The toad may not be your first choice for film star (apart from the effervescent inhabitant of Toad Hall, obviously). Nonetheless, Australian documentary-maker Mark Lewis has spent the last few years dedicating his efforts to covering these lambasted amphibians - including his latest film, Cane Toads: The Conquest. And, the way he tells it, they're up there with J-Lo and Lindsay L for controversy, scandal and the capacity to keep us hooked:
In brief, why the toad?
The toad has been on this planet since the Miocene era and it’s history is checkered with folklore, urban myth and witchcraft. In Australia this toad has been the centre of one of the greatest environmental blunders and continues to create controversy and inflame the public. In short it is a wonderful subject for a filmmaker!
And are they natural film subjects? Do they follow your script?
No creature is a “natural” film subject but they are relatively easy to work with – in fact they don’t do much at all except sit there and every once in awhile they may hop. The challenge working with toads is manipulating cameras and lights around them in order to achieve a reality. And, yes, they follow my script! In fact, the making of the film with a film crew hovering around this tiny animal often becomes funnier than the subject itself.
You’ve already made a film about toads – what new does this film tell us?
Since the first film the toad story has expanded in many directions – and not only in geographical sense – it has evolved and adapted, it has met new challenges as we, the humans, have done all in our power to eradicate it, it has found new friends and made new foes, it has been subject to abject cruelty and it continues to thumb its nose at us and march proudly on – but the best thing is to see the film and go on this journey with the toad itself. It is a very different kind of “road movie”.
Has your admiration for the cane toad grown through making these two films and, if so, why?
My admiration for the toad has grown over the years but I think a more appropriate word to use here is respect. It is an extraordinary creature by any means and I cannot help respect it for the “success” it has had. Beyond this, the toad was brought here as a result of human stupidity for a job that it was ill-equipped to do and since then all the toad has done is survive. It is not the toad’s fault and to some degree the toad and its many facets have become a metaphor for some of the larger issues that affect us.
Great films have the ability to transcend their genre. How can your film reach beyond nature-lovers, and what can it tell them?
That is a tough question. I think all filmmakers aspire to have their films transcend their genre or subject. With all of my films the animals that I am interested in are those that coexist with us – chickens, dogs, rats etc and through some idiosyncratic intuitive quirk, my films and style have evolved in a way that is contrary to the traditional and conventional nature films. Finally, I have never thought of my films as being just about “nature” or “animals” or “natural history” but to be as much about the human animal.
Are you done with toads yet? What's next?
It is hard to be “done” with toads as I cannot help but follow their journey. My production office is in toad country and I often find them sitting on the back step at night foraging for insects. However, I don’t think I will make another film with them, but I continue to respect them and go out of my way not to run over them on the roads at night which is very very un-Australian.
As for future projects, I am a naturally curious person and I find beauty, story and wonderful characters in many less than extraordinary places. For example, I am fascinated by the architecture and operation of electrical transmission towers but then I hesitate to pitch this sort of project when the broadcasters insist their audience prefers to watch obese people competing to lose weight or - on the other hand – contestants racing against the clock to cook a perfect (and very fattening) meal!
Cane Toads: The Conquest 3D is in cinemas from today, 30th September. Watch trailer below: