Emerging talent.

Directed by Nick Barkla, the short documentary, Inside Fighter, tracks the journey of Melbourne-based boxer, Frank Lo Porto, on his way to a world title fight. Insider Fighter will be playing at the inaugural Melbourne Documentary Film Festival later this year. We got the chance to talk to Nick about his experiences as an independent filmmaker in Australia.

What first got you interested in filmmaking?

I saw Sidney Lumet’s film, Serpico, when I was about 13 at the Seymour drive-in, and that was the first time I realized film could be more than just ‘entertainment.’ At that age I’d lived a pretty sheltered life and had never considered that the cops could be the ‘baddies.’ It opened my mind to film as an art form that can challenge, provoke and change the status quo.

When did you decide to pursue a career in the industry?

I was 25 when I studied acting at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company of Chicago, and after seeing the intensity and seriousness of the work produced there, I decided to commit myself to a career in the arts.

What are some of your main influences, both in style and content?

Acting influence: George C Scott, Marlon Brando, Austin Pendleton

Film influence: John Cassavetes, Alan Clarke, Sidney Lumet, Ken Loach, Maysles brothers, Dardenne brothers

What element of filmmaking do you enjoy the most?

Shooting. And collaboration at all levels.

What are some of the bigger hurdles you’ve had to face in filmmaking, either on a particular film or in a broader sense? 

Financing is always a hurdle. And working out what the story is and where to put the camera. How best to tell the story to the audience once you’ve worked out what it is. I’m currently working on a feature length doco, called The Mighty Apollo, about a famous Australian circus strongman, which is based on a massive amount of archival material, and it has been a huge challenge going through it all and trying to work out what the story is going to be from a seemingly random selection of photos/films/written documents and audio tapes.

What do you think makes a great film? 

I think having an active protagonist is always a good start. I’m constantly amazed at the amount of films, particularly Australian dramas, that have passive protagonists. A central character that desperately wants something allows an audience to care about the outcome of the character/film, so I always start there. What does this person want? What are they willing to do to get? What happens if they don’t get it? These are the questions I ask myself first, whether I’m looking at the film as an actor, writer or director.

Do you think success in short film translates to success in feature filmmaking?

I haven’t made any short films, but I’ve seen some terrific shorts where the filmmakers have gone on to make fantastic features. I can’t see how it hurts to have success with shorts, but the forms are so different that success with one obviously doesn’t guarantee success with the other.

Do you engage in social media as part of the filmmaking process? Do you think social media platforms are becoming a bigger part of filmmaking?

I haven’t engaged with it yet other than some postings on Facebook,, but I think I will start engaging with social media with my upcoming films. It’s such a popular and effective platform now to advertise/promote your work, that I can see it becoming a huge part of any film’s marketing campaign.

What’s on the horizon?

I’m writing/directing The Mighty Apollo and about to shoot a doco about a guy in Sydney who uses re-trained racehorses to help people with PTSD deal with their traumas.

Do you have any advice for anyone who wants a career in filmmaking?

Do not have a fallback position. Throw yourself into it one hundred percent, collaborate with like-minded artists who are also good people, and have as much fun as you can along the way. There’s plenty of highs and lows, so it’s important to keep a sense of humour about yourself and your work!

Tickets available: http://www.moshtix.com.au/mdff

Website: www.mdff.org.au

Follow the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mdffest

Join the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/701561099982598/?ref=br_tf

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