"Odd Fish", the newest film by Snævar Sölvason

Snævar Sölvason graduated in 2014 and is currently celebrating his 10-year graduation anniversary, and we have been able to follow him throughout the years. Despite having a lot on his plate around the premieres of "Odd Fish", he took the opportunity to answer a few questions about his latest work.

Where did the idea for the script come from?

The idea came when I was eating fish at a fish restaurant in Ísafjörður. Then the idea was added to over the next few years until I had a story about two friends who run a fish restaurant where one comes out as a trans woman, but that subject came about when I was watching a documentary, probably in 2013, about people who had lived in the closet all their adult years.

How did the writing go, do you have a process that you use?

The writing went well and it usually does. My process is that I constantly dot down until I have a lot of material for a given story. This note taking process can be from several months to many years. "Odd Fish" was maybe about 2 years before I sat down and wrote a treatment and applied for a script grant from the Film Center. After I received a grant around 2014, I wrote the first draft of the script. Then a few years passed while looking for funding and I used the time to write other scripts and develop projects. During this time, I updated the script of "Odd Fish" if I came up with something new. Around the time of the covid, I got Veiga Grétarsdóttir (a trans woman from Ísafjörður) to help me with the story character Birna, and Veiga had so much input towards her that when it came down to it, that I simply couldn't help but give her a story credit.

What was the process from writing to filming?

Birgit Guðjónsdóttir was the cinematographer of the project and at the first meeting we decided to shoot the film on anamorphic lenses. Then we went on a field trip to the main shooting locations, made a shot list and floor plan. That process was actually very natural. I knew what I wanted from an aesthetic point of view (e.g. never hand-held or B and C cameras) and Birgit agreed with my ideas, as well as her ideas were to my taste, so it went mostly smoothly.

What governed the casting?

I had a list of actors that I really like, and Vigfús in Doorway casting took it upon himself to invite people to auditions. That process went wonderfully, over 90% of the actors that I had at the top of the wish list wanted to participate and after the main actors were cast I was quite relieved, because if you don't have the right actors in the main roles, my work will be not only difficult to shoot but very difficult in the editing room.

How did the filming process go?

Challenging in parts due to weather changes, but we always managed to solve the issues.

Any fun memories or happenings while filming?

I was quite surprised when I saw Arna coming to the set as Björn, because I did not recognize her with her entourage on the first day of filming. It was also memorable when we finished the last shooting of Björn, Arna was so relieved, but we shot Björn the first week and then the following weeks Birna was filmed, but we never went back after the protagonist was out because hair color and more were needed to be changed.

What was the experience of seeing the film on the big screen?

It's always amazing, especially with a full theater of people. You learn what works and pin it in your memory.

With all your experience in the film industry in Iceland, what do you think would pave the way for young people to become a part of it?

It all depends on what you want to do within the sector. If you want to get ahead as a director, the shortest way is to write a script yourself, more than one, and try to get them forward. But all in all, I recommend getting involved in the big projects that are on the way to filming, whether you have to grill sandwiches or shuttle and deliver, just get to be there and get to know the people who work in this. Then gradually enrich your network and you will bring people on your side if you show diligence and interest.

Anything you want to say in closing?

Go for it!