Interview with Indie Filmmaker and Creator, Gabriel Carrubba

Gabriel Carrubba is an up-and-coming Australian filmmaker, who wrote and directed the critically acclaimed, queer coming-of-age feature, Sunflower. As the film is doing its rounds in the festival circuit, we were lucky enough to speak with Carrubba about the experience of writing a screenplay, crafting an indie film, and what drives him as a creator.

He would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which he works, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation, and pay his respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Rian: Gabriel, welcome to Papers Publishing! We’re so excited to be chatting with you, especially knowing how chaotic it’s been with Sunflower showing at festivals at the moment. This film was written solely by you, and clearly you have a talent for stories on screen. Have you always written screenplays? Did you ever dip your toes in other stylistic genres?

Gabriel: When I was in Primary School I started out writing short stories. I thought that maybe I wanted to write novels. Then I discovered the film Stand By Me in a High School English class and there was no going back. I found myself drawn to screenplays as the creativity didn’t stop there. I could take this world that I’d created in my head and use the words on the page as a blueprint to connect with others through images and sound. The prospect of that seemed exciting to me.

Rian: I can tell it stays exciting for you! This isn’t the first film you’ve written, but you’ve made it clear it does come from your own experiences. Have your other works come from similar inspirations?

Gabriel: Sunflower is the first time I’ve written something so deeply personal. It was such a freeing and cathartic experience. The story just poured out of me; all of my experiences, my fears and the secrets I’d kept for so long. I put everything on the page, I had to. I spent so long not talking about it that I had no choice. Even if the film was never going to be made, I had to do it for myself.

Rian: Being able to be honest and to put such an intimate portrayal of your own experiences out there is really inspiring. I’m sure it must feel great to get good feedback about it now that the film is showing. With the growing amount of LGBT+ films being made recently, did you ever worry about how Sunflower presents the coming-of-sexuality narrative? A fear of it being seen as too cliché or overdone, and if so, how did you get around that feeling?

Gabriel: It’s interesting that you ask me this, because during the process of writing the film, shooting the film and even cutting the film, I never feared it being seen as a cliché or even overdone. It’s only now that the film is being received by audiences that I can now see how some may take it that way. As if I’d deliberately gone out of my way to tell a story riddled with cliché’s. As many people know, the story of Sunflower is very true to my own, so much so that a majority of the scenes that occur in the film have also occurred to me in my own life. I guess my experience growing up gay in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, is in fact riddled with cliché’s. I set out to tell my story, so hopefully some queer kid out there in the world struggling with their identity or sexuality is one day comfortable enough to share theirs. And until every last person is comfortable enough to do so, then these stories will always matter.

Rian: That’s such an incredible way to view it. Even if some see it as cliché, there’s no doubt someone out there who will find it important. On that topic, when it comes to important filmmakers in your life, would you say you have someone you look up to the most?

Gabriel: Barry Jenkins. I’ve seen all of his work and listened to probably every podcast episode he’s ever featured on. His films and his story inspire me and will continue to inspire me for a long time. I’ll never forget the first time I saw If Beale Street Could Talk in cinemas. His spontaneous and meditative approach to filmmaking has this way of holding you to a point of simply not being able to take your eyes away from the screen. It’s magical.

Rian: Our litmag focuses a lot on indie publishers and small writers. Sunflower reflects that in a sense, seeing as it is very much an independent film. What were some of the hardest things you faced in this “non-traditional” form of filmmaking?

Gabriel: Filmmaking can be an expensive art form. So I’d say one of the hardest things we faced was navigating the complexities of working within a small budget. This resulted in us searching for alternatives instead of the obvious choices. But to be completely honest, for a story like Sunflower, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Not having a massive budget allowed us to keep the story contained and intimate. It was a labour of love for so many, which I believe comes across when watching the film.

Rian: It absolutely does. A very genuine and honest air about the film, which I assume comes from a group who truly believes in the product. For people who can relate to feeling like you about writing screenplays, what advice would you give them about wanting to get into the film industry?

Gabriel: The industry can be a marathon. So I’d say surround yourself with supportive and like-minded people. Help each other out and make stuff. Then make mistakes, and make more stuff.

Rian: Brilliant! Nothing better to learn from than a bit of failure. So Gabriel, after this experience, do you think you’ll be jumping back into writing and directing any time soon?

Gabriel: For sure. I think I’ll continue to make films. But this time I’d like to explore something different. I’d like to focus more on childhood friendships, family dynamics and the socioeconomics of suburban life. They’re certainly subject matters that have always interested me.

Rian: Thanks so much for speaking with us, it’s been a real pleasure.

You can find Carrubba on Instagram at @gabrielcarrubba_

More about Sunflower can be found on Instagram and TikTok at @sunflowermov or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sunflowermov

For even more information, you can find Carrubba’s other works at @pancakeoriginals on Instagram.