From the deep, dark and suburban pinner comes a depressing film about a young man trapped in a world with a forced smile. Oscar Perillo’s ‘Don’t Forget to Smile’ (2015) is an uncomfortable commentary on social norms and the pressure that society places on us all. Through clever lighting and a brilliant cast of un-known, yet up and coming actors, Perillo has brought to life .His creepy, Burton-esc world has left us, not with a smile on our face, but a good idea about how far his career will go.The film follows a young protagonist (Anthony Beauchamp) as he struggles to survive in a world that requires him to smile constantly. This is made impossible with the sudden death of his grandfather which leaves him to face the lip-curling consequences.

We were delighted to get an interview with the young director of the film, and ask him about some of his experiences!

So, this is your first film? What’s it like going straight into the director’s chair? Actually it’s rather funny you mention that as I created a student film with a few friends previously which, although never reached fame, provided me with enough knowledge of how to work behind the camera that I felt confident this time around. I will say though that there was a huge jump in the standard of shoot-ing, I’d gone from using one camera and natural lighting to multiple cameras and a whole lighting crew! It was little things

like that which keep me realising that actually I still have a long way to go but they also assure me that I will be ready for everything when I get there.

The first thing we all notice is the stand-ard of acting found in the short. How did you achieve this?Firstly I owe all the credit to the actors involved. Not only did they give me some incredible performances but they put up with all my irritating requests for re-shoots, not to mention the cold conditions that we shot the graveyard scene in! In terms of how to work with actors my mother, an actress and theatre director,

always taught me how to treat actors and help them reach their full potential- which can be solved by keeping a large supply of Pizza and Danish pastries on set!

We’ve noticed that you go against con-ventions with a rather large cast? Why was this and how did it effect filming?The film itself is about the pressure that society places on people and there are two ways I could think of doing that: A new article that depicts people smil-ing, or a large cast of people that add a sense of creepy realism. Choosing the latter wasn’t easy as I was having enough trouble trying to confirm a lead role,

let alone an arrangement of extras! In the end I had to beg and borrow actors from multiple acting groups, and the elderly couple at the funeral were my Veteran-acting Grandparents! Altogeth-er though everyone understood exactly what I wanted in my film and the final results speak for themselves as far as film-quality is concerned.

You mention your lighting as something key to your production? What did you do differently to other directors?Well, as most editors would tell you, you should always shoot with realis-tic lighting and create the effect you want in post. Now I did not do this and

alternatively created most of my lighting requirements on set. This was simply due to how I wanted the film to feel and my lack of confidence in Premier! If I’m honest it’s mostly that second point but it’s always worth sounding artistic!

We all want to see more from you but will we expect the same psychological depth that we find in this one?If I’m honest I’ll take any job I can get! That aside I would love to do more work like this and I’ve always felt that films like this will become more important in upcoming years due to how we are developing socially. Psychology aside I honestly think that work like this is more interesting that the generic action packed Micheal Bay film!

Bottems up!The film features a messgae on

the modern outlook on “cosmetic drugs” such as vitamin supliments

and teeth whiteners through the use of “Smile-a-While”.

The prop itself was actually an old bottle of Vitamin C tablets found in the directors medi-

cine cabinet! Luckily they were all still in date however An-

tony (Left) never felt the “life enhancing effects” the pills

claim to have.

Don’t Forget to SmileRelease: April 18thCertification: 15Director: Oscar PerilloCast: Anthony Beauchamp,Samanta Gudziunaite, Zak LabiadRunning time: Aprox 4 minutes 30.Plot: following a young man living in a wolrd where everone around him is smiling he starts to give in to the insanity.

MARCH 30th - APRIL 20thEMporium

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Tweet the director @Smile-a-while

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