Today I have a young talent who’s changing how Sri Lanka sees entertainment. Rehan is a filmmaker by profession. His short film ‘Insecxtual’ was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Mosaic Film Festival in Toronto. His most recent effort was ‘Elephant’. Coming from a creative family, his style is unique.
He shares his life on the Buzz!
Full Name : Rehan Alexander Mudannayake
Hometown : Colombo
Status : Full-time baller
Birthday : 19/10/1990
Idols : Family - my parents, cousin Miranthi, grandmother Seela, grandfather Ray. Filmmakers - Paul Thomas Anderson, Stanley Kubrick, Michael Haneke. Musicians - Kings of Convenience, The Radio Dept. Journalists - Mehdi Hasan.
Passions : Film/-making/-critiquing/-viewing, writing, film photography, reading, discovering new music, gyming.
Favourite Colour : Red
How has life been in the world of films?
Exciting! I became hooked on cinema at a relatively young age – eight or nine - and haven’t looked back since.
What made you enter this trade?
Filmmaking has always been my chief passion – it was always going to be cinema or nothing.
Would you ever cast your dad Ashok Ferrey in one of your films?
Definitely not. (laughs)
What would you say is your fashion statement?
Well, I dress like a homeless person …so Hobo Chic? Bum Chic? Is that even a thing? If it isn’t, it is now.
What are your thoughts on “Buzz with Danu”?
Love it. I think you have the best job in the world.
Local talent?
There’s an abundance of it; the entertainment industry is about to explode and the arts scene is brimming with talent. It’s an exhilarating time to be alive in Sri Lanka.
What plans for 2016?
I’m currently co-writing my first feature film which focuses on the Colombo elite, a group that is rarely portrayed in Sri Lankan cinema. The movie is based around a group of close friends in their late 20s. We track each character’s movements during the course of a year via a series of events. It’s probably the wildest script I’ve ever worked on; a real rollercoaster ride of a film. Ideally, I want to finish writing it by the beginning of next year and complete it by the time I’m 27 (I’m 24 now). I also want to continue directing documentaries and creating video installations for exhibitions. Commercially, I plan to continue growing my business.
Tell me about your family? How close are you?
My family are a curious bunch of individuals – very idiosyncratic, very liberal, very supportive. A day at my house usually involves an unhealthy dose of loud singing (shrieking?) and plenty of bad jokes. It’s a cliché to say, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
What is your favourite movie line or scene?
“I believe if there's any kind of God it wouldn't be in any of us, not you or me but just this little space in between. If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone, sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt.” – Celine, Before Sunrise
What are you currently working on?
I’m putting the finishing touches to my short film Elephant - a harrowing drama about the Colombo elite. It deals with the challenges of living in a bubble where it is near-impossible to lead one’s life without others prying into it. I can’t wait to preview it to the public this December.
On the commercial side, I run a small company called Odyssey which creates documentaries, music videos, promos, advertisements etc. I’m currently working on documentaries for the United Nations and the British Council, amongst other projects. Odyssey has also partnered with YAMU on a series called ‘Colombo Walks’: a video tour of the city's top sights, hidden gems, delectable restaurants and charming bars, one neighbourhood at a time. We uploaded our Colombo 01 (Fort) video a few weeks back and have just completed shooting Colombo 02.
If
Do you have a place where you would like to go and think? If so, where?
My bedroom.
If you could dis-invent one thing, what would it be?
Sri Lanka’s prehistoric Ashok Leyland buses.
If you could lock up one person in a mental institution, who would it be?
There’s a plethora of political figures whose names I won’t mention…
If fat, calories, cholesterol, etc. were not an issue, what two foods would you feast on?
Rest assured, I would eat anything and everything. I have an insatiable appetite.
For Fun
Skydiving or Bungee Jumping?
Skydiving
Running or Walking?
I love both!
Baseball or Football?
Neither.
Guitar or Piano?
Guitar
Drawing or Painting?
I draw like a 6 year old so painting.
Hot Weather or Cold Weather?
Hot weather
Roses or Sunflowers?
Sunflowers
Art Festivals or Music Festivals?
Music Festivals – Primavera Sound in Barcelona is one of my favourites.
Disney World or Universal?
Universal
Politics in Lanka?
I want to say hopeful but only time will tell.
What do you feel is the hardest part of being in the creative field?
The hours can be crazy and one’s stress levels usually hit the roof at some point!
Your favourite theatre personality and why?
From the younger generation: Ruvin de Silva and Jehan Mendis, for their humility and acting genius. From our veteran actors, Angela Seneviratne is easily our most brilliant. Working with her on Elephant made my job as a director all too easy.
Workshop Players?
Extremely talented. I cast one of them – Bimsara Premaratne - in Elephant.
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