How old were you when you first knew you wanted to be a director?
I’ve always known that I wanted to be in charge, It took me a while to figure out that meant I wanted to be a director
Who was your greatest inspiration and how did they inspire you?
There have been a couple of women over the course of my acting career, such as a manager I had, Glennis Liberty, who explained to me that I needed to expand my areas of expertise in order to gather the creative power into my own hands. I took this advice to heart and studies many aspect of the film industry, including production.
Films by Stanley Kubrick, Terry Gilliam and, lately Baz Luhrmann have an aesthetic that literally makes my soul ache.
How long have you been directing?
I directed a student film my senior year at Yale. I started directing short films in the mid nineties and finished my first feature film this year.
Is there a particular project that you directed that you consider your favorite and why?
Each film that I have directed is my favorite in its own way – they are kind of like one’s children, it feels wrong to single one out and dis the others.
Have you ever played a role in a project you directed?
Not yet. I have been a bit leery of that as directing is such a big job and the mindset is so completely distinct from where I need to be when I’m acting – one involves full awareness of all the minutiae of every element of the project and the other necessitates complete lack of self-awareness. I would like to tackle this challenge and perhaps I will soon.
What are some bad habits that you've seen actors develop that you've had a hard time dealing with?
Actor’s habits are not apparent, generally speaking, to the actor themselves, which is one of the reasons why they need direction. A good director guides the actor beyond any gimmicks or habits they have come to lean on. A great actor, who trusts in their director, will easily be broken of any such habits – at least in the production they are collaborating on. It is not always a good idea to call attention directly to an actor’s weaknesses, as self-consciousness is the death of a good performance. The director must be more circumspect and diplomatic in the way they address these types of issues. The actor is dealing with the very personal, those delicate things are his tools, and she/he must be open and emotionally available; a callous or abrupt director could have an extremely negative effect on their work and how they feel about themselves.
Have you ever written any projects and if so did you direct them as well?
Yes, I have written several scripts and directed several shorts that I’ve written.
What is your philosophy on the profession of directing?
Take complete and full responsibility for everything. Be over prepared. Be ready to throw your preparation away to seize a magical moment. Be prepared to dig in your heels and persist, despite any obstacles, to achieve what you intend to. The buck stops with you and all the plaudits and hurled eggs will belong to you as well.
Was there ever a show you directed that was miscast? If so how did you deal with this?
Yes, which is why you must absolutely demand that your casting choices be respected, if at all possible. It is a very difficult problem that has repercussions that extend way beyond the shoot and linger for the entire life of the film. Remember, however, that miscasting is not the actor’s fault and it should not be taken out on them.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into directing?
Direct. Don’t delay. Start learning what it takes but on a small scale that won’t have a major negative impact on your finances.
How important do you feel film festivals are for anyone who wants to work in the industry?
Film festivals are like summer camp for filmmakers. You meet each other, exchange stories, make friends, watch each other’s films, eat, drink, party and sleep very little.
They are awesome.
Kamala Lopez is a filmmaker, actress and Yale graduate whose feature film debut “A Single Woman” is about the life of first US Congresswoman, noted pacifist and co-founder of the ACLU, Jeannette Rankin. (www.asinglewomanmovie.com)
Born in New York City to an Indian mother and a Venezuelan father, Lopez is known for her many roles in television and film, such as Deep Cover, Born In East LA and I Heart Huckabees. She also recently hosted the PBS series Wired Science.
