1. What was one of the most challenging moments you faced while making Rise & Fall? Did this ‘setback’ change the direction of the final story?

HARLEY: To be honest, just finishing the thing. I had seen this as a fun exercise. We had gotten as far as a rough cut and then life took a turn in another direction, as it does, directing my attention elsewhere. Thankfully one of my best mates, Taylor Glockner, from Calligram Pictures asked me what was happening with the film and I said “Nothing really, it’s shelved.” To which he said “The work is already done! Send the hard drive to me.” Taylor got his hands on the project and the Calligram team drove it home in a way that exceeded my own expectations. This didn’t change the final story per se, but without that final nudge there was no story.

TAYLOR: Harley was visiting Brisbane to do some DIY maintenance on his investment property, and somehow I got suckered into helping him build a big fence. So for me, personally, the most challenging moment I faced while making ‘Rise & Fall’ was digging holes and carrying wooden sleepers in the summer sun for 2 days… WHILE ALSO convincing Harley that he should let my production company, Calligram Pictures, run post-production on ‘Rise & Fall’. Thankfully, Harley agreed… and with the help of organising some really talented people in key roles… the rest was history! Izac Brodrick (one of the pillars of Calligram) really deserves a shout-out here… as he truly lead and optimised the edit!

2. What was the biggest inspiration behind Rise & Fall?

HARLEY: A deep need to express the way I was viewing mental hardship at the time. The simplicity in the infinitely complex. The undeniable fact that everything is in flux on its way from one state to another, including the mental torment that appears, to the individual, as endless.

TAYLOR: For me, I felt that Harley and Dylan’s chemistry really deserved to be seen. The character’s are so funny… and yet the topics are so serious. I thought the nuance of the whole piece was really interesting.

3. What message do you want the audience to take away from your film?

HARLEY: To look closer. Everything passes.

TAYLOR: Everything rises, everything falls… and please check when crossing the street…