Kristian Martin’s horror short, Abstract follows a man who’s sister is missing on his quest to find her. He searches high and low on his rural property, but amidst the trees, he finds something that terrifies him. Today, we’re speaking with Kristian Martin about the film. Welcome!
UniversalCinema Magazine (UM): First off, the note at the beginning stating that we have to look carefully at all the minute details of the film since this is a crucial element of abstract art was very effective. I found myself trying to piece together every little thing I saw. But I must ask – what this note meant seriously, or was it a bit tongue in cheek? I ask because I noticed the date on the protagonist’s phone near the end of the film.
Kristian Martin (KM): The note at the beginning was meant to connect to the action ofwhat’s going on in this fictional pandemic. Meaning the art behind the supernatural happening is that we don’t know what from a viewer’s perspective, but the character.
(UM): I also found myself looking very carefully at the trees and at everything I could notice during the long shots of the countryside. But I have to admit that I did not see anything unusual. Did I miss something?
(KM): The shots in the countryside and forest was a way for the protagonist to investigate. For example, a fire pit in which someone lit may be a clue to life somewhere and someone was trying to find help.
(UM): I thought there was something mildly comedic about the film, but on the other hand, you do a very good job of creating an unsettling and eerie atmosphere. The shots of the woods and different parts of the property worked quite well at putting me on edge. Could you speak about your own directing style here? What were you trying to achieve?
(KM): Since I was only one actor and crew member, I wanted to experiment with the limitations of how to pull off certain shots and then later edit them to how the viewer looks at the film. Fun fact, the story itself didn’t have a script, it was all done from my head. To further experiment the little things I had. Plus, the short had no dialogue. The film’s approach was inspired by an animated series called, Primal created by Genndy Tartakovsky. With this inspiration, it helped bring my vision from my head to life.
(UM): In what sense would you say that this is an abstract film? Usually when we think about abstract art, we think of something without a clear structure or meaning. But Abstract has a more or less traditional story. Sort of.
(KM): The title Abstract is actually the type of supernatural pandemic it’s actually called. Abstract is an entity that goes for any individual it pleases and attacks however it wants. Leaving the motives unknown for the time being.
(UM): The soundtrack does a lot of work here. Could you tell us about putting it together?
(KM): I didn’t have a composer for this actually, so I did some digging through songs to find on YouTube to match the tone of my film. Thankfully, I credited the songs.
(UM): Is there any significance to the Bonaire diving shirt the protagonist wears? Is he perhaps diving into the unknown?
(KM): It’s actually just a shirt that he wears. Nothing really resembles anything important, but the adventure he embarks.
(UM): There’s at least a hint that whatever the protagonist finds in the woods is in fact only in his imagination, but maybe not. Was this meant to be open to interpretation?
(KM): In the eyes of our protagonist, maybe it was. However, despite his question of how he ended up back here and being thankful of being still alive, never assume events to be entirely a dream. For that may be a sign of throwing any victim off guard.
(UM): What was the production like? Did anything interesting happen on set?
(KM): The production experience for this film flowed much smoothly and I believe for how the film was shot and how the final product came out had a great pay off. With only just a tripod, camera and being the only actor as well as director, you’d think that it would be a
challenge. Actually for me, it was a matter of planning out an idea in your head. Once in a while, experimenting with a film with no script can be an interesting thing. Maybe that factor could be one of the best things you thought of.
(UM): After over a year now living in lockdown, I actually thought this man’s behaviour could have been the result of someone who’d been alone too long and who was going stir-crazy. Is that one possible interpretation?
(KM): Perhaps, but it’s a manner of keeping yourself together. So when trying to find answers, you have to pull it together.
(UM): Could you tell us about any future plans? Will yo use making Abstract into a feature?
(KM): After finishing the project, an idea didn’t really come about yet, but when it did I thought of making this a short series. A potential sequel to Abstract is a consideration once the real pandemic going on is officially over.
By: Darida Rose
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