Cinematographer Wyatt Troll has worked on some truly unique projects over the last several years. Troll’s professional resume includes working with Spike Jonze, the White Stripes, and an Independent Spirit Award nominated documentary about Kurt Kobain.
The latest short featuring his talents is “Fight for Your Right Revisited,” written and directed by Beastie Boy Adam 'McA' Yauch. It documents the making of the Beastie Boys’ 1986 video for “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!).” Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood and Danny McBride play members of the band, with Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Jack Black, Stanley Tucci and Susan Sarandon also appearing.
Troll’s recent projects include MGMT’s “Congratulations” music video with director Tom Kuntz and Kanye West’s short “We Were Once a Fairytale” with director Spike Jonze. He won an MVPA and an MTV Best Cinematography award for the White Stripes’ “Conquest” video in 2008. Troll’s feature credits include the 2007 Independent Spirit nominated “Kurt Cobain: About a Son” documentary and “What Is It?” for director Crispin Glover.
He is currently prepping the feature film “Goats,” directed by Christopher Neil and starring Vera Farmiga.
Film Slate Magazine caught up with Troll at Sundance and asked him what it was like to work on a film like “Fight for Your Right Revisited” and making movies in the indie world.
Film Slate Magazine: What are the major challenges/differences between working in an indie environment as opposed to working on a higher budgeted project?
Wyatt Troll: Adam Yauch is such a gentleman; everyone showed up without an agent or crew--they all showed such respect. So in a sense, 1,000 times better than a higher budget! Indie tends to be more creative because you have to think on your feet. There is no time to fully finesse or fully design something out when you only have a celebrity for two hours--and you're not even sure which celebrity it is supposed to be...
FSM: Is there anything better about working on an indie project, such as closer collaboration with the actors or perhaps less interference from the outside--producers, etc.?
WT: All jobs have their own obstacles and rewards. This one was all balls out, have them hanging and see what you could manifest - everyone should be blessed at least once with this level of creativity...
FSM: How did you become attached to this project?
WT: I believe my name was pulled out of a hat.
FSM: Was there any part of filming that didn't come off as planned, but still worked out in the end?
WT: We were lucky; even though we were deluged--the first downpour of the season--the dream/drug sequence all worked out emotionally and fully.
FSM: What has your experience at Sundance been like?
WT: Sundance was super awesome--it was nerve racking, and so exciting to see it with an audience, because I hadn't seen it yet either!
FSM: What comes next for this film? What comes next for you?
WT: (The film won’t be officially released until the next Beastie Boys album is launched--ed.) I am shooting an independent feature with David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga out west--a very modern coming-of-age tale. It's my first full length feature and you better believe I'm very excited about it!
