Five years have gone by rather quickly since Greek filmmaker, Georgia Michalidi, came to the Femme Filmmakers Festival with Diane Keaton. We have always since then been on each other’s radar, and now we finally meet again.
“It’s so nice to be back.” Georgia greeted me with that killer smile. “I was really hoping you would accept this film as well. When I found out, it was just such a beautiful moment, it was so nice.” But I told Georgia, with Boo!, there was very little doubt this gorgeous little picture would not make our Competition Selection for the 10th edition.
Sadly, Margarita Siotou (who plays Iliachtida in Boo!), couldn’t make it for our chat in August. “It would have been nice to see Margarita.” I admitted, “I know she was in Diane Keaton as well. I barely recognised her at first in Boo!” And Georgia simply glowed as she exclaimed the wonderful collaboration she had with Margarita again this time as well. The good news, though, was that we were also joined by co-star Antigone Grigoropoulou (who plays Lilian), and the film’s editor, Evi Loe.
But, of course, I started with Georgia, as the director, but also because we have spoken before, and was dying to jump back in. I didn’t particularly want to talk about COVID itself, but it has been quite a time of it since we graced Diane Keaton on our small screens. And I was eager to know how Georgia made that leap to Boo!, which is unashamedly a different film in many ways.
“What is interesting is that actually the very first draft of Boo! was really similar to Diane Keaton.” Georgia explains. “It was full of anger, if you can say that. It was full of wonder. And the ending was familiar too. That these two would not end up together. And then I realised that this is not the film I’m going to make. At least, not this time. I want to have something very full of light, very pure, very loving. Because I don’t think that these two (in Boo!) are as bad of a match as those in the two in Diane Keaton.”
“It was decision of a split second, that these two are in a very different movie. I just did not want to be the break-up girl. It just seemed like I was diving into, let me say, typecasting. Oh, she’s going to be the girl writing about toxic relationships all the time. And I did not want that. But it was more of a mood. I was not in the mood to write something angry. I wanted to write something positive.”
I totally get that. So fascinating to sit inside the psyche of a writer, whose story partly derives from that creative wrestling. For me, I told Georgia, the difference with Boo! from Diane Keaton was that there was already tension in the first film. But with this new one, it wasn’t really about that. It was almost like finding a partner and living life to the full, in some ways, even outside of life. For context, Boo! is about two ghosts looking for hosts so they can stay together.
“I think both movies are about endings because, well, they are about beginnings.” Georgia responds. “Anastasia and Odysseas (from Diane Keaton) were a horrible match for each other, because they realise that their lifestyle, that relationship, is not what they need. This relationship (in Boo!), we have Sunshine (Iliachtida) trying to live her afterlife as if she’s still alive. And because she’s a ghost, she has the opportunity to actually fix this. She doesn’t have to break up with Lilian. They can be together and just find a way because they have literally eternity.”
I really liked it, Georgia, for so many reasons. I am reminded of the conversations I had with the jury members of the 10th edition. And how they found Boo! very refreshing. There must have been some distinct inspirations for Boo! I mean, there’s a film from the 60s called Daisies, which I immediately went to.
Georgia’s face lights up at this point. “Actually Daisies was in the mood board. So I’m so glad to hear that, because I was worried that none of the inspirations would work, or actually make it to the final film. So that is so refreshing, thank you. I did try to incorporate some of the acting styles of Daisies. But after a while when the girls got to know Lilian and Sunshine, I just let them be themselves, essentially. They know what they’re doing. They didn’t need me there, it would have been wrong for me to stop them and force a very different type of acting. They are such talented and hard-working actresses.”
Speaking of which. I turned my attention to actress, Antigone Grigoropoulou, who portrayed Lilian in Boo! I wanted to know how she got involved in this project. And, of course, what she thought of that beautiful script when she first set eyes on it.
“I was really happy, because I’m playing around from an era that I love. Belle epoche is one of my favourite eras in literature. In aesthetics. And apart from that, I found a really strong relation with the character. I am a little bit shy, a little bit closed, and Lilian is too. And it was a dream to express myself in other ways. That was my first impression. I also liked the dreamy atmosphere.”
Definitely dreamy, I agreed. But the quaint, enticing performances of the two leading ladies really brought that to life. I wondered aloud about that specific casting process. Especially given that Georgia had worked with Margarita previously.
“Margarita was actually the first person to read the script – and not even the final script.” Georgia explains. “And she said, let’s go for it. Write some more. There’s something in there. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue, because I was writing as more of a way of passing time. But Margarita said, no, no, let’s turn this into an actual film. We can do it.”
It seemed that, at first, Margarita thought Georgia wanted her to play the part of Lilian. “When I told her about Sunshine, I think it kind of intrigued her. She found it really interesting that we see the complete opposite of Anastasia (from Diane Keaton).”
And let’s not forget that we were also in the company of Boo! editor, Evie Loe, who had to feast her eyes on these images and help build the marvellous tale we see on the screen. What was it like working with Georgia then, I asked. And vice versa I guess, how did the director work with Evie.
“Well, with Georgia, it’s a actually a very touching moment.” Evie beams. “Because we were at film school together, so we were friends. And back then when she did Diane Keaton, I did not have the experience. I didn’t know I wanted to focus on editing, for example. And when Georgia came, she was saying, I have a script. So I was there from the very beginning of this process. And it came out very naturally, I think. I knew exactly what Georgia wanted, and this project felt very close to me, like a small baby.”
Obviously, the photography is also very important. As well as those colour choices and costume design. With the historic textures in a modern world. “I did want to use modern scenery, and keep it realistic, but whimsical.” Georgia explains. “So yes, we did try to find the most beautiful park or the most aesthetic supermarket, for instance. We had the most talented team. Everyone brought their A game, and it was great. I wanted it to look like a fairy tale. I wanted it to look like a dream. I wanted it to look like a children’s book. But still make it very 2024. If that’s possible.”
“We spent a year searching for the right places. We would take day trips. We would brainstorm. Sunshine and Lilian live with us. We’re humans. But they don’t really interact with us. They’re in their own world, they are ghosts, our rules do not apply to them anymore. So for me, there is no human narration. It’s all from their point of view. To tell the story through their eyes. Everything is beautiful to them.”
As I said earlier, even though it is about ghosts, there is still two things I thought. One is that it was almost like looking for somebody in life, like a partner. And we can relate to that in real life. And two, there’s this thing about living life to the fullest. Like they have regrets. Some very real, human emotions as well. Loved that.
To get to this glorious place, Georgia, there must have been some challenges with the filming or the script. Would love to know how you overcome any of this. Like perhaps, what might have been the hardest part of pre-production.
“It was mostly finding locations, because we do have so many locations.” Georgia begins. “There are actually more scenes to this film that had to be cut during the editing process, in post-production of course. The film was so long. If we had kept the film with that duration, we would have been left out from so many festivals. So that was the struggle of post-production. But the shooting took place during the last week of July in Greece. So the biggest struggle was the heat. For the crew, but mainly the girls, because of what they were wearing.”
I’ll just have one more question for the actress, Antigone, about doing these scenes with Margarita. It must have been a lot of fun? “We have a totally opposite energy, with Margarita” the lady behind Lilian explains. “Not only in the film, but also in real life. And so it worked really nice. The most difficult thing for me was the erotic vibe, mentally. But there was this essence in that relationship of a mother, a child, a lover, and a friend. It was really nice, definitely.”
And in turn, a last question for the editor, Evi. I wanted to know what her favourite scene or particular edit might be. “Actually, the field scene.” Evi tells us. “It is a small scene, with the girls. I thought it was this very touching moment, and that with this voice over and the sound design. It was the most emotional scene of this film I feel. Like these two are there and might not be like that again. So in editing terms, yes, but also it is the poster of the film. It is like the core of the film.”
I suppose, for all three of you. I do hope you all work together again by the way. Tell us what you plan to do next.
“I’ve decided that I want to focus mainly on writing.” Georgia goes first. “However, if an idea comes out that I feel that would have so much fun, as I like being on set, then I think I would return to directing. But for now, I think of me more of a film writer. That’s what I want to do.
And over to Antigone, the actress. “I’m also really keen on writing. But from another point of view. And I’m doing techniques in dark room with photography, so I want to make maybe performance that has to do with that art form.”
And last, but certainly not least, Evie. “It would be a pleasure to work with Georgia And with everyone on set actually. They were all really part of the film. Really nice things to happen when you’re working, especially with short films, because it’s not like you do it for the money or for the fame. It’s because you love it. I will continue editing. I am editing other short movies, and some TV things here in Greece.”
To close, I wanted to read the three ladies something one of the jury members said for the Competition Selection, after they saw the film. “Boo! is a visual treat. And what immediately catches the eye is the striking colour palette the film creates. They have masterfully employed colour to enhance the story-telling. The vibrant colours and lighting choices contribute to the film’s distinctive style. The concept is unique, the execution is flawless. It’s a film that leaves a lasting impression.”
So there you go. A lovely film. very refreshing. And people enjoyed it. Congratulations on the film. And it’s great to have you back, Georgia, at the festival. Thank you, all three of you, for talking to me. To us. Efhariso.