We meet again. Thanks again for tuning in to the latest episode of Indie Beat!
This one is particularly special as our guest is long time friend and collaborator Paul Taylor.
Paul and I met during our tenure at Long Island University. We made a number of films together with him acting as the cinematographer (“Bridges,” “The Winds That Scatter,” “Mohammad So-And-So,” “Incorrectional”) but for the podcast I mainly focused on Paul’s directorial work.
Unlike most of his peers, Taylor’s filmography thus far consists mostly of movies that take a silent approach. Both short films “In Memoriam” and “Cohesion” have an occasional, minimal foray into speech but mostly stay away from being talky. They instead hone in on gestures, silence, and physicality to explore their varying themes.
This technique was perfected in Taylor’s first feature as a director, the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival award winner “Driftwood.” Taking inspiration from a character in Greek mythology, the film follows a young woman who mysteriously washes up on a beach and is taken in by a man who attempts to mold her as he sees fit. Eschewing dialogue all together, “Driftwood” is a surreal, chilling, and dryly funny examination of “playing house” and all the roles people are expected to fill.
“Driftwood” has distribution and will be released for all to view very soon — we’ll let you know — but for now, if you’re in New York, you can check out the film screening at Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn on November 10th with Paul available for a post-screening Q&A.
In promotion of that event, Paul and I spoke about his film work as well as film school, film festival life, and, of course, “Dude, Where’s My Car?”