Quiet Night In | Production Notes

Part 1: Stuntgirls, Popstars, and B-Movie Heroines

Part 2: A Paint Factory Holocaust

Part 3: The House of Jess

Part 4: A Crazy Ride

Part 5: Cast/Crew/Acknowledgements

“QUIET NIGHT IN” PRODUCTION NOTES

By Susan L. Padlock

<< previous

THE HOUSE OF JESS

Restricted to the confines of troubled writer Jess Bartlett’s home/mind, Banks was keen to avoid any notion of escape.

“In single-location movies, making a house into a character is often the goal,” he says. “I wanted it to be more of a prison.”

This was achieved with claustrophobic long takes, an uneasy sense that nothing exists beyond the four walls of Chateau Bartlett, and chaining the cast and crew to the furniture at night.

“I only let them out at weekends, making sure they wore electronic anklets so I could keep tabs on them,” Banks recalls. “They were a shifty lot.”

WATCH FOR CLUES

While the headband of Jess or the cheap wig of Rebecca may steal the show in the foreground, there’s plenty of action to be seen in the background too. All sorts of little clues are strewn about the house, like noodles at a kindergarten stir fry.

“This is to stop people who get bored from leaving the cinema to have a slash,” Banks explains. “After all, what sane person would answer the call of nature when they can read the constantly changing message on the Magna-Doodle in Jess’s kitchen?”

MUSIC FOR LEISURE

Fictitious composer Frank Smile, whose records Jess is obsessed with, was modelled on evil genius James Last, the infamous bearded bandleader who has released (and sold) millions of records. These often contain drunk Germans singing along to party mixes of contemporary hits, played by trumpets.

Also featured on the soundtrack are classic hits from New Zealand country music legend Patsy Riggir, including her definitive 1984 hit “Beautiful Lady”.

next >>

Home Director Characters Production Clips/Reviews Purchase