Eli Mak

Synopsis

Welcome to a world with a “cure” to homosexuality - an injection that will instantly turn gay people.... straight. Religious leaders have embraced the injection and have begun enforcing it on their homosexual adherents.

Devil Wears a Suit is writer/director Eli Mak's graduating film at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Working with experienced producers Michael Whyntie and Gabrielle McLeod, the film is an incredibly ambitious satire, scifi and drama set in a dystopian world, screening at ACMI Cinemas in December 2016.

In a tight-knit, close, but vehemently homophobix community, an 18 year old religious boy confronts the possibility that he may be gay. His school begin their annual tests on student's sexuality - a swab that instantly shows whether a student is gay or not. If he were to test positive, he'd be removed from his school and community, and lose his family and friends. But worst of all, he'd be betraying his sincerely held ideals and beliefs. He must decide whether to 'fix' himself with the injection and conform to the expectations surrounding him - or to stay true to himself.

This film may sound controversial, but the heavy and complex themes will be handled delicately and sensitively by a genuinely caring cast and crew. Although we are trying to make an entertaining and gripping peice of cinema, we have something to say about the world we live in, and we need your help to pull off this crazy, thought-provoking concept!

Why is this a big deal?

We're talking about this important topic from a human rights perspective. How can we better understand everyone's different opinions on interpreting religious teachings? This is judgement free - we just want to get people talking and thinking about these issues. If you can change your sexuality in an instant, would you? Why? Would it be for yourself, or for the people around you? This film isn't afraid to tackle the big questions and try to engage audiences with these significant issues. 

Meet the Crew

Writer/Director

Eli MakEli is an emerging filmmaker based in Melbourne, Australia. He is currently completing his masters degree at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) where he wrote and directed two short films, “Streetwalker” and the ten minute short, “Island Echo”.

Since graduating from RMIT’s Media and Communication course, Eli has worked in film and television and with companies including Qantas, Emirates, Myer, NNT, Telstra, Sportsgirl and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Eli’s primary passion is writing and directing, and he is heavily inspired by filmmakers Stanley Kubrick, Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, Paul Thomas Anderson and the screenwriting of Charlie Kaufman. 

Producer

Michael Whyntie

Michael recently finished the masters of producing at the VCA. He moved over for the course from Adelaide in 2015 after finishing his law degree.

At VCA, he worked on a range of short films including Crush, winner of Best Editing at the VCA Production Awards and recent entry into 

MICGénero in Mexico.

Producer

Gabrielle McLeod

Gabrielle is studying the Master's of Producing Course at VCA. Originally from Hobart, she moved to Melbourne in 2013 to study. In 2015, she produced, 'Foetal Position', winner of Best Production at VCA in 2015, People's Choice Awards and Best Film Runner Up at the Gold Coast Film Festival in 2016. 

A fan of all areas of the arts, this year she produced the University of Melbourne Musical Theatre Association's production of "Urinetown".

We are trying to solve the technical challenges of this film in creative and interesting ways. But for the challenges that can't be tackled in that way, we need some financial help to really achieve our vision for the film. 

An opening montage needs to establish the dystopic elements of this world clearly. This means trying to create a universe where this 'cure' exists and that comes through in the production design and costumes.

We want to create realistic makeup and prosthetics for the religious cast. This includes beards and sidelocks that look genuine and authentic in a closeup.
The injection will need to look like the real deal for this film to work. That means a prop needle which won't hurt our actors but will make audiences cringe. Securing locations and creating a cinematic, professional sound design are vital elements in enhancing the drama and story.

We also have an opening chase sequence where we plan to use cranes and drones. It's a harrowing, frightening escape that takes place in a desert, and we want it to look as cinematic and professional as possible.

Your funds go directly to these departments:

- Camera Department - hiring non VCA cameras for certain scenes, cranes, dolly

- Art Department - props, set design, creating a realistic environment for the actors

- Costume - ultra religious Christian, Muslim and Jewish people

- Catering for the 7 day shoot

- Stunt Coordinators and Supervisors

- Post Production FX

We want you to know that the money raised in this campaign goes DIRECTLY to these elements in production design, art department, camera and sound - 100% of the money you give will literally be up there on screen for you to see. We want your jaws to drop when you see the final film in all its glory, and your support will get us there!

We are extremely excited to have the incrediblly talented Liat Alden in charge of the Wardrobe and Costume Department. Liat has been researching the costumes needed for this film for the Christian, Jewish and Muslim cast. The challenge here is that we have quite a few extras, and we need to make sure everyone looks authentically dressed and fits in appropriately. Having the funds to make sure there is enough costumes for everyone is a challenging task.

We also have Dinah Hollander and Alex Marshall in charge of makeup and prosthetics. The religious people need to have natural looking beards or we risk pulling the audience out of this film.

We have an all-out, grandiose opening sequence in the film - an epic chase scene - and to achieve this with drones and cranes, we will also need stunt drivers and safety officers. Camera hire and stunt effects will be needed here.

Our most challenging task is trying to create a world that is real, authentic and believable. We want audience's to be able to suspend their disbelief - the dream sequences need to have just the right lighting and sound design so audience's can clearly tell what is a dream and what is reality. The props need to have just the right look and texture for audience's to buy their effectiveness. Your financial backing will help us overcome these obstacles.