Profile: Jonathan Murray

Why did you pick this subject for Fresh?

I picked this subject simply because the friendship between me and my dad is like that of a young lads. We have a laugh, have a drink. And when the In Amenas terrorist attack struck, everything turned upside down. Together, however, we are building our relationship back to the way it was before. And it was here it occurred to me how important a father-son bond is, and how much it can affect your life as a young man.

What motivated you to make this film?

Thinking back at what me and my dad originally were, which made the film very personal and heartbreaking to me. I believe if it had not been my dad I was documenting, it would be of better quality. But I am also confident this shows through the film how personal the connection is. It was the fact that one moment can change your life forever. This drove me to documenting my dad's recovery, and our journey to getting close again.

What camera did you use to make your film?

I used a Canon 600D which, surprisingly enough, was a Christmas present from my dad.

Who or what inspires you?

My inspirations are varied. In terms of documentary, Nick Broomfield and Errol Morris are amongst my inspirations. However, when it comes to storytelling, my inspiration is Armando Ianucci, who, no matter what he writes or produces, it is always relevant and topical.

What are your plans for the future?

My plan since the start has been screenwriting. I am a storyteller and I would like to eventually write for a series, possibly a feature length motion picture. However, I often find real life more fascinating than one's imagination, so hopefully have more chances to create documentaries.

What have you learned so far?

One thing I have learnt is to distance myself from the personal side of life, and step into the filmmaker's shoes. As I mentioned earlier, producing this film was very difficult for me. This is mainly because it was difficult to separate myself as Jonathan from "Filmmaker Jonathan".