Bauke Brouwer on The Trail of 1-Minute Filmmaking

A former new director on shots with short film The Fallen, Bauke Brouwer has recently directed another short film for the FilmMinute 2014 film festival.

The Trail is, as the competition suggests, a one-minute short which is a tense and gripping snippet of what could be a much larger story which leaves the viewer hoping that longer film gets made. The film was shot through the production company Broewer runs with his wife, Narrative Truth. 

What is the story behind your film and what did you hope to achieve with it?

A few months back I read a story about someone who was mugged on Lions Head (a local landmark in Cape Town). As a trail runner, my route sometimes takes me around this mountain  and the thought is always in the back of my mind, what if I were to get mugged. Being a filmmaker, the 'what if' becomes real in your mind and makes its way onto paper to eventually become a script.   

My previous film, The Fallen was all about the enormity of the situation but with The Trail I wanted it to be about the intensity of the moment and the sincerity of the performances. With The Trail I wanted to viewer to become part of the narrative not just a passive observer. I wanted them to share the experiences of the characters and be involved in the decisions and I think we achieved this.  

What do you like about the one-minute format?

The format is a great exercise in self control. You need to stay true to the concept, anything that doesn’t support this doesn’t make it into the film. Cutting The Trail with Anthony [Lee Martin, editor] reminded me of this.

Each cut was a decision that had an impact on the next shot. If it didn’t support the narrative it made its way down to the cutting room floor. Going through this process makes you a better filmmaker. The one minute format is like concentrated juice. It goes a long way.

What makes a great one minute film?

A great one minute film doesn’t rely on a clever trick. A great one minute film creates a connection between the character and the audience that last way beyond the time limitations of 60 seconds.  Just like a great feature, you wake up thinking about it.   

You can watch and vote on the 2014 FilmMinute entries by clicking here.