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The Journey of a Survivor: Marnie Blok and Her Film Beyond Silence
Dutch actor Marnie Blok has always had a deep connection to the subject of sexual assault. As a survivor of rape, she knew she wanted to tell a story that reflected her lived experience. However, it wasn’t until the #MeToo movement gained momentum that she found the clarity and direction needed to create a film that would resonate with audiences.
"After #MeToo, reports on rape and on sexual abuse in general went up 60 to 70 percent, which I thought was really hopeful," Blok shared in an interview. "Then to learn that the actual charges pressed only went up with one percent, I realized how huge the group of people is that are actually silenced still, either by themselves or by others."
This revelation became the foundation for her film Beyond Silence, a short that tells the story of a woman who is deaf finding her voice and speaking her truth. The film won the Best Narrative Short prize at the Tribeca Film Festival and is now eligible for an Academy Award nomination.
Blok spoke with Gold Derby about making her first film and what opening herself up to a first-time actor unlocked within the story.
Inspiration and Motivation
Gold Derby asked what inspired Blok to write this short film.
"I lived through a rape myself," she said. "It’s been a long time, but I naturally have a sort of focus on the subject and also a huge anger. Anger is a very good place to create from. And the anger is not so much about my own rape — because it was ages ago — but because it’s happening so much to so many people."
She continued, "When I was still an actress, I wrote a script which was also talking about rape, but it carried the theme, ‘A happy life is the best revenge.’ It was never made because I think I didn’t have any experience as a writer then. I revisited the script a couple of years ago, and when I started doing research, I found out a couple of really shocking things."
One of those things was the stark contrast between the increase in reports and the minimal rise in actual charges pressed. This highlighted the ongoing issue of silence and stigma surrounding sexual violence.
The Evolution of the Story
Since the #MeToo movement, we’ve seen these discussions play out in other works — in films and books and plays. Was there something that Blok wasn’t seeing reflected in the #MeToo stories that she wanted to convey specifically with Beyond Silence?
"I think it has to do with the generations," she explained. "When I was a lot younger, we did not really talk about it so much. I had the attitude, like, ‘Don’t be so difficult,’ ‘Don’t be humorless,’ ‘Don’t be prudish,’ ‘Let’s play the game,’ ‘Boys will be boys.’ All that kind of bullsh-t, basically. I can very much relate to the older lady in the movie."
She added, "Being so tough about it had a lot to do with shame and guilt. So I thought it would be interesting."
From Script to Screen
When Blok decided to revisit her earlier script, was it initially planned as a short, or did she consider writing a different version of the feature?
"I wanted to write a different version of the feature," she said. "But then I started doing that research and thought, ‘Oh no, I first have to write something else about this subject.’ Also, this is my very first time as a director. I’ve been an actress, I’ve been writing a lot, but this is the first time I directed. So I thought a short might be good to start with, not knowing that if you write a short, you have to be so economical in your script."
Despite the challenges, she managed to strip down the script as much as possible, and it worked out well.
The Deaf Perspective
How did she come upon the idea of making a deaf woman the story’s central figure?
"In the old script, it wasn’t [about a deaf character], but from the very beginning [of the short’s development], I knew I wanted a deaf actress in it," she explained. "I had sign language myself when I was in theater school. I forgot all about it because it’s pretty difficult to learn, but I thought it was such a strong metaphor for not being heard."
She also mentioned the decision to set the film in one room and in real time with three actors, focusing only on dialogue. This approach allowed for a unique cinematographic and sound experience.
Finding the Lead Actor
How did she go about finding the lead actor, Henrianne Jansen?
"We don’t have deaf actresses in Holland," Blok said. "I knew that already. Years ago, [Henrianne] wanted to go to theatre school, and they refused her. They said, ‘We can’t handle somebody who’s deaf in school.’ I knew I had to go and do auditions to find someone, but just before I started that whole process, my production designer introduced me to Henrianne because she knew her via other friends."
After meeting with her and an interpreter, Blok felt confident enough to proceed without traditional auditions.
Production Details
How long was the shoot?
"Three days, and we only had seven hours per day," she said. "So literally three times seven hours because of daylight and budget. We were chilling in the winter, so we started half past nine and by half past four, the light was gone. It was pretty tight schedule."
Nerves and Rehearsals
How did she feel the night before filming began?
"Nervous. Yeah, really nervous," she admitted. "Although Myrthe Mosterman, my [director of photography] is really great. I remember driving with her to set the first morning and I said, ‘You know, I’m really not sure what Henrianne is going to give me.’ We hadn’t rehearsed the script, and I felt she was very much into her head all the time. And I could completely understand that."
To help ease the tension, Blok brought boxing gloves and started boxing with Henrianne, which helped bring her back into her body instead of her head.
Conclusion
Despite the initial nerves, the film turned out beautifully. Henrianne delivered a powerful performance, and the entire team came together to create a meaningful and impactful story. Beyond Silence stands as a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of giving a voice to those who have been silenced.