VIP Interview with Dave Huynh Macon, writer, producer, and director of the Award Winning Feature Film ‘115’

Today, we introduce Dave Huynh Macon, the director, writer, and producer of the feature film 115. In this interview, we talk about the preparation and inspirations behind his film, aliens, and what happens when you wonder about what a perfect day looks like.

The director Dave Huynh Macon and the official poster of ‘115’

Hi Dave, congratulations on your feature film ‘115’! What inspired you to pursue filmmaking?

I wanted to put all my money into something that would never give me a return, be in high-stress situations while everyone is looking at me, and also get rejected over and over. You know, be a filmmaker! It’s basically the opposite of what I did for the first 51 years of my life. LOL. I wasn’t particularly inspired by anything specific—I just wanted to do it.

When did you first realize you wanted to work in the entertainment industry?

Well, I can’t really say I want to work in the industry. I have a couple of friends who are extremely poor, even though they’ve produced a lot of films. One of them is a pure artist—he just wants to make movies. If you knew what he was paid compared to what his movie made financially, you’d be sad. I feel I lean more toward that side. I just want to make a movie and have it released. So I work in the industry for a movie, but not to work in the industry.

You and your family fled Vietnam and moved to Canada as refugees. How do you think your unique life experiences have inspired your approach to storytelling?

It gave me a lot of drama. I have more experience points than most people. But honestly, it didn’t influence my storytelling style too much because that’s not my type of movie. I prefer to make uplifting and cerebral films. Being from Vietnam and having come from a near-war environment did create an interest in military movies for me. I’ve always liked those. War movies are a favorite of mine.

Where did the inspiration for 115 come from?

Have you ever been curious about living a perfect day? Like if your intention was to have a perfect day, what would that look like? That’s where it started. I was in a phase of my life where I would meditate on a day, live it over and over in my mind until it was perfect. I tried to recreate it mentally as if it had really happened. I used that idea, along with some dreams I had, to come up with 115.

When did you first develop your interest in alien abductions and sci-fi film?

I found out some family members were having dreams about aliens. I investigated it and read a couple of books by Dr. John Mack. I concluded that it was possible. I like scenarios that are exceptions to the rule.

115 is your debut film, and you are self-taught with no prior experience in the field. How was this experience for you?

Traumatic! How do I answer this? The crew knew I was new, so whenever a disaster happened, they would say, “Oh yeah, that happens all the time. You just have to deal with it, Dave.” It makes no sense! Why do people put themselves through this?

Any advice for aspiring directors?

Develop the skill of listening to your higher self. You need to be able to stop listening to everyone and only listen to yourself when needed. It’s a skill to know when to take advice but also when to say, “I acknowledge the advice I’ve been given, but I’d like to do it my way.”.

What is the message you wanted to communicate to the audience through this story?

I wanted to create a memory. My intention was to generate a feeling when you watch something, and it leaves a memory with you, like a tingling sensation when you hear a certain song. My best memories of movies are moments within the movie, not the entire film.

Can you tell us more about the choice of this specific title?

Have you ever run out of gas in a car? I thought, what would happen if you ran out of fuel in a spacecraft? That’s where the idea came from.

And why specifically element 115?

A scientist, Bob Lazar, claimed in 1989 that element 115 was used to generate anti-gravity propulsion in recovered crafts. At the time, this element didn’t exist, and many people brushed off the story. In the 2000s, Russian scientists discovered element 115 and named it moscovium.

The music and style of the film strongly evoke the ’80s. How did you approach the soundtrack and costume design to authentically capture and recreate the essence of that era?

I was told the ‘80s were making a comeback! I told my production designer, costume designer, and composer, “I like the ‘80s.”

“Like Stranger Things?” said the production designer.

“I love Twin Peaks?” said the costume designer.

That’s how it happened. The crew was much younger than me, but fortunately, they liked these shows. Twin Peaks is an old show that apparently got rebooted. From there, they gave me choices, and I picked the best ones.

Who are the directors that inspire you the most?

I like Kathryn Bigelow and John Carpenter.

The locations are truly stunning – where did the filming take place?

Really? You think they’re stunning? Thank you! If you come to Edmonton, Alberta, and drive one hour in any direction, you’ll find our locations! Edmonton is surrounded by small towns and farms. Some of our towns haven’t changed much, so it wasn’t hard to find ‘80s locations.

Can you share more with us about the team involved in the production?

I thought Kimi Alexander was a real alien. LOL. I mentioned that to her. She has a unique look and feel. My cinematographer told me she looks good from every angle! I didn’t fully understand what that meant until I watched the film. Kimi made the movie what it is now. Ken Nemetchek (cinematographer) taught me everything. He kindly let me know what my job was and how to do it. He was especially helpful during my first on-set disaster. He took me for a ride and said, “This type of thing happens on sets. Take some time to get the crew back on track.” Great advice!

The actors are all very good. How did you work with your cast, especially on Emily’s physicality?

I told Kimi to watch Starman by John Carpenter. Barret was easier; I told him I wanted Michael J. Fox from Back to the Future. The cast is so young they hadn’t seen much of the ‘80s aside from blockbusters. Kimi got it right after she watched Starman.

Emily wasn’t originally supposed to be AI. The original script had her as a fully biological alien that was 3D printed. We changed it after people said she looked robotic. I changed the ending to reveal that the first three days we see are the AI version of Emily, and the last day is the original biological Emily. That was all unplanned until the editing phase.

In cinema, we’ve seen many examples of aliens with very different physical representations and relationships to humans. In your film, Emily has a human form with initially robot-like movements and mannerisms. What inspired this specific role?

Kimi! That was all her. She came up with it and I approved it. As far as the idea for the role of Emily… Hopi Indians and folklore from indigenous cultures say they came from the Pleiades constellation (Seven Sisters). That inspired the idea—what if an alien ran out of fuel, and what if that alien was from the Pleiades? That’s why we picked Kimi—she’s part native. Theoretically speaking, if you were an alien from the Pleiades constellation and you ran out of fuel, it would make sense to land on the nearest planet your ancestors visited before. That was the genesis for the story.

Which aspect of the industry do you love the most, and which one do you find most challenging

I love the image. Places like the Cannes Film Festival still have banners of old stars like Sean Connery and Arnold Schwarzenegger. These images create dreams and happiness for many people, including myself. I love being involved in creating that image—that’s very satisfying.

What’s next for you? What are you working on at the moment?

I really want to fast-forward time! I’m trying to finish 115 so I can move on. I’m a finisher, and I can’t start anything new until I’m done. I know I’m supposed to make two more movies, but I can’t start until this is done!

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