Exploring The Twisted Truths Of Gun Culture: Travis Andrade On His Short "Wesley"
Director/Writer/Producer Travis Andrade is an award-winning filmmaker, known for his films Children of the Peacock (2013), Ad Lucem (2015) and Blood in the Cut (2016). His short films have screened at international film festivals in North America, Europe and Australia. His latest short, Wesley, focuses on a young boy who gets influenced by gun culture.
When a young boy encounters a troubled teen with a 3D-printed-gun the boy desires to possess one of his own. The film explores the impact of a pervasive gun culture on the developing psychology of an eleven-year-old boy.
The film has already won awards at Rosarito International Film Festival 2019 (Best US Short) and Manchester Film Festival 2021 (Best International Short). It was a finalist at the 2020 Vancouver Independent Film Festival and a semi-finalist at the 2020 Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, and it also be screening at this year’s Beverly Hills Film Festival. We had the pleasure of chatting with Travis about his film, its origins, exploring gun culture, and much much more!
I know federal laws generally permit the unlicensed manufacturing of firearms, but still, the technology is so accessible now and the internet is more and more like the wild west — but how insane is it that guns can be printed nowadays?
It’s a Brave New World. 3D printed firearms are a frightening reality. Is everyone that prints a 3D firearm going to use is it for some malicious purpose? No. But, the idea that we could be looking at hundreds or thousands of these “ghost guns” out there… yes, it’s concerning.
How did the concept for Wesley originate? Was it inspired by any of the myriad headlines that seem all too commonplace these days?
Actually, it had zero to do with recent headlines. I’ve lived in a few different regions of the country and have seen different aspects of the culture. I suppose I’ve always sort of thought about it. Where does gun culture come from? Where is it going? How does it fit into modern society? I couldn’t possibly explore all of these questions in the context of a short film so I became more interested in taking a look at how all of this may affect the psychology of a young male.
What excited you most about examining gun culture?
I don’t know if “excited” is the word I’d choose to describe it, but I remember writing the first draft of the script and it just flowed out. I was thinking about my own experiences, the culture at large, a lot of different things. It felt good to put it out there. It felt honest.
How did you find your incredible cast of young performers?
Luck, luck and more luck. Also, my producing partner Jon Brewer was so patient and integral in helping me secure the cast. We would just go back and forth, trying to match certain young actors… We took our time and I think it paid off. We did meet Jacob [Sandler} on the very first day though. Very lucky. Jonathan Irwin, Noah Greenly, Kolby Mitchell and Chad Morgan came later. I love these actors. It was such a good experience working with them.
The film features some truly stunning compositions and breathtaking cinematography. How did you and cinematographer Ryan Carmody create the film’s aesthetics?
Ryan and I wanted to capture these intimate moments with a twelve/thirteen-year-old kid but also give the film some scope. We liked the idea of being minimal in our approach at times and using a deliberate zoom or handheld on important story beats when necessary. Ultimately, I think what you see in the film on a visual level is kind of dynamic. We wanted to put the viewer in Wesley’s shoes, and it’s tough for say if an adult watching the film will identify with a young kid, but I think we were able to make it feel sort of accessible and compelling.
What drew you to the visual arts? How did you get into directing?
That’s a cliche story about working at a movie theater as a teenager. But when I started working on set I was just kind of laser focused on that directing seat. I had been writing off and on throughout my life and was just kind of fascinated by the two disciplines.
What films or filmmakers have inspired you, your style, or your approach to telling a story?
I don’t know what my style is, but Paul Thomas Anderson, the Coen Bros, Scorsese and Aronofsky are the directors whose work I continue to revisit. I’ve loved their work since I was fifteen and I haven’t looked back.
What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
I hope audiences find truth in it.
Do you have any future projects in the works that you can share with us?
I’m working on a feature version of Wesley. Not the same plot, but some of the same themes. My two feature works in-the-making are in the psychological thriller and noir genres.
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!