Interview: 'Space Waves' Director Spencer Whiteout
Interview by Yising Kao
In 'Space Waves' directed by Spencer Whiteout, young mischief seekers Marvin and Joey do whatever it takes to catapult their misadventure podcast, Space Waves, to the top of the iTunes charts by the end of the summer. I got to chat with Spencer Whiteout about his independent film and attend the 'Space Waves' premiere back in August 2021!
Congrats on your new film, Space Waves! It’s an incredible film and has already received positive feedback from the audience. How does it feel to finally finish the project after four years of working on it?
Thank you! It has been a massive relief to finally show people the finished product. For so long it was just a small team of us who had worked on/seen the movie. We all loved it but we had no idea if the average audience would love it as much as we did. So there was a lot of pressure going into the premiere weekend, but I’m proud to say it was a roaring success and I couldn’t be happier with the reception so far.
How did you get started with screenwriting and directing?
I got my start making skate videos with my friends when I was in jr. high and high school. As time went on and I entered Biola University’s film program, skateboarding videos no longer offered the same fulfillment and creative freedom that they used to. I kept feeling like there was more for me and so I really started pursuing narrative filmmaking. When I was 21, I wrote a 90-page script, Space Waves, based on my experiences growing up. We were able to bring this feature film to life by shooting in my hometown of Grass Valley and utilizing my friends and family’s resources. I owe so much to so many supportive people that helped me pursue my dream of making a movie.
Photo: Spencer Whiteout by Andy Brewster
You’ve mentioned that you used to rent a lot of 80’s DVDs which inspired you to incorporate the 80’s vibes for Space Waves. What are some elements that draw you to 80’s films? What led you to want to make a film about best friends?
I think what draws me to 80s films, music, and media is just the idealization of everything. There’s all this angst, romance, and vitality that the 80s brings that’s unmatched in any other decade. Sometimes it can get pretty corny, but it’s always sincere and I love it. The fashion is pretty rad too - I can’t help but love neon!
Still from Space Waves
There were multiple long takes in Space Waves – what made you want to take this creative direction for those specific scenes?
I do remember us trying to flex and pretend we were better filmmakers than we actually were at the time haha. But the real reason is because long takes have a way of placing you in a moment and letting the scene unfold in real time. Editing can be incredibly effective, but there’s something special about holding on certain shots to let the audience sit with the emotion of it all.
I think I’ve found the sweet spot: using fast cuts and montages to keep the energy up and then using the long takes to slow it down where there’s more deep, emotional territory. It’s all about finding the balance that the story needs.
What was your favorite part of directing Space Waves?
My favorite part of directing Space Waves was getting people excited about the project. I loved giving myself and the rest of the crew the opportunity to do “hype speeches” before we started shooting each day. There’s a real magic on set when the director can set the tone and get people inspired and on board with the vision. It brings me great joy to see others become passionate about what I’m passionate about.
In addition, I’d say working with the actors is so much fun. I love seeing them take what I wrote on the page and bring it into reality in their own unique way. I’m open to ideas and I love when actors give me improvisations that feel natural and true to the character. The collaborative aspect of filmmaking really is incredible. If everyone is operating on the same wavelength, it will start to feel like a family, and that is a beautiful thing.
Photo by Yising Kao
The cast and crew faced many challenges while filming, such as the space tower getting destroyed right before shooting on the first day. How did you overcome these challenges to stay on track with the original film plan and not change the whole story?
We ALWAYS sided with the vision. There are certain areas you will have to compromise on just because nothing in this world is perfect and nothing will ever be quite like you picture it in your head… But you can never compromise on the heart and soul of the story. The Space Tower was critical to the story for many reasons and so I made the decision to shoot the rest of the movie as is and worry about finding a replacement tower later. We believed whole heartedly in the story we were telling and we knew that if we comprised on such a crucial element to the story, we’d come out with a subpar product. It took 9 months to find a new tower location. During that period of waiting, so many people told us to just find a new location and finish the film already. But I’m so glad we held out hope and never compromised, because the new tower brought Space Waves to its fullest potential.
Did you visualize anyone specific that you wanted to cast in this film while you were writing it?
I envisioned a brunette dude for Marvin and a blonde dude for Joey. That was about it at the time haha. But I’d say the way I went about casting the other characters was to find people that had a unique look and personality. I wanted to find actors that were memorable and that could play the role in a way no one else could.
Space Waves has a bittersweet ending – How do you relate to Marvin’s character and how he gains a better understanding of Joey’s choices?
In the earlier drafts of Space Waves, I wrote Joey as a one sided jerk. But as time went on and I took a hard look at the script, I came to realize Joey had his own life goals and I couldn’t really blame him. I’ve come to appreciate and respect both of their positions. It’s so hard to grow up and come terms with the fact that some people are only in your life for a season. But figuring out how to handle the ever-changing nature of relationships is a lesson in maturity we all need to learn, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Still from Space Waves
Since Space Waves is all about adventuring with friends, what’s one of your favorite adventures that you’ve had?
I can’t even begin to answer that one! Maybe the time I filmed my friend jump out of a moving car? Or the time we jumped onstage and took over a Chinese New Year Festival? There’s simply too many to list. But I’m glad you brought it up because I’ll actually be launching a podcast in the fall that is based on that very premise. “The Spencer Whiteout Podcast” will feature myself and all my friends recounting our wild, funny, and straight up dangerous life moments. I value life experiences so much and I’m very much looking forward to sharing more stories with the world. You can follow me on Instagram @spencer_whiteout to stay up to date!
Still from Space Waves
What advice would you like to give to aspiring indie film screenwriters/directors?
A film can only be as deep as you are. I’d encourage every filmmaker that’s serious about creating beautiful, meaningful art to push themselves to be as vulnerable as possible. The more personal your work, the more it will impact others. Putting the pain on the page can be truly transformational, not just for yourself but also for your audience. People are able to connect on an unfathomable level through suffering. We are not alone in our struggles. We all know how comforting it is when we find a song, movie, or piece of art that perfectly sums up the emotions we’ve been feeling deep down. Whatever the art form, always remember that there’s no substitute for authenticity.
You know there’s so many movies about romantic break ups, but hardly any about best friend breakups. This is the movie I wish I had when I was in high school experiencing that falling out. This movie is meant to be a comfort for those going through something similar. Hopefully it can help people see themselves in these characters and re-evaluate the health of their own relationships. This movie is about letting go of how things were, embracing how things are, and knowing that although times change, friendship and adventure can be found in every season of life.
Watch the trailer!
Website - https://spacewavesfilm.com/
IG - https://www.instagram.com/spacewavesfilm/