Eleanor Burke and Ron Eyal wrote, directed and produced their debut feature film, "Stranger Things."

It was the perfect way to see if they could live together in real life. The two were married half way through post-production.

"Stranger Things" is screening in the Narrative Feature Competition at the Slamdance Film Festival. This is the second time the pair have been invited. Their short film, "Ruth & Maggie," screened in 2006.

Their new film, inspired by the life of Burke's grandmother, tells the story of a woman who returns to her mother's house on the south coast of England after the mother dies. She meets a homeless man, whom she lets stay in a shed on the property. They gradually develop an unusual intimacy until his past threatens to tear them apart.

For "Stranger Things," Burke and Eyal used unconventional methods, including collaborating with the actors to build their characters and back-stories, and only revealing the script to them in segments. In any particular scene, the actors knew only as much as their characters would know.

The filmmakers recently answered questions posed by The Tribune about their first experience making a film, how they worked together, and why they chose those particular filming methods.

Where did you get the inspiration for the story?

Burke • As filmmakers, we are both very interested in the idea of insiders and outsiders. My grandmother was itinerant at various points in her life, and her story was very influential and was a starting point for "Stranger Things." We wanted to explore the dynamic between the homeless and the rest of society, and the connections that can be made between people from very different environments.

Eyal • We were also inspired by our location, a lonely house in Sussex in the English countryside, and by our actors.

In making the film, you used unconventional methods. Why?

Eyal • "Stranger Things" is about two people gradually discovering each other and so although we have worked this way before, letting the actors experience their characters' discoveries was particularly apt for this project. We like to create an environment without distractions for the actors on set and to let them have the freedom to respond spontaneously to the action.

Burke • Film sets on large-scale productions are usually very hectic environments, full of people and lights. We work with a small crew and keep the set very intimate, and we find that intimacy translates to the screen.

What challenges did you encounter?

Eyal • It's very different from making a short.

Burke • We knew from the outset it would be a big adventure and there are periods where you work harder than you even knew you could. But it's been a very rewarding process at every stage. We also won Best Narrative Feature at the Woodstock Film Festival, which was a huge honor, and we're thrilled to be in competition at Slamdance.

How does the husband-wife dynamic work when making a film?

Eyal • We both gave directions and collaborated on the visuals. We co-wrote the screenplay, so we brought a shared vision to the set each day. We love working together and we're somehow always on the same page.

Burke • During the shoot itself we hadn't tied the knot yet. We got married half way through post-production. We joke that making the film together was a final premarital test. Once we'd made it through the shoot successfully, we were ready to walk down the aisle.

dburger@sltrib.com —

Slamdance Film Festival

"Stranger Things"

Screening • Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2:30 p.m., Treasure Mountain Inn, Park City