STACK #213 July 2022

MUSIC FEATURE

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How long in the making was your first feature-length music documentary, Love In Bright Landscapes:The Story of David McComb of TheTriffids – from conception right through to final edits – and what initially attracted you to this project? I had the idea over a pot in the Northcote Social Club in 2005... [but] I met Dave McComb in 1994, having seen him play solo and in The Blackeyed Susans. His

Why was I seeing this person [perform to] 200 people, instead of 2000?

innate charisma, wit, intelligence

and command of his material stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Why was I seeing this person with 200

people, instead of 2000? Then he died in 1999, and I wondered what had happened to him. So, taking us back to the NSC and the pot of beer: I was reading the PBS FM radio station magazine, and there was a story on Dave. I decided then and there to make a film. So, I did! How did you go about assembling the talking heads who would feature throughout?Were there any interviewees who ended up featuring quite prominently whom you didn't initially expect to? The story dictated who we used. That's why a lot of non-musical figures in his life consistently appear, and some musical people who were interviewed, do not. Whatever propelled the story forward, we used. It's also about gut instinct – as the whole film is. We spent a wonderful long weekend on the NSW South coast with The Triffids' former manager Sally Collins-- who appears plenty in the film – and she gave us plenty of insights into some of the people that were important to Dave who weren't music figures, like his friend Bill Dunbar, who's great value. Also

REVEALING DAVID MCCOMB:

AN INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR JONATHAN ALLEY

Adam Peters' interview was quite revelatory in both its candour and

quality: he had written with Dave plenty in the Triffids and beyond, but the depth of their close personal friendship gave us great material. That interview was shot in LA, where he works as a film composer with people like Oliver Stone. I feel Dave's former partner Joanne Alach underpins our entire third act; she was very brave, candid, level-headed and steadfast. But she was honest: all I could ask.

Seventeen years in the making, the debut feature film and passion project from director Jonathan Alley on the life and times of the late, enigmatic, genius-touched musician David McComb has made its mark in numerous film fests. Now Love in Bright Landscapes: The Story of David McComb of The Triffids is available to own with some brilliant exclusive extras – so we put some questions to its maker. We've edited for space but strongly entreat you to read the full and fascinating article online at stack.com.au. Words Bryget Chrisfield

Director Jonathan Alley

At what point in the filmmaking process did Australian author DBC Pierre come on board to read McComb’s poems, letters and lyrics?Was this decision a structural game-changer?

44 JULY 2022

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