Introduction:
My directorial debut, National Treasures, is a surreal, mildly dark comedy that was born out of a screenwriting competition in 2022. The film explores the space between humour, discomfort and tension in themes of cultural ownership and heritage and aims to raise questions over what or who can legitimately own something in history.
Inspiration:
Why did you make this film? Share what inspired the idea, whether it came from personal experience, a cultural event, or artistic curiosity.
The idea was actually inspired by a stand-up comedy performance around the British Museum and my own experience with colonial history. The British Museum has long been a subject for stand-up comedians, but I’d never seen it explored on screen, so this felt like a fruitful space to play. I’m a fan of directors like Ruben Östlund who ask uncomfortable questions while still making people laugh at absurdity, so I would have to say he’s also a source of inspiration.
The Process:
Filming took place over 2 and a half days in a stately home in Kent. The entire cast and crew were fantastic throughout, even when our lenses were malfunctioning for the first half of the day. I was doing the production design largely myself, so it gave me and the team time to devote to that and not just sit in a corner panicking. Being agile, I would say, was the lesson there.
What It Means to Be a Finalist:
Honestly, we’re all blown away. Seeing the other films in the category, it’s an honour to be considered alongside them, so all of us couldn’t be happier. Being my first film, it’s also nice to know that what I’m writing and shooting isn’t absolute shit, haha.
Where to Watch / Follow:
The film is coming to the end of its festival run soon and will be available to watch on my site willwright.mov. And you can follow its journey on IG @nationalreasures.mp4
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