From concept to distribution, SUBMERGE is to be released on DVD and digital download on March 1, 2014, there's been a labour of love from Writer and Producer Kat Holmes to see this film made. Perhaps, that's why there is a lack of lesbian features from the great down under.
On how hard she had to work to get the film made, Holmes says "I've always been a driven person and when the opportunity arose to follow my dreams I didn't hesitate. I wasn't happy in the corporate world and felt that the story of SUBMERGE, or more to the point the story of Jordan, was one that needed telling. To be honest though, after the first 5 years it was pretty much raw persistence that kept me going. I'd gone from this comfortable life - with the nice apartment in inner Melbourne and the black convertible - to 2 minute noodles and a bicycle, and there were many times when I wondered why.
"There were, however, many special moments that made it worthwhile – the first time my screenplay was read aloud at auditions, the first morning on the film set, the first rushes and, of course, the first time SUBMERGE was shown on the big screen at our world premiere in New York. There is something inherently life giving about art.
Every time someone comes up to me and say they were touched by the film, or that it reminded them of their own life experience, my heart sings. We made this film for you (yes you, reading this on the Tube) and all we want is for you to engage with it and come away feeling better for the experience."
Holme's take on the film is that it is more complex than a run of the mill mainstream Hollywood feature. When asked to crystallise into one sentence, Holmes says "I've tried and I honestly can't. For a couple of reasons. The first is that there is no core message. Not being a Hollywood film we're not trying ram some trite moral down people's throats. The second is that we're more about asking the questions than answering them. "How do you find love in a world of instant gratification?" Or "what happens when you're young and have the world at your feet and things don't go the way you expected?" Or, my favourite, "how do you fake being in control of everything when you're actually only one step away from crashing and burning?"
"The only point we make during the film, and even then it was inadvertent, is that no-one has the right to define your sexual identity for you. Especially not other lesbians."
In total, SUBMERGE took nearly 10 years to come to fruition. What a mammoth task for Holmes to retain the cast and talent attracted to the film initially. She says it was definitely "Not easy".
"Seriously though, I think it was hardest on Sophie because she got married (in the US – we STILL don't have equal marriage here) and had a child in the last 3 years and here I was still asking her to divide her time between her family and her 'other' baby (the film)."
With 28 festivals under it's belt, Holmes explains what some of her best reactions to the film have been so far. "It's hard to top Frameline – the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival. Our screening was the day after DoMA (the Defence of Marriage Act) and Prop 8 (the law banning equal marriage in California) were overturned and the whole city was abuzz. On top of that SUBMERGE played in a 100 year old two-tiered heritage listed cinema that seats 1400 people. It was insane.
"In terms of audience reaction our favourite was London last March. Of the 18 countries in which SUBMERGE has screened in the last 12 months the reaction of UK audiences to the film has been particularly great. I suspect it's the shared cultural heritage which makes the film even more relatable to you guys. Or maybe it's just thanks to Neighbours (seriously what is up with your love of that show?! No-one watches it here).
"And of course we can't go past our hometown premiere – where SUBMERGE was the Closing Night film of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival. 600 patrons over two cinemas, screened simultaneously, with many family and friends in attendance. It was very memorable."
On the challenge of getting films made in a country that does not produce many lesbian films, Holmes comments, "I'm not really sure (why). If I had to guess I would say it's because the entire film industry here is relatively modest and the pool of funding is smaller than the number of filmmakers with projects. And 'lesbian' projects don't get a look in. Another reason may be that, stereotypically, corporate funding networks and lesbian artists are an oxymoron. It takes a lot of dollars to make quality feature films and lesbian filmmakers just haven't been able to tap the money tree.
"With the cost of making film coming down dramatically in the last few years this is changing. Another Australian lesbian feature film (Zoe.Misplaced) had its world premiere at Mardi Gras a few weeks ago and a larger budget film is in post-production (The Trouble with e).
But that doesn't deter Holmes and her aspirations for her next feature, she has lots of ideas, and they are big! "My real passion lies with dystopian future films (like Gattaca) and I'd love to do a movie that explores white privilege in the guise of an action thriller about an Australia that has become a province of China and lives under the rule of the Chinese. Full of queer characters of course! Needless to say that one's not funded yet. I guess I could always make lesbian porn in the meantime. ;)"
Interview by Katie
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