shots Unsigned: Oton Bacar

This month we talk with Slovenian director Oton Bacar about his spec film Dawn for the charity children.org. 

In the film, we follow a day in the life of Nola and her extraordinary routine we would never imagine experiencing from a 9-year old suburban girl.

Can you tell us a little about your background and your route into directing?

I grew up in a small coastal Slovenian town called Izola, just 20 minutes away from the Italian border. Already in 1st grade, I knew I wanted to be a director when I grew up. I was inspired by commercials and 1990s Hollywood movies that I watched on Italian TV. 

I was always a creative kid. Instead of collecting Pokémon cards, I spent my time drawing, exploring editing, Photoshop, stop motion animations, filming and blowing up building miniatures that I created. My journey into directing and filmmaking truly began when I started questioning how certain scenes were filmed and attempted to reverse-engineer the process behind the footage I saw on screen. 

In addition to directing, I also have a passion for writing stories and developing concepts. I have had the opportunity to work as a Creative Director on several projects, so I'm not just limited to directing alone.

In addition to directing, I also have a passion for writing stories and developing concepts.

Would you say you have a directing style? And if so, how did you arrive at it?

I start each project with a fresh perspective, envisioning the best storytelling approach. My directing usually involves fluid, precise compositions and the use of "invisible" CG elements and VFX techniques for a more immersive experience and to save time on set. 

In Dawn, for example, there are two VFX shots: one is noticeable (crane), but people didn't realise the dump truck was also CG. Using a real truck would have consumed at least 90 minutes on set, which we couldn't afford. Thanks to my post-production experience, I was able to composite the truck and crane in Nuke myself. 

Did you study filmmaking? Where did you learn your craft?

No, I learned everything independently through my own projects, video and written tutorials in the pre-Youtube era. One of my favourite shows was the Movie Magic documentary series, which covered various aspects of special effects in movies. I was captivated by it and recorded every episode on a VHS tape for later viewing.

Another significant inspiration was The Matrix Revisited on DVD, which provided a detailed look at the entire process behind the making of the original Matrix. Each of my projects, regardless of size, has contributed valuable insights and skills to my repertoire. 

What was the inspiration for Dawn?

During lockdown, with everyone focused on a single problem, I wanted to create a spec film that addressed a global issue affecting millions of people yet is often overlooked or forgotten. I decided to make a PSA instead of promoting a product or brand. After researching real stories of children working 12+ hour shifts in dangerous environments to support their families, I knew I had found the topic I wanted to tackle. I then invested a lot of my time into creating a meaningful story in a unique way, with a powerful twist at the end to effectively convey the key message.

What other directors' work do you admire?

Some from the top of my head but not in a particular order: David Fincher (Fight Club), Nicolas Winding Refn (Pusher Trilogy, Drive), Sean Baker (The Florida Project), Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs). Alex van Warmerdam (Schneider vs Bax), Coen Brothers (No Country for Old Men), Clio Barnard (The Selfish Giant), Sabrina Doyle (Lorelei), David Michôd (The Rover), Corneliu Porumboiu (The Treasure), Guillaume Canet (Tell No One), Steven Soderbergh (Bubble), Jon Watts (Cop Car), Christopher Nolan (Memento).

Where do you find the inspiration for your projects?

My ideas primarily come from my imagination, intriguing real-life stories I encounter through interactions with people, and intense dreams that often feature multiple storylines, lifelike characters, captivating locations, and occasional philosophical revelations. 

Sometimes, I even watch entire movies in a cinema within my dreams, unknowingly analyzing them. Thus far, all the scripts I've written have been entirely fabricated in my mind. The idea for my current feature film script, for example, came to me during a train ride, while a previous one originated in a grocery store. It's quite random. 

BELOW: A behind the scenes film of the shoot.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in pulling this project together?  

The biggest challenge was to create a story that would resonate with Western audiences, even though it sheds light on issues occurring in other parts of the world. With a very limited budget (out of my pocket), I strived to showcase polished visuals that would intrigue the viewer from the beginning. Finding the right actress for the role and securing an amazing location (quarry) were crucial to the story. Additionally, selecting the appropriate music and editing the film to maintain a compelling pace and length were essential to maximise the impact of the twist ending.

How long was the shoot and what was the most challenging aspect of the project?

We had two shoot days, one in the city and one in the quarry. We filmed more scenes than we ultimately used in the final edit. By cutting out two-thirds of the film, we were able to make the story more focused, concise, and ultimately more powerful. The most challenging aspect was coordinating everyone's schedules, along with the weather and locations. 

We filmed more scenes than we ultimately used in the final edit. By cutting out two-thirds of the film, we were able to make the story more focused.

A few days before the shoot, there was a flood that almost caused the filming to be canceled because the bottom of the quarry was inaccessible. Fortunately, they managed to fix the road in time. Working with kids can be challenging, but with Nola was pure joy. She was simply amazing and kept her focus and playfulness on set so the shoot itself went smoothly without any complications.    

BELOW: Behind the scenes photos from the quarry scene.