INTERVIEW with Gloria Yazdani
Can you explain to the audience your career?
If by “career” you mean my film-making, then I will need to put it within the context of what I call my “art”. Film-making is only one aspect of that “art”, albeit a very important aspect. I describe myself as a fiery story- book, filled with soul-stirring tales with hopeful, beautiful endings! As such, I write stories & poems, I perform, I dance, I produce plays and every once and again endeavour to turn one of my stories into a film! I wish I could produce more films, but it’s not exactly a cheap art form, so I do what I can when I can.
How many years have you been making movies?
About 10! I was more focused on stage plays prior to that.
Why did you start making movies?
Movies are expressive forms of entertainment or I should say “art”! They don’t just tell a story; they ARE the story! In their final form, they’re not merely two-dimensional moving pictures; they give us a parallel reality, in which we are drawn to interact with the characters on the screen. Audience members escape – even if temporarily – from their own reality and become one with the narrative. I have a lot to say to the world, and what better way to say it if not in the form of a movie.
Tell us a little about your project. What will the audience be able to see in your film?
I’m told that I tackle difficult subjects! I’ve always wondered about why folks think my subjects are “difficult”? Is it because they don’t like discussing them or is there a much darker side to the notion, which if explored may reveal a sense of guilt?! I address the oppression of women. I address human trafficking. I address issues related to mental illness. I talk about child abuse. I talk about domestic violence, etc. I feel the deeper, more justified reason people find these topics difficult is the fact that they feel guilty about “not” talking about them or dealing with them or eradicating them. I think they should. We should all feel guilty for the mere fact that such atrocities even exist, let alone not doing anything about them. In short, what I believe my audience will be able to see in my film is the biter reality of how abuse, trafficking, etc. can damage a woman’s psyche. Some brutal truths need to be brought out into the open, because we can’t keep our eyes closed to them. It’s not fair.
One of the problems some directors encounter is directing actors and dealing with some actors, especially in the amateur world. How do you see this topic? What kind of work do you do with them?
I actually don’t find this to be a legitimate problem. There are so many talented individuals from every background, gender and age group enthusiastically willing to explore opportunities. I can see however that there could be challenges in the Indie film-making world, when money is a huge obstacle and productions need to be completed in a short time and with a small budget. But when you have an enthusiastic group of people who draw energy from their passion and are willing to work hard, everything is possible. Having said this, I should mention that I always workshop a project for a few sessions before going into production. Workshopping relaxes the actors and allows them to live and breath the story before the cameras start rolling.
A good movie takes care of all departments. But normally we can not allocate all the resources to have a good photography or spend a lot of money on sound post production or budget to hire actors. In your project what % have you allocated to. I don't just mean money but time as well. Of 100% of the time/money, what % did you dedicate to each department?
-Direction: 15% -Photography 15%
-Sound 15%
-Postproduction 30%
-Work with actors 15%
-Art direction/locations: 10%
If you could go back, what would you change about this project? (1 thing only):
Drawing a more precise story board, in order to save time and money in the production and avoid so many edits in post.
What are you happiest about this project?
The songs
Make a wish to the movie gods. What do you ask?
That the film gets seen by many people.
What movie would you have liked to direct?
The Mission
What kind of cinema do you like? Genre, directors, actors?
Drama. Anything with a good story and plot-line.
Imagine that all the movies are going to be lost. If you could save 3 movies, what would they be?
1. Chariots of Fire
2. The Mission
3. Look Who’s Coming to Dinner
If you have more projects underway, can you give us a bit of information?
I’m thinking of producing a short I’ve written called “Hidden Honour”, which revolves around a relationship between a female psychotherapist and one of her patience with multiple personality disorder.