On Campus News

Christopher Macken and Zach Bernstein discuss their student film �Wallace Seeks Solace�

By Naomi Laeuchli
posted Feb 23, 2013, 03:30

Wallace Seeks Solace is a film which will tell the story of the Holocaust in a unique and powerful way, through the perspective of a child in a story book style that calls to mind the style of Dr. Seuss. Christopher Macken, the director, and Zack Bernstein, the writer and producer, two students at Emerson College, explain what they hope to portray with the film and how they plan to achieve it.


Wallace Seeks Solace Concept Art - by Patrick Quirk
Can you tell me a little bit about Wallace Seeks Solace?
Zack Bernstein: A short film about a little boy's journey through the holocaust. An innocent perspective on a tragic event. The film follows a boy named Wallace, as he journeys through the tragic event. The film climaxes when Wallace is given a choice to kill a peer or die himself.
Christopher Macken: Wallace Seeks Solace is a short film shot on 16mm about the journey of a little boy named Wallace throughout the holocaust. Although the concept art looks very cartoony, the film is live-action but with the surreal feeling the artwork displays. This film is going to be told as a children's book - all rhyme schemes that will bring an innocent perspective on this horrific event. This film is shot for our Film 2 class at Emerson College.

What made you interested in making a film about the Holocaust and feel it was the right choice for your film project? And was it intimidating approaching such a serious and well known subject?
CM: I can speak for both of us when I say it is a very interesting topic that we both really wanted to experiment with. It was, and continues to be, a very intimidating subject to work on. The seriousness of this event puts an immense amount of pressure on us because it brings along A LOT of controversy. We need to pull this film off the way we intend- and keep it tasteful.
ZB: I feel that the holocaust is something that was such a large scale, horrific event, that no matter how much time passes, there will always be stories that were untold. 6 million people were killed. Over 100 million people were directly affected. That means that there are billions of stories that could and should be told. This is one of them.

The film tells its story through the perspective of a child, with a story book feel. You've said that 'every line will rhyme like a Dr. Seuss book.' How do you balance this very interesting, innocent, concept with the darker theme of the holocaust? And why did you decide to tell the story that way?
ZB: When I wrote the script, I originally did not write it in the "Dr. Seuss" form. I wanted to focus on the story first, and make sure it was authentic as possible, then bring in the surreal aspect to give it a different angle. This would work synergistically with the story to create the strongest and most original narrative.
CM: It is going to be a very difficult to mesh two completely different themes together, but that is what is going to make this film unique and stand out. We decided telling the story this way would tell the story of the holocaust in a way it has never been told before- like a storybook with the perspective of a child. I feel like we will create a beautiful film that shows the atrocities of the holocaust but keeps that innocent feel throughout.

With sets, costumes and props, how are going to portray such a vastly different time, era and place while still filming on and around Emerson?
CM: We plan on filming in a variety of locations not limited to Emerson College. We have a very talented production design team that will create sets and costumes that best resemble the era, but also show the Dr. Suess/children's book aspect.
ZB: We will be filming in five locations: a basement, a soundstage, Revere Beach (as the concentration camp), and some alley ways in Beacon Hill. We want to keep the shots as tight as possible, so we can give the feel of having high production value, while still maintaining a low and affordable budget.

What are you most looking forward to about working on this film?
CM: I am so excited to create this amazing film because it is just so different. I want to create something that will inspire the viewer and be considered a piece of art displaying this event in history in the very way we intend to. I look forward to seeing people's response to our vision.
ZB: I am looking forward to showing the people who were offended and "hating" on the project that we are doing something special and meaningful, while still being tasteful. There are many people who are rooting against us, I want this film to prove them wrong, and bring them back to our side.





Resources:

Wallace Seeks Solace Official Facebook Page

Wallace Seeks Solace Indiegogo Campaign