With Finn Wolfhard wrapping up the making of his upcoming slasher comedy Hell of a Summer, fans are curious to know what the 20 year-old actor has to offer as a director. We are already well-acquainted with Wolfhard’s breakthrough performance as Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things, which cemented his position as an established actor.
Unlike his experience in the acting realm, though, his venture into filmmaking was laden with challenges, with Wolfhard opened up about how his age was a deemed major impediment to showcasing his directorial skills.
The issue he faced was receiving financing for his project as many investors displayed unwillingness to assist a young aspiring director. “That’s what everyone said when we tried to get money for this movie. They’re like, ‘You’re a little young to be directing a movie” he said to Entertainment Weekly.
However, the actor goes on to mention how his decision to foray into filmmaking was never capricious, as he always was aware of what he was about to embark on. Criticizing the issue of youth posing a hindrance, Wolfhard put forth his belief that it’s the quality, storyline, and skills that need to be prioritized over who is directing the movie.
“We’d like to let the film speak for itself, I don’t think age defines filmmaking in any way. I think everyone has stories to tell, and if you have the chance to do it, then do it.”
Of course, there are possibilities of loopholes and mistakes in any first attempt, and Wolfhard has shared his self-awareness on the subject.
“This is our first feature. We’re really young, we’re gonna mess up a lot, and we’re gonna make mistakes. Let’s just ride the wave and be as communicative with everyone as possible and make everyone feel a part of the team. It was really informative. I learned more on that set about myself and about other people and about running a set and working with different personalities. I learned more in those three weeks than I have my whole life.”
In addition to his skills as a director, people have also expressed interest to know about the plot. Co-written by Wolfhard and Billy Bryk, the story is about a group of teenagers at a summer camp trying to survive a murder spree and blaming the crimes on their camp counselor.
The gripping logline definitely has the potential to attract attention, but we’ll have to wait until it releases to make up our minds.
