KT Bonus: Interview with Adam C. Briggs concerning Boogie Bobby (among other things)
Byron Bay's finest JC talks to Brisbane's premier auteur Adam C. Briggs
Boogie Bobby
Adam C. Briggs, 2025
Boogie Bobby is presented by Dogmilk in association with Fantastic Fest and screens at Miscellania, May 1st with live accompaniment from bodies of divine infinite and eternal spirit (sic) + a post-screening discussion with special guests, Adam C. Briggs & Robert Vagg.
Tickets $15 on the door until they sell out.
I’m reading over the interview again. Fuck. This is just two guys texting about a film only a handful of people have actually seen in person and a couple of hundred others know exists at all.
Okay. Copy + paste. “Bobby goes on a final drinking bout with his only friend Steve before he flies home to Canada. The last lonely teardrop of a friendship”. That’s the synopsis from Letterboxd. Done.
And then I didn’t introduce the filmmaker again, stupid stupid, the director is Adam C. Briggs, he’s from Brisbane and won an award that I mention in the interview for a feature film he shot on Super 8 film that took over 18 months of production to complete. That one is also playing at Fantastic Fest, it’s called A Grand Mockery.
Hey editor, are we good to go? I’m supposed to be on holiday.
This interview has not been edited for length or clarity. Conducted over text message between April 10th and 22nd.
START TRANSCRIPT
Jasper
Thu, 10 Apr at 11:49pm
Hey Adam, I’m keen to see Boogie Bobby at Miscellania on May 1st.
When are you coming down to Melbourne?
Adam
Fri, 11 Apr at 5:51am
May 1.
Jasper
Fri, 11 Apr at 10:05am
How long has it been since you were last here?
Jasper
Sat, 12 Apr at 4:35pm
Just saw your film Write A Letter.
Feels like a wasted opportunity we didn’t do this interview through the post.
Adam
Sat, 12 Apr at 4:47
May 2024. I enjoyed the mission to seafarers and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Spent most of this trip ruminating on a breakup that began during the previous time I was in the city.
Thank you for watching our film.
Jasper
Sat, 12 Apr at 9:14pm
Would you consider shooting a film in Melbourne?
It feels unusual to separate your work from the backdrop of Brisbane.
Adam
Mon, 14 Apr at 5:09am
I feel passionate about living in, documenting my city and its surrounds, particularly because it lies outside the national cultural scene.
That said I have shot scenes in Melbourne for my first feature, amongst other places abroad from my usual haunts.
Would you like to shoot a film here?
Jasper
Mon, 14 Apr at 8:39am
I’ve always had a big place in my heart for the BNE. I have fond memories of playing gigs there as a teeanger. There used to be this all ages space ran out of a place called Caxton House. I always remember calling it the Kiri House because a skramz band lived upstairs.
Shooting a film in that space would make sense to me, it’s where I feel a familiarity or a kinship with the city and its important musical history.
I’ve been listening to Werner Herzog’s memoir recently. He uses the term ‘landscape of the soul’ to talk about spaces where our innermost selves can be found against a vista, or some terrain.
For instance, Herzog’s is a small waterfall behind Sachrang, the village he grew up in.
Where would the landscape of your soul be?
Adam
Sun, 20 Apr at 10:45am
I recommend you shooting here! And yes, the fact The Saints came out of Brisbane is one of the few points of pride perhaps for a questionable city.
My inside outside is Toowong Cemetery. Cumulatively I have spent many months there, wandering, sleeping, scrawling, reading, drinking, shitting, pissing, kissing, etc. I would like to live there. It is a safer realm in the city, unlit at night, good on the eyes. If you go there you may stumble upon me.
Jasper
Sun, 20 Apr at 11:30am
My Dad and I are on the road through central QLD at the moment, one of our favourite CDs to play is The Saints’ third album, Prehistoric Sounds. I’m gonna put it on now as I settle into my shift of the drive for today.
From memory, a lot of A Grand Mockery comes from Toowong Cemetery.
Where did Boogie Bobby emerge from?
Adam
Sun, 20 Apr at 12:15pm
I love that album.
Adam
Tues, 22 Apr at 10:59am
Yes, Mockery emerged during a time Sam Dixon (whom I wrote & directed it with) was living next to the cemetery and we had both become inhabitants of its maze of tombs.
Boogie manifested May last year from a similarly embattled social/personal climate. I’d lost my job of ten years, an old friend had returned from the desert and was living with me, and Bobby was carousing infinitely around us. It was an enclosed, somber and Pinteresque scenario. We weren’t well, and we grasped at some expression through this film.
Jasper
Tues, 22 Apr at 12:02pm
Was the making of the film any easier?
I know you were seeking out community alternatives at one time to finance the final stretch
Adam
Tues, 22 Apr at 12:26pm
The itself, though challenging at times, had an effortlessness of elements I don’t think I’ve witnessed before in a production. There were only three primary shooting days, so the process happened very quickly, a bit like some dust that a makes a pond freeze. We were blessed with strange good fortune.
The film was very cheap to make.
Jasper
Tues, 22 Apr at 1:41pm
For the uninitiated, 3-4 minutes a day is seen as relatively good pace per shoot day.
You shot at least 25 mins a day for an 80 minute runtime.
How can you work so fast?
Adam
Tues, 22 Apr at 1:55pm
Horses for course I think. I’ve had features that have shot respectively for 10 days, 2 months, and a year and a half. The films make their own practical demands. For this, Booby and I agreed it needed to be done “in one swift stroke”, as Peter Cushing says in Star Wars.
There was an acute energy that formed around this idea and then 5 days later we shot. Without the immediacy and speed it couldn’t have been bottled. The first two days we shot almost non-stop for around 36 hrs, with the DP and sound recordist snatching a couple hours of sleep.
Once Bobby and Steve met we formed the central narrative. And then I worked quickly to map out the rest, find crew, possible locations, and other performers for the supporting roles.
For example, I only thought of the people to portray the Goths, and Bobby’s mum a day before we shot those scenes. It all unfolded very quickly and thankfully we met with few impediments for such a precarious project.
Jasper
Tues, 22 Apr at 2:23pm
I'm interested in your thoughts about exhibiting Boogie independently. Each date also has live accompaniment too.
Mockery picked up an award at SXSW Sydney which from my perspective wouldn’t rule out a follow up feature screening at a major national festival, even BIFF. But maybe that’s just how I’ve been shaped to measure success.
Do you have some adversity to the festival circuit?
Adam
Tues, 22 Apr at 3:13pm
When we shot I conceived this idea of screening it with independent programmers first and with different live scores in each town. A local band Craning & Jack Mitchell crafted an original score; from there Thea Martin from War Room (who were to perform the South Australia iteration) wrote a text score of that to inform further variations from other bands.
The instinct was to keep the film volatile, fluid and open to collaboration, from the shooting process through to the exhibition.
I am open to our films being on the festival circuit but I think it’s also necessary to disrupt the industrial modes of filmmaking and exhibition which can be opaque, overly bureaucratic, or outright shams, and nourish more accessible nonconformist forms of presentation and engagement with cinema. Our city hasn’t had a real film festival for many years, so this duty has fallen to independent programmers who forge on with little government support.
Jasper
Tues, 22 Apr at 4:16pm
I’ve watched bodies of divine infinite and eternal spirit over many iterations across many years. I’m really curious to see what eventuates from the Naarm screening being run by Dogmilk.
From the outside looking in, the Adelaide film scene almost feels comparable to Brisbane. Just a few disparate groups doing it outside of the ScrAus system, but the stuff they’re making has a newfound sensibility.
What compelled you to hold a press conference in the casino after your Adelaide screening?
Where can we find you after the Miscellania screening next week?
Adam
Tues, 22 Apr at 8:24pm
Me too! Very excited for their conjurings. The night of May 1 will be our first hearing of their score.
Absolutely, I’ve sensed some equivalence of arts scenes, though SA has such a rich cinematic history and a fair bit of decent institutional support from what I’ve seen.
Up here feels out on a limb culturally, but that’s not entirely a bad thing.
We held a press conference at SkyCity Adelaide as the Treasury Casino (in Brisbane) features in Boogie Bobby, as do many afterlife spaces. After the Miscellania screening we will boogie on with you all. The next night we have a double bill at Fantastic Fest of two other QLD films, A Grand Mockery and Sword of Silence, so these two nights of screenings are very special, and for most of us the first time our work has been accepted to screen in Melbourne (bloody snobs!).
Jasper
Tues, 22 Apr at 9:31pm
Just one last question I’ve been meaning to ask you since the release of a certain biopic in January.
Which Dylan record are you sending into space as a triumph of human existence?
Adam
Weds, 23 Apr at 09:01am
It's rare I'm ejected from a theatre but Bobby and I were during a screening of said biopic. (Perhaps we can discuss this during the Boogie Q&A)
"The bastards aren't satisfied with fucking the earth up, they've gotta fuck space up and all."
Jasper thank you kindly for taking the time to ask these questions.
END TRANSCRIPT
Boogie Bobby is presented by Dogmilk in association with Fantastic Fest and screens at Miscellania, May 1st with live accompaniment from bodies of divine infinite and eternal spirit (sic) + a post-screening discussion with special guests, Adam C. Briggs & Robert Vagg. Tickets $15 on the door until they sell out.
____________________________________________________________________________
Listings | Thurs 24 April - Wednesday 30 April
Notable Screenings
Artist Film Workshop
7:30pm Tuesday 29 April
The Brunswick Green, 313/315 Sydney Road, Brunswick.
Sabina Maselli and Melody Woodnutt
Two Artist Film Workshop members who share common visions, mystical inclinations, and expanded views of artist cinema.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Mohammad Rasoulof, 2024
Screening Fri, Sat, Sun at ACMI
The Blues Brothers
John Landis, 1980
Screening Fri 18 Apr
The Exorcist
William Friedkin, 1973
Screening Sun 20
New Films in Release
The Correspondent
Kriv Stenders, 2025
Screening at most arthouse cineams
Warfare
Ray Mendoza; Alex Garland
Screening at both multi and arthouse cinemas
Focus on Michael Hanake
Lemmings: Part 2 - Injuries
Michael Haneke, 1979
Screening Thu 24 Apr
Funny Games (2007)
Michael Haneke, 2007
Screening Fri 25 Apr
Hidden (Caché)
Michael Haneke
Screening Sat 26 Apr
The Castle
Michael Haneke, 1997
Screening Sat 26 Apr
Happy End
Michael Haneke, 2017
Screening Sun 27 Apr
Benny's Video
Michael Haneke, 1992
Screening Mon 28 Apr
Top Screen
Monday 28 Apr
“This exciting program contains animation, documentary and fiction from the next generation of Victorian filmmakers.”
Matinees
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Mohammad Rasoulof, 2024
Screening Fri, Sat, Sun
Next screening May 12
7:30pm Tuesday 29 April ($10 tix — more info here)
The Brunswick Green, 313/315 Sydney Road, Brunswick.
Sabina Maselli and Melody Woodnutt
Two Artist Film Workshop members who share common visions, mystical inclinations, and expanded views of artist cinema.
Pink Floyd At Pompeii MCMLXXII
Adrian Maben, 1972
Screening Daily
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
George Lucas, 2005
Screening Daily
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
Peter Browngardt, 2024
Screening Sat
Alien
Ridley Scott, 1979
+
Aliens
James Cameron, 1986
Screening Sat
Sleep Has Her House
Scott Barley, 2017
Screening Tuesday
BBBC CINEMA (GALLERYGALLERY BRUNSWICK)
Returning in June
The Capitol Theatre Orchestra plus The Sound of Music (1965)
Sat 1pm — 4pm
The Best Films You've Never Seen
Digger
Georgis Grigorakis, 2020
+
The Forest
Lia Tsalta, 2018
Screening Tue 29 April
We Girls
Xiaogang Feng, 2025
Screening most days
The Way We Talk
Adam Wong, 2024
Screening Daily
Peg O’ My Heart
Nick Cheung, 2024
Screening Daily
Mumu
Sha Mo, 2025
Screening almost daily
No screening this week
No screening this week
Events / Previews
Misericordia
Alain Guiraudie, 2024
Screening Wed
Twilight Saga Marathon
”All five films screened back-to-back”
Screening Saturday
Tinā (Mother)
Miki Magasiva, 2025
Advance screening Fri, Sat and Sun
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (20th Anniversary)
Judy Irving, 2003
Screening Daily excl.
Heat (30th Anniversary)
Michael Mann, 1995
Screening Thu, Fri, Sun
Se7en (30th Anniversary)
David Fincher, 1995
Screening Thu, Fri, Mon, Wed
The Fall (Restoration)
Tarsem Singh, 2006
Screening Fri, Mon
Wake in Fright (Restoration)
Ted Kotcheff, 1971
Screening Sat, Sun, Mon
Requiem for a Dream (25th Anniversary)
Darren Aronofsky, 2000
Screening Mon, Tue, Wed
Eyes Without a Face (65th Anniversary)
Georges Franju, 1960
Screening Wed
Dog Day Afternoon (50th Anniversary)
Sidney Lumet, 1975
Screening Fri, Sun, Wed
Goodfellas (35th Anniversary)
Martin Scorsese, 1990
Screening Mon
Alien
Ridley Scott, 1979
+
Aliens
James Cameron, 1986
Screening Tues 22 Apr
New Release
Crossing
Levan Akin, 2024
Screening Daily
The Correspondent
Kriv Stenders, 2025
Screening Daily
Small Things Like These
Tim Mielants, 2025
Screening Daily
The Count of Monte Cristo
Alexandre de La Patellière & Matthieu Delaporte, 2024
Screening Daily
Death of a Unicorn
Alex Scharfman, 2025
Screening Daily
Head South
Jonathan Ogilvie, 2024
Screening Daily
The Cats of Gokogu Shrine
Kazuhiro Soda, 2024
Screening Daily
Black Bag
Steven Soderbergh, 2025
Screening Daily
In Vitro
Will Howart, Tom McKeith, 2025
Screening Daily
Flow
Gints Zilbalodis, 2024
Screening Daily
Ange and the Boss: Puskas in Australia
Cam Fink & Tony Wilson, 2024
Screening Daily
Mickey 17
Bong Joon Ho, 2025
Screening Daily
Bob Trevino Likes It
Tracie Laymon, 2024
Screening Daily
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Mohammad Rasoulof, 2024
Screening Daily
The Last Showgirl
Gia Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
Queer
Luca Guadanigno, 2024
Screening Daily
Babygirl
Halina Reijn, 2024
Screening Daily
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold, 2024
Screening Daily
The Brutalist
Brady Corbet, 2024
Screening Daily
Becoming Led Zeppelin
Bernard MacMahon, 2025
Screening Daily
Anora
Sean Baker, 2024
Screening Daily
Last days of every other film, probably, see calendar.
DOGMILK DEGUSTATIONS: @ Miscellania
No screening this week
FRENCH FILM CLUB
No screening this week
GAY24 (Bar Flippy’s)
Tommy Doesn’t Exist Anymore
Ian Munro, 1985
+
Adventures in the Gender Trade
Susan Marenco, 1994
Updates on upcoming Gay24 screenings via instagram.
No screening this week
LIDO / CLASSIC / CAMEO
Events
Sculpting in Time: The Films of Andrei Tarkovsky
Stalker
Andrei Tarkovsky, 1979
Screenings Thurs
To see all events, click here.
General Release
The Minecraft Movie
Jared Hess, 2025
Screening Daily
Small Things Like These
Tim Mielants, 2025
Screening Daily
Flow
Gints Zilbalodis, 2024
Screening Daily
Death of a Unicorn
Alex Scharfman, 2025
Advance Daily
The Amateur
James Hawes, 2025
Screening Daily
Novocaine No Pain
Dan Berk, Robert Olsen, 2025
Screening Daily
Black Bag
Steven Soderbergh, 2025
Screening Daily
Mickey 17
Bong Joon Ho, 2025
Screening Daily
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Mohammad Rasoulof, 2024
Screening Daily
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold, 2024
Screening Daily
OVA CLUB
No screening this week
MISCELLANIA
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY: SCREENING IDEAS
No screening this week
PALACE BALWYN / BRIGHTON / COMO / KINO / PENTRIDGE / MOONEE PONDS / WESTGARTH
Events / Previews
General Release
Tinā (Mother)
Miki Magasiva, 2025
Screening Daily
Pink Floyd At Pompeii MCMLXXII
Adrian Maben, 1972
Screening Daily
The Minecraft Movie
Jared Hess, 2025
Screening Daily
Flow
Gints Zilbalodis, 2024
Screening Daily
Death of a Unicorn
Alex Scharfman, 2025
Advance Daily
Novocaine No Pain
Dan Berk, Robert Olsen, 2025
Screening Daily
Black Bag
Steven Soderbergh, 2025
Screening Daily
Mickey 17
Bong Joon Ho, 2025
Screening Daily
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold, 2024
Screening Daily
Conclave
Edward Berger, 2024
Screening Daily
Anora
Sean Baker, 2024
Screening Daily
Between shows.
No screening this week
THE MELBOURNE CINÉMATHÈQUE (ACMI)
Continental Divide: The Unflinching Vision of Michael Haneke
Time of the Wolf
Michael Haneke, 2003
Screening from 7pm
+
The Piano Teacher (35mm presentation)
Michael Haneke, 2001
Screening from 9:05pm
Pink Floyd At Pompeii MCMLXXII
Adrian Maben, 1972
Screening Thu, Sun
Neil Young: Coastal
Daryl Hannah, 2025
Screening Fri, Sat
Alien
Ridley Scott, 1979
Screening Sat
The Minecraft Movie
Jared Hess, 2025
Screening Fri, Sat
Warfare
Ray Mendoza & Alex Garland, 2025
Screening Mon
Gallipoli
Peter Weir, 1981
Screening ANZAC Day
Small Things Like These
Tim Mielants, 2025
Screening Sun, Mon & Wed
The French Connection
William Friedkin, 1971
Screening Sun and Wed
Flow
Gints Zilbalodis, 2024
Screening Fri & Wed
UNKNOWN PLEASURES @ Thornbury Picture House
No screening this week