"Aftersun" Director Charlotte Wells Every work is personal to the person who directs it [Director's Interview Vol.315]

The joy of collaborating with actors

Q: This movie has a great cast. How did you meet newcomer Frankie Corio, who plays Sophie? I heard there were 800 candidates...

Wells: We started casting during the pandemic, so we started with photos and videos. From there, we narrowed down the candidates, and then we asked them to send us footage of themselves moving and acting. We wanted to see how they connected to the world. That's how I got to know Frankie. I met only 16 candidates, but Frankie stood out from the rest. She's a very restless girl, very active and funny. She didn't like being quiet. But that's also necessary for acting. She understood both the differences between herself and the role, and the similarities. She was a candidate whose mother had applied, but she had a talent that she didn't realize she had.

“Aftersun” © Turkish Riviera Run Club Limited, British Broadcasting Corporation, The British Film Institute & Tango 2022

Q: Your work with Paul Mescal, who plays the father, Callum, could be called a collaboration.

Wells: I don't think a film can be made without collaboration with actors. It's impossible for either the director or the actor to unilaterally create a character. A role is born through collaboration, and that's where the fun lies. I told Paul what I thought of the character, and he used that as a foundation to create the role and deepen it even further. When I watch actors, I think this kind of process is very interesting. Create a character, add something to it, and by doing so, it goes beyond our imagination. I think that's the ultimate process of filmmaking.

At first, the script is like an alter ego of me, but once I finish writing it and send it to the producer, it leaves my hands. That's also a joy. And casting is a very important process, but Paul and I really enjoyed that process. He read the script with consideration and asked questions. He empathized with Calum and understood him, and that was conveyed to us.

Creating a personal story