Sophie Hyde is a finalist in the 2008 My Queer Career competition for her short film My Last Ten Hours With You. Speaking to us at GenQ, Sophie talked about growing up with an interest in films, the "mess" for those creating films outside the mainstream, and about her entry in the queer short film competition.

When did you first take an interest in film making?

I grew up doing youth theatre and always has an idea that I was interested in making films. When I started university, I loved film theory and became increasingly interested in making films and so I started.

Where is the one place that you would most like to create a film?

I like working in a collaborative environment where there are many people invested in the story, characters and themes. So any where that gave me that chance and a chance to explore the world not just tell a story.

What is your entry in the My Queer Career competition about?

It’s about losing someone you love… in fact, it’s about pre-empting that loss, knowing that it will occur, that you are right in the middle of it and wanting to say a lot of things and show a lot of things and being unable to articulate them clearly. It’s a sweetly painful experience.

How do you feel about being a finalist in the world’s largest queer short film competition?

Great. I think queer content is important and short film festivals are a really great place to explore these themes. Queer audiences are good at celebrating ways of telling and aren’t bound to standard fare, they are willing to accept what they are being shown and not put as many pre-judgements on the kind of relationship they are seeing... I think anyway.

Are there any other short/full length films you currently have in planning/production?

I have a couple of shorts that I am hoping to make this year. One written by a Tasminian novelist Danielle Wood called Elephantiasis, a triptych of dance work with Restless Dance Company who create work with young people with and without a disability. I am in development on some documentary work and also a feature film written by Matthew Cormack who wrote My Last Ten Hours With You. 

Do you personally feel that more support needs to be given to queer filmmakers, or for films which address issues in the gay community?

I think Queer filmmakers and anyone speaking with a voice outside our mainstream need support to use that voice. It’s a messier place to work from and requires boldness. 

Where do you see your career taking you in ten years time?

Hopefully making feature films and documentaries and pushing the creative juices around.. don’t you?

What advice would you offer for those looking to create their own short film for the first time?

Be really open to your way of working and what you want to say. Don’t’ feel like you have to follow other methods or styles, but view them and take from them what you want. Video artists Nam June Paik when talking about different styles and forms once said “I live, whatever I like I take” that’s good advice I think.

Winners of the 2008 My Queer Career competition will be announced on Thursday 14 February.

Tags: Mardi Gras Film Festival 2008, My Queer Career