Upon hearing its psychedelic wonders, two boys hunt for “magical mushrooms”, venturing through imagined forests and caves, only to face a surreal surprise upon their return.
The idea for ‘Faux Amis’ was borne out of an interest in the way many children engage in imaginative play; how their innocence and untainted optimism allow them the freedom to unleash their creativity, transforming the every day into bizarre, fantastical ingredients for their own stories, while transporting themselves to new worlds through a willed suspension of disbelief.
This led to an exploration of the interesting, albeit unconventional parallel between the unbounded nature of a child’s imagination, and the powerful psychological effects of psychedelics.
Is this a kind of twisted, unconscious attempt to return to that utopic lens we were once engaged with so intuitively?
“Faux amis”, directly translated from French, means “false friends”. However, I learnt (from French class) that in linguistics, “faux amis" or "false friends” refers to two words in different languages that look or sound very similar but differ significantly in meaning.
I realised the story I was trying to tell somewhat reflects this idea, as it engages with the bifurcation of perspective as one grows up. While a child may reimagine a garden hose into a raging river, an adult views the same object with a detached ennui, thinking only of its practical implications. The meaning of an object, image, or scene, devised through the eyes of a child differs drastically from that of an adult viewing the very same thing.
Thanks to The University of Melbourne’s Filmmaker’s Collaborative Pitch Night, ‘Faux Amis’ was voted to be supported by the club’s mentors and lent its inventory of gear and equipment.
We hope you, too, can help us bring this vision to life.
Ten-year-old friends Sam and Lucas embark on a quest to find “magical mushrooms” after overhearing the wonders of the psychedelic of the same name. Venturing through wild forests and caves, they encounter a series of mystical obstacles.
The story encapsulates childhood exploration, blending adventure, fantasy, and a touch of eerie mystery, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.
From imagining characters to distinguishing the visual style for ‘Faux Amis’, Wes Anderson’s filmography was central to the creation of this story.
To get a better sense of what the final film will be like, check out this list of films that inspired the making of ‘Faux Amis’!
- ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ (2012) by Wes Anderson
- ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ (2001) by Wes Anderson
- ‘Poor Things’ (2023) by Yorgos Lanthimos
- ‘One Sings the Other Doesn’t’ (1977) by Agnés Varda
- ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (2006) by Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton
- ‘Midsommar’ (2011) by Ari Aster
‘Faux Amis’ is backed by a diverse team of Melbourne University students and recent graduates who are working on the project independently. By supporting our film, you are supporting young, emerging creatives of the future.
As we look to shoot at the beginning of July 2024, we truly need your help to bring this story to life. Making a short film with child actors and multiple locations is not easy, so every contribution will massively help us reach our goal of $5000.
Whether it’s sharing our page with friends and family, or making a monetary contribution of any amount (even $1.00!), we thank you in advance for your kind donations.
Anything we raise past our goal of $5000 will go toward paying our cast and crew.
Production is only made achievable by their sheer enthusiasm and dedication, so we pledge to give them back any remaining funds in return for their hard efforts.
Throughout the production of Faux Amis, regular transparency reports will be shared with contributors of over $200, detailing how your funds are being used. Other contributors may receive transparency reports at their request. Either way, we assure you that your contribution will be used effectively, and exclusively, on this project.
Pre-Production: Finished June 30 2024
Production: July 1 - 14 2024
Post-Production: Finished August 2024
Distribution: Late 2024 / Early 2025
Claudia Pak - Writer, Director, Producer
Favourite film: Whiplash (2014) by Damien Chazelle
Claudia is an emerging filmmaker who has been involved in the production of multiple short films, two of which are set to be released this year. Passionate about leveraging female voices in the industry, she also dedicates her time to supporting women in film as the inaugural student ambassador of WIFT Victoria.
Nathan Pham - Producer
Favourite film: Harakiri (1962) by Masaki Kobayashi
Nathan is a multidisciplinary creative with a background in cinematography and photography. Passionate about individual expression and the joy of creation, Nathan primarily aims to help other creatives bring their ideas to fruition.
Thomson Thomas - Producer
Favourite film: Parasite (2019) by Bong Joon Ho
Thomson Thomas (and no, that’s not a typo!) is a writer, director, and now, a producer, with ‘Faux Amis’. He is a strong proponent of bringing fun yet socially impactful stories to the public that invite watchers to reflect upon the world that surrounds them. He is also working on a short film of his own called, ‘Half Empty’; a nihilistic analysis of humanity from the perspective of a psychiatrist interviewing God.
Nicholas Gunawan - Assistant Director
Favourite film: Chungking Express (1994) by Wong Kar-wai
Nick is an economics student minoring in maths and film and screen studies. He tries to tie together the opposing disciplines with the simplicity of decision-making blended with the emotional chaos of a life well-lived. Distance by Yearning, his latest short film about the wordless limbo and introspection of falling apart, won Best National Film (Students) at the Canberra Short Film Festival (2023).
Lachlan Chue - Director of Photography
Favourite film: Joker (2019) by Todd Phillips
Lachlan is a filmmaker primarily based in cinematography and shot composition but has prior experience in all areas of production. He believes that film can be used not only as a means of entertainment but also to say something larger about the world we live in. Having produced, directed, written and shot his own short film, and worked as the Director of Photography for No One To Tell (dir. Olivia Smith), Lachlan reprises his position as DP in Faux Amis (dir. Claudia Pak), bringing his passion for the craft towards the cinematic vision of others.
Shelby Palm - Production Designer
Favourite film: About Time (2013) by Richard Curtis
Shelby Palm is an aspiring costume designer with a background in fine arts. She has been composing for as long as she can remember, with a desire to enhance stories visually, bringing life to characters and settings.