Dane McCusker is a writer, director and producer who has created award winning short film content over the last 10 years. Recently, he wrote and directed his first feature film – The Big Dog. The feature follows a married stockbroker whose bank account gets drained by a secret dominatrix. Talking with Dane taught me a lot about making an indie feature film and is a fascinating read for up and coming filmmakers. Read on for more.
Writing
Your writing process with the big dog. How long it took, how each day looked, how you write?
“It was interesting with this one because I made it as part of my Master’s project at AFTRS. I brought finished scripts with me because I wanted to use the resources to make a film. When I got there however, I realised none of these scripts would be achievable with the limited resources. So I was searching for something to make and saw the opening of the film on Instagram. Pretty soon after that we went into a COVID lockdown. I would wake up every morning at 9 and just write until I couldn’t work anymore. It took about 3 and a half weeks to get the first draft done. And then it was a year until we shot it and went through about 4 drafts.”
Did you start with a lot of outlining, or do you like to go straight into the script?
“I would write like a 5–6-page treatment essentially just outlining what happens in the story. Then I carded it out on index cards and kept that on my wall and used it as a guide for drafting.”
How do you balance all these different subjects that require a delicate touch?
“With all the focus on male entitlement and toxic masculinity, I had written about that a lot in shorts before and dealt with similar themes that had come from me. When it came to something specific like FINDOM is where I had to research. It is a dark comedy but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t making fun of people who engaged in that fetish. I reached out to women dominatrices to see if they would be open to talking to me and they were really interested in it and making sure it was portrayed accurately.”
I have seen you mention that you like to focus on dysfunctional men and the impact on their relationships, is this something you think you will continue to explore?
“In some iteration it will always be there because it is such a prevalent topic that impacts so many things in life. We will always be dealing with it and therefore I will still be writing about it in some way.”
The Process
When you had those issues of limited crew and actors’ schedules and COVID, what do you rely on to keep you going?
“Once the production train was running it was understanding that everyone had invested so much into this. But when I was writing, it was more about discipline and sticking to a routine. If there are days when you don’t feel inspired, you still should be working.”
I saw you say you love bringing improv onto set for your shorts, was this applied to the film as well? What do you offer the actors for improv?
“I improv around the written scenes. For example, a backstory for a scene or character and then putting that into the written work. The Paige and Shanty scenes we would just improv what the start of that looks like. I essentially use improv to make sure the tone and rhythms feel right.”
Your biggest filmmaking inspirations – directors and films?
“Broad inspiration is Kubrick. I really connect with anyone who delves into the ironies of life. Specifically for the Big Dog we watched Ruben Ostland to see how dysfunction could be funny without doing it in a way that felt super cheap.”
Simple question, but what are some of the biggest jumps between a short and a feature?
“In terms of the practicalities there isn’t that much difference. Keeping the whole narrative in your head is tricky. But the biggest thing I have noticed is that a feature has commercial applications, and you must think about how it is going to play for an audience.”
Advice to younger filmmakers who are stuck in this period where people aren’t paying attention to their shorts, and they have dreams of making a feature?
“Just keep going and be resourceful. There is heaps of different pathways to make it. Be as strategic as possible in getting the most out of very little.”
The Australian film industry seems like it is a moving in a direction where at least some indie low budget films are being made – Birdeater, Talk to Me, Sunflower – where do you want the film industry to continue moving?
“I think there is more grassroots and independent films being made in Australia then I have ever seen. It is hard in this country because there is such a small market for films but hopefully this wave of films shows it is possible.”
What is next for you?
“Jess Murphy and I have a production company called 2CP Pictures and we have two other features in development at the moment. We want to just keep making pictures.”
Watch The Big Dog on Apple TV below!
https://tv.apple.com/au/movie/the-big-dog/umc.cmc.3gl88h3gry6dzs8z2i6oyvxyv
