that the idea of an individual performing in a play like Shakespeare’s Hamlet would be a thought provoking way to explore that possibility. Hamlet has been the same for 400 years, and with that as one of the constants in the film, characters could be interwoven throughout the story and the argument could be made that they mirror some of the characters in Hamlet.
Are you a fan of time travel movies and what are the biggest difficulties in creating a story involving time travel?
I am a huge time travel fan, and I also really enjoy history and literature. Movies like Somewhere In Time, Looper and Back To The Future were inspirational to me as I worked with my writing partner, Cleve Nettles to write the script. Cleve also wrote and directed a feature called Against Time, a movie about time travel and baseball. The biggest challenge faced by anyone tackling a time travel story is making it a believable journey. Plot points can unravel quickly if there isn’t a logical reality created within the story context. Contradictions and holes in the story can cause the audience to not suspend their disbelief to enjoy the movie.
You have written, directed and star in Hamlet’s Ghost. I also saw you have done stunts on other projects in the past, so you have experience in the different fields of making movies. Which of these do you enjoy the most and why?
I have always been an actor, just ask my family. I was bitten by the acting bug in grade school, and continued on through college, and later had the opportunity to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Stunts are also a ton of fun, and I have an athletic background as a soccer player, so the physicality of stunts is an enjoyable challenge. However, as I get older, I have begun to notice how my body doesn’t appreciate all the demands of stunt work like it did when I was in my 20s…or even 30s. Hamlet’s Ghost is my directorial debut, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the the directing process. My background in acting as well as my previous work as an editor greatly informed my work as a director, and I look forward to the opportunity to do it again!
On what equipment was this movie shot and how long did it take?
I shot Hamlet’s Ghost entirely on the Canon 5D Mark 2 during 28 shoot days.
What do you think of the development of cheaper hardware and what that means for the movie industry?
I think the accessibility of equipment has led to both positive and negative ends. As a filmmaker, you have the power to buy or rent gear for cheap, edit on a laptop and output a final project to take to market, all on a shoe-string budget; that’s amazing! However, with that possibility, comes a saturation of the market that has led to distributors tightening their standards on what is bought and sold. On the other hand, self-distribution is becoming a more viable option for filmmakers to get their films out there to the viewing public, which is very exciting!
What is the next project from you people can expect?
I have a few projects that I am hooked into right now, and hope to continue to create compelling films that engage the viewer and ask questions about the story, life and existence, etc. Please stay tuned, follow on FB and twitter @walkerhaynes for updates.
Why should people see Hamlet’s Ghost?
I made Hamlet’s Ghost because I wanted to tell a story that would engage the audience and ask questions about the possibility of time travel, and existence. Everyone has to answers questions about life and what it all means, and if Hamlet’s Ghost provokes discussion, then the film in my estimation is a success. Also, a goal of mine was to make it accessible to adults and young people alike, and the family-friendly DOVE Foundation rated it appropriate for audiences 12 and up. Finally, sprinkle in a little Shakespeare and history, and there really is a little something in Hamlet’s Ghost for everyone!