Interview by Paul Salfen
In the delightfully unhinged Sketch, a young girl’s sketchbook plunges into a mysterious pond, unleashing her drawings as unpredictable, chaotic, and dangerously real creatures that wreak havoc on her small town. As she and her brother scramble to contain the monstrous mayhem, their father races through a crumbling community to find them and stop the disaster they unwittingly sparked. Directed by Seth Worley and starring young talents Bia Belle and Kalon Kox, this inventive family adventure blends humor, heart, and horror with a bold visual flair. Recently, I sat down with Worley, Belle, and Kox for AMFM Magazine to discuss the film’s wild production, its unforgettable creatures, and the power of storytelling. The result was a lively conversation brimming with enthusiasm and insight.
From the outset, it’s clear Sketch was a blast to make. “It was a blast,” Kox confirms, echoing the trio’s infectious energy. The film’s production leaned into its audacious premise, with standout moments etched into their memories. For Belle and Kox, the cornfield sequence—where a school bus crashes into a field and stays there for a week of filming—stole the show. “When we first arrived in the cornfield… it was so cool,” Belle recalls. “We got to actually crash a school bus into a field of corn and then leave the bus in the corn,” Kox adds, noting the surreal thrill of filming amidst the stalks. “It was hot, very difficult, but visually so crazy… We put this bus into this corn and destroyed all this corn—and paid the farmer, thankfully, with his permission.”
Worley, meanwhile, cherished filming in a forest with a “nice little creek” for a scene involving toddler and blind creatures. The land came with an unexpected guest: a “fluffy white dog” that might’ve been the owner’s—or, as Kox quips, “a ghost dog.” These anecdotes capture the film’s playful chaos, mirrored in its narrative of drawings-turned-disasters.
The creatures themselves are a highlight, each with a distinct personality that leaps off the screen. Kox’s favorite is Dave, the “big weird blue thing” plastered on the poster, an iconic figure radiating quirky menace. Belle loves the Stabitons and Evil Amber, calling them “so cool and terrifying,” though she avoids spoilers. Worley, revealing a lifelong fascination with eyeballs, champions the Eye-deas, inspired by his sixth-grade film about Taco Bell’s monster eye straws and Jurassic Park’s tiny, deadly compys. “I love that kind of monster in a movie,” he says, tying his childhood creativity to Sketch’s bold designs.
For aspiring storytellers, the trio offers heartfelt advice rooted in their own journeys. Worley, who began making films in eighth grade, stresses passion: “If you don’t fall in love with the story, then don’t do it… Let ideas go, and they’ll find you.” He shares that Sketch took nearly nine years to come to life, a testament to persistence. “It kept calling to me and it needed me to make it.” Belle, channeling her inner Leonardo DiCaprio (a playful nod from Kox), encourages resilience: “There’s going to be a lot of roadblocks… but you just can’t let that stop you. You have to pursue it.” Kox keeps it simple: “Do it.” Their collective wisdom underscores the grind and joy of creative work.
What do they hope audiences take away from Sketch? Kox wants viewers to embrace their inner “courageous and dumb and funny” selves, a nod to the film’s irreverent humor. Belle hopes people feel “recognized,” seeing their struggles reflected: “People are going through the same thing as you.” Worley delivers a profound wish: “I want people to walk away feeling empowered to express and process more complex emotions… through art and self-expression.” He believes creativity is a safe haven for pain, urging caregivers to foster spaces for such processing. “Pain is going to go somewhere; it can’t stay in you,” he says, encapsulating the film’s emotional core.
Sketch is more than a monster romp—it’s a celebration of imagination, resilience, and the messy beauty of family. With Worley’s visionary direction and Belle and Kox’s vibrant performances, it’s a film that demands to be seen and discussed. As Worley puts it, “It’s impossible not to talk about it after.” So grab your sketchbook (but maybe avoid strange ponds) and dive into this unforgettable adventure. Check out Sketch—and keep an eye on these rising stars.
