Alex Pettyfer’s Challenge Of Direction Begins With ‘The Strange Ones’ [Interview]

As you noted, after you shot “Strange Ones” you directed your own film, “Back Roads,” and your cinematographer was the cinematographer of “The Witch,” the incredibly talented Jarin Blaschke. What made you want to direct your own film? How did your involvement in the project come about and what the experience behind the camera like?

I never intended to direct the movie. I fell in love with the script several years ago. I went to Michael Ohoven, who was a producer attached to the script, and a asked if I could be a producer on the movie and then, long story short, we thought it would be a good idea to collaborate and me be in the film. We went to three directors actually and the all dropped out one after the other. I never had it in my intention that I was going to direct the film. I’ve always wanted to be a director and I think it’s very inspiring to be a creative and start from the ground up. Which I think a lot of producers have that involvement, so I was creatively satisfied in that sense. You know, I thought, well I was actually put in a difficult position because I had raised the money and I only had a year to make the movie with the money that I had. And we were coming up to kind of four months before and it takes a process to get a director on board. And I went to the people that gave this opportunity financially and I suggested to direct and I pitched an idea on what I thought the movie should be. And humbly, they let me do it. I was really taken back and the whole experience was a very humbling experience. To be completely on the other side of things which for the first time to be given that kind of material [with a] script written by Adrian Lyne. And then I had Jarin who obviously we both know is a very talented man. And to have him as my partner and Juliette [Lewis]? It helped to have these amazing actresses and actors trust me and kind of go on this journey. As for the material, I guess as I said before especially relating to “Strange Ones” stories and worlds that fascinate me at the moment are very grounded ones, ones that are kind of fixated into reality. I literally just finished up making the movie about two days ago. I’m really excited for people [to see it].

Did you say you just finished it?

Yeah. I locked picture two days ago.

Well, congratulations.  That’s an intense process for anyone’s first film. Do you guys have a plan? Are you going to go after festivals in the spring or do you know what your release plan is?

Yeah, I mean that’s the hope. It’s an independent film so I think that would be the goal and hopefully we can find someone to support it and give a theatrical release. It definitely has a commercial aspect to it. A lot of my influences are the people that I admire and idealize that I’ve worked with.  I’m blessed that I’ve had the opportunity to work with them before I made the movie. So, hopefully I’ve done those guys proud and hopefully people will enjoy the film.

Do you know what you’re doing next in terms of in front of the camera or have you literally just been focused on getting the “Back Road” locked?

I start work in three days. I’m about to go play Tony Curtis in a one off episode, of a a UK TV show. It’s about a small section of time when he and Marilyn Monroe was making a movie. It’s like this 30-40 minute episode on her having to struggle to try and say the line, “It’s me sugar.” And so it’s like me, Marilyn Monroe, oh sorry. Not me, but me playing Tony Curtis and then Marilyn Monroe, Billy Wilder and Jack Lemmon.  It’s a cool little slice of section of time of something to do with “Some Like It Hot.” I’m literally studying before you called. Tony Curtis who has an amazing voice. It’s quite a scary challenge  to be taking on, but but I think it’s exciting.

“The Strange Ones” is now available exclusively on DIRECTV. It will hit theaters in limited release on Jan. 5.