When Alex Russell arrived for the primary day of capturing his characteristic directorial debut, “Lurker,” he realized he most likely had the least on-set expertise of anybody concerned.
“I had no thought what I used to be doing,” admits the 34-year-old writer-director, who acquired his begin within the writers’ room of FX’s “Dave” after which moved as much as each penning and producing duties on “The Bear” and “Beef.” However as soon as he began filming the primary scene — the place the tense drama’s two predominant characters, performed by Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe, meet — Russell breathed a sigh of aid. “That was the one day that I teared up,” he says. “I used to be like ‘OK, we’ve a film.’”
And it turned out to be an acclaimed one, having world-premiered on the Sundance Movie Competition — Russell’s first-ever time attending a fest — in January to business buzz and rave critiques. “It was just like the fantasy that you just hope for, as a result of folks really preferred the film,” he says. “You’ll be able to go into that theater and acquire or lose anybody — that’s why I used to be like, shaking up till the final second.”
“Lurker,” which Russell additionally wrote, follows a retail worker, Matthew (Pellerin), who turns into a part of the inside circle of Oliver (Madekwe), a pop singer on the verge of superstardom. However as he will get nearer to the singer, their relationship takes a chilling flip. Russell drew on his personal expertise being enmeshed within the L.A. music scene for inspiration, and referred to as on a few of his buddies — like rapper and actor Zack Fox and producer Kenny Beats — to assist put collectively the movie, which was in growth for round 4 years.
After promoting to “The Substance” distributor Mubi out of Sundance in a aggressive state of affairs for a mid-seven-figure value, Russell takes “Lurker” to Berlin Movie Competition on Friday for its worldwide debut. Beneath, the rising director discusses the origins of the movie, casting Madekwe and Pellerin and what his subsequent mission may be.
Archie Madekwe and Théodore Pellerin in “Lurker.”
What was the origin of “Lurker”?
It was the primary week of COVID in 2020 and I had simply gotten my first TV writing job and the whole lot had stopped. I used to be like “OK, right here’s my probability to attempt to write one thing longer.” And in some way I simply did. I believe the world stopping allowed me to focus, so I used to be capable of write this draft inside a pair months. It was a kind of issues that simply comes out of you — it felt like I used to be purging one thing about my environment.
Was it all the time the plan so that you can direct the movie?
No. It wasn’t even the plan for it to get made. The plan was to get to the top of an 100-page script. After which when there was some curiosity within the script, I don’t assume there have been lots of people who had been dying to direct it. The tone of it’s fairly particular, so it kinda turned an apparent selection for me to do it, although I had no thought what I used to be doing. There have been individuals who mentioned I might, and I believe it labored out.
The movie explores the contentious conduct that goes on within the clout-chasing world of L.A.’s music scene. How did your personal expertise in that world encourage it?
That’s the big joke of the film, like, what’s the level of this form of inter-competitive nature on this hierarchy of boys? Clearly that is dramatized, and I don’t assume I’ve really seen any of the stuff on this film [happen], but it surely’s throughout the realm of risk. I’ve heard folks say, “That is the realest factor ever,” and I’ve additionally heard, “That is so unbelievable.” And I’m like, then you definately don’t know this world. However I really feel that you just don’t must have a particular understanding of this world to grasp the dynamics at play. This film might have taken place at a frat home or in a grad faculty — anyplace there’s a bunch of younger males who can arbitrarily assemble themselves in an order.
What was your inspiration for Oliver? Just a few folks got here to thoughts: Brockhampton’s Kevin Summary, Dijon, Rex Orange County, Dominic Fike…
Nicely, Dijon and Rex Orange County really wrote one of many songs. It’s positively a sub-genre, and it’s such an amalgamation of all of the folks that you just’re pondering. There wasn’t a single mannequin for it or a single inspiration. However anybody you’re pondering of might be within the playlist of Oliver inspirations.
The character was written American. Then once we forged Archie, we had been going to do the dialect coach and the whole lot, however then we had been identical to, “What if he’s British? Does that damage us?” And we had been like, “No, it helps us.” I believe Archie being British added this form of refined distinction between him and everybody else within the group. It confirmed the facility of him in a refined manner, and it additionally will get us additional away from some American artists that folks assume that is. Even on this sub-genre of DIY pop that Oliver’s making, that’s such an amalgam of genres and I believe that’s type of what I used to be getting at with this character. Like, who is that this man? He’s so fashionable and of this time, or of 2018, which is the interval. I’m certain Archie had his secret, “I’m attempting to be like this man,” or “I’m attempting to be the British model of this man,” and the British half can throw you off the scent of it.
Inform me extra about casting “Saltburn” breakout Archie Madekwe as your pop star, Oliver.
For Oliver, it was simply so vital that you just felt each charisma and vulnerability. The film would have been a bit of extra flat if you happen to simply imagine he’s an up-and-coming pop star and he’s aloof and no matter, however then we by no means get previous that. However then whenever you get into the second half and also you type of expose a few of his feelings, you really want an actor who can go there. And I type of simply felt that he might. You don’t get to spend that a lot time deciding, you simply must go off a intestine feeling. And I believe in actual life, he had the charisma. I used to be within the assembly like, “Wait, does he like me?” So it was like, I’m already leaning in. And that’s such an vital facet of Oliver — the folks round him wish to be preferred by him.
And the way concerning the titular lurker, Théodore Pellerin?
His was really the primary tape I ever noticed, coincidentally. And I used to be amazed by the humanity — possibly that sounds corny — however he’s so expressive and you may see a lot in his face and what he’s pondering, and but it’s a thriller. Like you possibly can see him calculating, however you’re probably not certain what he’s going to do subsequent and that’s such a giant a part of the intrigue of this film. We’ve seen motion pictures like this earlier than, we’ve seen form of an obsessive particular person earlier than, however a lot of his efficiency is unpredictable. Is there a sweetness to him? Do I really feel dangerous for him? Am I rooting for him? Am I feeling betrayed by his actions? Am I regarding him in anyway? And that’s type of the enjoyable of this film, actually.
There’s additionally a extremely enjoyable supporting ensemble, together with Zack Fox and Sunny Suljic. How did they get entangled?
Zack and I are shut private buddies of over a decade, and I all the time knew I wished to place him someplace on this film. I simply knew he would add a lot authenticity and humor. He’s like an improv genius — particularly if you happen to give him the suitable place to begin, he could make it really feel so lived-in and off the cuff. And it was humorous as a result of it took a number of years to get this film made and it was like, “OK, now we’re in our 30s, we may must acknowledge that he’s the previous one within the group.” There’s even a small second the place Matthew’s like, “How previous are you?” And I don’t assume that might have been in there if we made this film three or 4 years in the past.
Sunny was such a form of random however good get in that he’s on this L.A. scene, entrenched in it. So he completely understands the whole lot that’s happening within the film. I believe I used to be a bit of weary of him being a toddler star; I used to be like, I ought to really feel this out. However really Archie was the one who introduced him up as an thought for the position. He was in a music video with Sunny a pair months earlier than, I believe for Zach Bryan. So we met up at an iHop in Hollywood and he had chains on and he’s sporting all his personal garments and I used to be like, “This child is a celebrity — he might not be humble sufficient to play this Jamie character.” However then the extra I talked to him I used to be like, this child is tremendous humble and good and really properly adjusted for a way Hollywood his life is. He simply turned out to be the sweetest boy ever and everybody liked him. You might need an expectation of how he’s going to be, after which he’s simply so candy and it’s type of disarming. As an actor, I really feel like that is his first position as an grownup, ? And he actually stepped as much as it.
Kenny Beats did each the unique music and rating for the movie. What was the method like working with him?
I’ve recognized Kenny eternally. We all the time wished to work collectively on one thing like this, and it was so completely timed. He was so prepared to attain a film. I used to be so fortunate that I simply had this pal who I knew might make the proper model of this sub-genre of songs and we might give him the chance to make a rating that felt distinctive and new. Kenny can simply create any track in any style at any time, so it was laughably shorthand after I was like, “Are you able to make a number of songs for Archie?” And two days later, the songs that had been within the film had been accomplished and I didn’t actually have to elucidate something. I used to be like, what sort of music he makes.
He introduced in all of those different nice musicians and writers and instrumentalists. There’s actual strings on this film. But it surely was all tremendous like, “Pull as much as the studio,” in the identical manner that he would construct rap songs. Like, “Alright, let’s get three violinists to the studio, inform them pull up proper now. Inform the oboe to drag up,” which may be very humorous. But when one thing didn’t really feel proper, he can be so fast to give you one thing else that did. He was very gracious in serving the sensation of the film, slightly than attempting to do the best factor.
“Lurker” ended up in a aggressive bidding state of affairs out of Sundance. What made you go along with Mubi?
I simply had nice inventive conversations with them and I believe they understood to place this film as one thing that’s extra fascinating and extra advanced than you’d count on. I believe that’s lots of people’s feeling strolling out of it, and numerous critiques point out that too. I additionally assume Mubi, as a distributor, is at a extremely fascinating level. They will actually push a brand new voice and assist a filmmaker, particularly in a post-“Substance” period. They usually actually imagine within the film, and I believe you wish to work with the folks whose interpretation of the fabric is within the realm of what your intention was. So that can shine by within the advertising and marketing, all the way down to the trailer. I might see a distributor eager to faux it is a horror film and trick the viewers in a manner. It’s a novel tone — it is rather tense and suspenseful, but it surely possibly is just not going to the locations of violence that you just would possibly count on.
What’s subsequent for you?
I’m going to put in writing all this yr after which see what comes out of it. I didn’t must study too many classes the arduous manner on this primary one, so I really feel like on the subsequent one the whole lot might go incorrect. However I’ll be extra ready for it. Now that I perceive what directing is, the subsequent one will be type of fucked. I imply, hopefully they’ll let me do one other one. I simply discovered my tone with this, so I believe the subsequent one can be most likely an evolution of the same sensibility. I don’t wish to run away from that.
This interview has been edited and condensed.