BBFF2021 Meet the Filmmaker: Matthew Walker
Wanita, Tamworth's self proclaimed ‘Queen Of Honky Tonk’, is a chaotic and flamboyant force of nature who has sacrificed everything for music.
I'm Wanita is the story of a renegade country music singer, hell-bent on realising her childhood dreams of stardom. Her quest – to record an album in the country music mecca of Nashville – but her inability to toe the line threatens to derail her plans. Can Wanita keep her date with destiny?
We spoke to director Matthew Walker about his experience capturing this larger than life character on screen.
Screening at Palace Cinemas Byron Bay
Sunday 19 December at 6:30pm
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How did this most interesting story come about, where did you first encounter Wanita?
Butto said to Nadine “Do you know anyone who makes docos because someone should make a doco about Wanita because crazy shit happens around her all the time.”
Nadine called me. I met Wanita for about a minute, then we started filming.
While you have extensive editing experience, I’m Wanita is your directorial debut. How would you describe the experience?
Wonderful. All consuming. It was like being filled with golden light while constantly being pricked by many pins always in unpredictable places.
A key theme of the film is Wanita’s experience with autism. Did you set out to achieve any particular goals around this, for example, to raise awareness?
I set out to show Wanita as she is, as best as I could, in 86 mins. Wanita knowing that she is autistic is an important part of that.
I wanted to celebrate the complexity and courage of someone who some may be quick to judge for not toeing any line but her own. Some people might see a neurodivergent story, some might not.
What were the biggest challenges when creating this film?
The edit. Finding our way to the story in the immensity of footage.
Prior to the film, did you have an interest in the country music subculture?
A bit but a whole lot less than I do now. Wanita made me see the light. Or some of the light anyway.
Would you make another music film or prefer to experiment with different genres?
Very happy to experiment but I do love music docos and am currently starting another music film...
Wanita is renowned for her renegade personality and wild mood swings. When making the documentary, how did you stay on track?
I didn't at all. That's why I'm happy with the finished film!
How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact production, especially when travelling to the United States?
The US trip was pre-COVID-19 so there was no impact for the filming apart from maybe a weird unnoticed portent in the air of something strange about to happen.
The first lockdown happened just as I locked off the edit with Peter O'Donoghue. I worked with the composer Jonathan Dower and the sound designer Luke Mynott via email all through that first lockdown and having no distractions for me at that time was a real gift. Though I had essentially been in a Wanita pandemic edit lockdown for a year prior.
What kind of legacy do you hope I’m Wanita will achieve?
I actually can't answer that question, I've been staring at it for ten minutes and I'm calling it.
What are your future plans, do you intend to direct any more films?
I would love to direct more films and hope to do so. I'm doing some freelance editing while we try to get another film rolling at People Productions.
With so many film festivals having transitioned to virtual screenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what does it mean for you to have this film showing in front of live audiences? Were there any other deciding factors in choosing to show the film at BBFF?
It's incredible to see the film with a live audience and feel the energy and hear them laugh in places I didn't know were funny and not in the spots that were supposed to be.
BBFF is a great festival at a great time of year - I went a few years back. We wanted to share the film with the fine folk of Byron Bay of course and we're totally thrilled its part of the festival.