Director Rachel Perkins Talks Getting the “Jasper Jones” Gig Over “Cool” Guys With “Big Beards”

Check out our chat with the Bran Nue Dae and Jasper Jones director.

Rachel Perkins is one of Australia’s most beloved and respected filmmakers, but even she had some competition for the adaptation of Craig Silvey’s novel Jasper Jones.

“I think my persistence and commitment got me the gig over other people who were perhaps more cool and groovy and had big beards,” she told Student Edge.

We caught up with Rachel ahead of her murder mystery’s debut in cinemas. She told us how she discovered Silvey’s novel and eventually snagged the directing gig, as well as the trick to finding young actors who can hold their own against Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving.

Watch it below! (You can also listen to our chat with one of the film’s young stars, Angourie Rice, here.)

Jasper Jones arrives in Australian cinemas March 2, 2017.

Photo: Student Edge