Helena Brooks' short film Nothing Special is a black comedy about Billy, a young boy who becomes the reluctant subject of worship when his deluded mother decides he is the reincarnate of Jesus.

Billy views his unusual childhood as a burden and it is only years later, when he becomes surrounded by dull people in a drab office, that he truly believes he has found paradise.

Nothing Special will feature at the Kea Festival of Kiwi Short Films, taking place in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Brooks spoke with MiNDFOOD ahead of the festival.

What film techniques did you use for Nothing Special?

There was nothing special in terms of film techniques really - it was more about the characters and story.

The film's protagonist, Billy, thinks he has found paradise in a drab office. What is your idea of paradise?

Funny that. Billy's idea of paradise is the opposite of what he has, and so is mine. When I'm working hard, my idea of paradise is doing nothing. When I'm doing nothing, my idea of paradise is working. It's a problem I know.

Describe the setting of the film.

The film was set in suburban New Zealand in the '80s - my memory of it anyway. Colour, wool, old station-wagons and kaftans.

What does the film tell viewers about life?

I would hope it strikes a chord with some people about parent and child relationships and the pain and joy associated with them. I tend to think our parents and upbringing play a huge part in who we are - whether we become like them or rebel against them, they're still our main references.

With this particular story, was it easier or more challenging to convey it as a short film (as opposed to a feature-length film)?

Nothing Special could definitely be developed into a feature film, but a short film was what I was aiming for at the time, so we got straight to the point with the script and trimmed all the fat.

What personal experiences influenced the making of this film? Did you (or anyone you know) have an overbearing, religious mother?

My mother was a new-age hippy who (unintentionally) humiliated me in some ways as a child, in retrospect it was hilarious. My co-writer Jaquie Brown's mother was very religious and our fathers both had eccentricities. We combined the lot of them and exaggerated the situations.

Turning traumatic childhood experiences into comedy turned out to be a very cathartic way of dealing with them.

What is your process for creating characters?

All my characters are created from elements of myself or people I know. I'm drawn to oddness in people. Even since high school I was always much more fascinated in by the strange eccentric guys than the hunks.

Why did you choose to be a filmmaker?

I love creating that "other" world that movies take you to. Entertaining people, making something that people can relate to - it's the best job I've come across.

What is your next project?

I'm making a short film at the moment in London, and banging away at my feature script.