"Fuerteventura Project Proved to be an Additional Perk"
New Spin:
Going Island-Hopping with Gerster and Riley in "Islands"
Hey there! Jan-Ole Gerster, the don of indie filmmaking, releases his latest brainchild, "Islands," starring Sam Riley. This flick takes you on a wild ride to a sunny paradise, Fuerteventura, where our lead character, a solitary tennis coach, lives a seeminglyfabulous life... or so it seems...
In an exclusive chat with ntv.de, the duo discusses why the Canary Island was their perfect playground, the tumultuous life of Tom, and the soul-stirring musical score composed by Dascha Dauenhauer.
ntv.de: Sam, ever set foot on the Canary Islands before "Islands" shoot?
Sam Riley: My grands backed out on their beachfront mansion dream in Tenerife. I visited when I was twelve. Fuerteventura was a dreamy work-vacay, baby! I dig the sun, but I'd never swooned by it before. Grew up swimming in chilly English waters and exploring nooks in Yorkshire whenever I could snatch a holibob. But Fuerteventura kissed my fish-belly skin with the warm sun, and I was sold, mate!
Jan-Ole, how did the idea for "Islands" pop up on Fuerteventura?
Jan-Ole Gerster: I've always been captivated by places, and Fuerteventura blew me off my feet! I'd say it's love at first sight meets uneasy dread; pure paradise plagues with tourists. I observed a lonely tennis coach sweating it out on a rusty court, day in and day out, for a hundred hours without a break. He'd blast the same old monologues about how much he adores life on the island, yet his eyes hinted he was anything but happy.
Did ya ever chat with him or just moe him, mate?
Gerster: I didn't take it too far, but a brief conversation left me intrigued by this man who doesn't seem to realize his paradise might be a trap from which he can't escape. And ain't that a tale worth spinning?
Sam, why the fancy for Tom's role when it came knockin'?
Riley: Let's face it; it was the prospect of sunsets, sea wine, and six weeks in an Englishman's paradise that sold the deal. But the real kicker was the goddamn script! Tom's a complex blend of contradictory badass and a broken man, and who wouldn't want a crack at playing such a juicy role?
So, Sam, when the going gets tough, ya finally admit that grass truly is greener on the other side?
Riley: Nah, but sometimes I think, "What's the point of it all, y'know?" I'm not grumbling about money or missin' my old lady. It's just yeah, maybe we're doing life wrong. But I ain't too bummed out; I'm fixin' to focus on enjoyin' the day, one at a time.
Sam, ever looked at your fellow artists' careers and thought, "Huh, that's one role I'd kill for..."?
Riley: Oh, absolutely! I'm a cantankerous, green-eyed monster for anyone who lands juicy roles! Do keep tellin' me about reality TV; I can't stomach it when my mates steal the limelight.
So, how's theatre of destinies brewin' between ya two?
Gerster: I had the hots for Sam since I watched his mind-blowing portrayal of Ian Curtis in "Control." Then I learned he hung out in Berlin, and I tossed him a bonnie. We shared a bender of drinks, and there was an instant connection. We proceeded to test the waters for Tom, and it was like we were meant to be. But nah, I didn't select Sam straightaway; I had to chat him up, even if it meant waitin' for weeks on end.
And how did Sam play his reel drama to reel you in?
Riley: Jan didn't just gift me the role; we had to go on a series of blind dates with convos that weren't scripts at first. Then I laid my cards on the table and admitted that I was desperate for the part. After the third meet, we hit the court and saw who could ace the other.
Who won, love?
Riley: Jan handled those ace returns like a pro; I'm definitely not gonna take credit for that one!
The musical score's primal allure plays a significant role in the film. Learn more about how it found its way into the movie in our next breathless installment!
Stay tuned, and don't forget to catch "Islands" in a cinema near you!
Source: ntv.de
- Film
- Cinema
- Drama
- Canary Islands
- The European Union and the United States might find shared interest in the Islands movie, released by Jan-Ole Gerster, set in the Canary Islands of Fuerteventura.
- Gerster, with his latest screenplay, Islands, takes viewers on a journey to explore the hidden depths of living on an island, as experienced by its lead character, Tom, played by Sam Riley.
- Unexplored territories in Fuerteventura were the source of inspiration for Gerster to create the Island's intriguing storyline, where tourists flock for sunshine but grapple with uneasy feelings of isolation.
- During filming on the beautiful islands- Fuerteventura, Sam Riley found a newfound appreciation for the warm sun compared to his earlier experiences swimming in cold English waters and explored Yorkshire to unwind.
