After wowing audiences at South By Southwest earlier in the year, before spreading some serious joy in her homeland, writer/actress Krew Boylan got all dolled up for her, appropriately enough, Dolly Parton-inspired comedy Seriously Red, a film about taking chances, following your dreams, and channelling your inner Dolly.
As Krew and her co-star Daniel Webber took to the red carpet at opening of this year’s Brisbane International Film Festival, Peter Gray was on hand to chat to the duo about the reactions to the film so far and their intent on creating joy with the film.
Congratulations on the film. It’s your script, it’s your baby, how important is it to you to showcase this film in Australia, but also handing it over for audiences to enjoy? What’s that feeling like for you?
Krew Boylan: I’m so proud that it is my Australian baby and I wouldn’t have wanted to make it anywhere else. I’m just so thrilled, and I hope everyone is a little bit proud of that. It’s our film, it’s an Australian film, and we fought really hard to make it here. I hope everyone enjoys it and finds a little bit of joy in this weird time. We’re really thrilled to be here.
You premiered the film at South By Southwest. Are you seeing a different reaction in international audiences to Australian audiences?
Krew Boylan: It was so heart-warming being in America and hearing everyone laugh. I was like “Oh my goodness”, I love it, and them finding joy (like) that is so thrilling. When it was in Australia, at the Sydney Film Festival, I, as a writer and a proud Australian, I just had like a little internal tear of “Oh my goodness, this is so Australian”, and it resonated so well with the audience. With Melbourne (at the Melbourne International Film Festival) everyone was stomping their feet in terms of the music, and everyone’s personalities and individualities came out. It’s been a really fun experience.
Australian audiences must have had a great reaction to that Minogue cameo?
Krew Boylan: (Laughs) Oh my god, I’ve only been starstruck twice in my life. Once with Sally Field and one was with Dannii (Minogue).
And Daniel, you’re an actor that’s had such varied roles. Is there something you’ve found in previous characters that helped you in bringing this interpretation of Kenny Rogers to life?
Daniel Webber: You know, I think probably doing the Motley Crue thing. I mean, that’s a pretty obvious one. It’s just getting up on stage and singing his performances (and) just getting used to outrageous costumes. That was definitely a good sort of base for me, to start playing around. Otherwise, I think I would have been terrified. I was terrified. You’re always terrified.
Did you feel any pressure in playing a real person? Someone so many people have impersonated before?
Daniel Webber: Oh, 100%. Even more so the fact that he’s just so iconic, especially in his later life. He’s almost more iconic with the big bushy beard, so beautifully kept. That’s the Kenny that everybody remembers (but) we weren’t doing that Kenny, so I think we found a nice medium, playing him around 30 to 32 years old when he was in other bands and a bit more of a hippie. That youthful version of him.
Well, I’m looking forward to the reaction…
Daniel Webber: It’s been fun so far. We did Austin earlier this year. Sydney, Melbourne, Perth…and the responses have blow me away, especially in Australia. I’m normally doing dramas, Danger Close, that sort of thing, and people usually walk away feeling a little bit morose, so it’s strange having audiences yelling lines back at the screen or stomping in time with the music and coming out with a big smile on their face. That was the reason to get involved in this thing. It’s been an odd time for everybody in the last two years, so let’s put smiles on faces.
Seriously Red screened as the opening night film of this year’s Brisbane International Film Festival, which runs from October 27th to November 6th, 2022. For more information head to the official BIFF website. The film is scheduled for a national release in Australian theatres on November 24th, 2022.
