Sundance Responses
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“I Want to Direct Films, But Can I Actually Do It?”: Christmas, Again | Director Charles Poekel
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? The biggest fear I had to confront, which I suppose is every first-time director’s fear, was the issue of confidence–simply, “Can I do this?” Can I follow my instincts and make something that actually makes sense, and people find engaging? I’ve wanted to direct films since I was in middle school, and I’ve directed plenty of weird mediocre low-budget films that I was never really proud of. So in […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“In Dreams I am Completely Helpless as a Director”: A Walk in the Woods | Director Ken Kwapis
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? Like many directors, writers, and actors, I have a persistent fear of being “found out,” of being exposed as a faker, a phony. The logical side of my brain knows differently: I’m well aware that I have certain skills — a modicum of talent, even! But in my dreams, I often find myself directing a film or television show with absolutely no clue what I’m doing. A recurrent nightmare […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“Everyone was Armed in a Nearly Ghost-Town”: Welcome to Leith | Directors Michael Beach Nichols and Christopher K. Walker
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? I’m not sure that fear is ever completely absent from documentary filmmaking, but I think that’s part of what makes it so appealing to those who pursue it. Fear of not finding a story, fear of shuttered access, fear of not finding an audience, fear of not being able to pay rent, and on and on – it’s an emotionally bumpy ride where overcoming all your fears can lead […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“Working Hard, Hustling, Getting Rejected but Picking Yourself Up Again”: Zipper | Director Mora Stephens
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? The single greatest fear that has kept me up at night was the fear that I would NOT make Zipper, that I might come close and ultimately not get the chance to direct it. I’ve spent the last 6 years of my life getting this movie made and every second of it was worth it, but heading into it when it starts out as just this little ephemeral thing, […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“This Fear Wasn’t Based Upon the World’s Obsession with Kanye and Kim”: The Bronze | Director Bryan Buckley
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? What fear hit me on The Bronze? Hmmm. Well, I guess going into a film which a husband (Winston Rauch) and wife (Melissa Rauch) wrote the script, and are both producers. Then toss on top of that Melissa was the star in every scene, and you have something that seemed a little like a formula for disaster worthy of avoiding at all costs. This fear wasn’t based upon the […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“It Felt Important to Not Shy Away from the Stories that Scare Us”: The Diary of a Teenage Girl | Director Mari Heller
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? I felt drawn to the graphic novel The Diary of a Teenage Girl because it at once resonated for me and terrified me. It was such a brutally honest depiction of female sexuality and such a brave characterization of a teenage mind, that it shook me to the core a little bit. I was inspired and in awe of Phoebe Gloeckner’s work, by her bravery. Which is why I […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“I Will Work Through Some Issues I’m Having While Dreaming”: Reversal | Director J.M. Cravioto
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? As a director, there are stages when it comes to what your fears are while making a film. In Reversal I experienced the same fears I had previously dealt with in prior features. I think fear can be easily defined as insecurity and every person — in this case every director — experiences it in a different manner. Yet, we all share a common denominator in that we’re all […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“My First Feature Film was Shot in Seven Days”: Glassland | Director Gerard Barrett
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? Fear is an interesting word. I wouldn’t say I had to overcome any fear in the whole process of bringing Glassland to life, but I guess what I had to overcome was going into a “traditional” production – the unknown to me. Pilgrim Hill, my first feature film, was shot in seven days with a three-person crew and one actor. It was intense, intimate and all consuming. I wrote, […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“I Have a Fear of Long Hours”: Hellions | Director Bruce McDonald
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? I have a fear of Long Hours. The crew gets angry, bored, sick and tired. They don’t see any friends, lovers, families, or pets. People feel ground down and taken advantage of. The set becomes isolated from life. And the film suffers for it. To overcome this on Hellions we did all we could to prevent Long Hours from occurring. We prepped like motherfuckers. Sharpened the script. Pushed for […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015 -
“The Film Just Won’t Be Good Enough”: Brooklyn | Director John Crowley
What fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? At first the familiar gnawing fear that the film just won’t be good enough. But nothing ever is, so I negotiated my way past that one. But then arose a far more specific concern in this instance – that the finished film would not do justice to the experiences of the countless thousands of emigrants that crossed the Atlantic to find a new life in the US. Brooklyn is […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 29, 2015
