Writer, director, and actor Sarah Polley discusses her early career in acting, transitioning to directing, and the inspiration she drew from director Atom Egoyan. She also reveals the Sidney Lumet film that helped her while working on WOMEN TALKING. Sarah shares insights on collaboration, preparation, and the challenges of adapting a conversation-based story. She addresses the challenges faced by women in the film industry and highlights the power of collaboration and trust in filmmaking.
Sarah Polley started as a child actor but transitioned into directing after rediscovering her love for the collaborative process of filmmaking.
She found fulfillment in the intense collaboration and the transformative power of storytelling while directing the film 'Away from Her', which explored the effects of Alzheimer's disease on a relationship.
Sarah Polley reflects on the complexities of creating the documentary 'The Stories We Tell' and the challenges of exposing her own life and her family's emotional journey.
Deep dives
Sarah Pali's Journey from Child Actor to Director
Sarah Pali shares her personal journey from starting as a child actor to becoming a director. Growing up in an industry family, Pali began acting at a young age but eventually developed an aversion to the industry. However, after taking a break from acting and working with director Adam McGowan, she rediscovered her love for the collaborative process of filmmaking. She started making her own short films and found a new passion in directing, which she now embraces wholeheartedly.
The Challenging Experience of Making 'Away from Her'
Sarah Pali discusses her experience directing the film 'Away from Her' and the challenges she faced during the production. Pali shares her initial attraction to the project, which dealt with themes of memory and storytelling, and her desire to make a meaningful film. She talks about the emotional and personal challenges of working on the film, which explores the effects of Alzheimer's disease on a relationship. Despite the difficulties, Pali found fulfillment in the intense collaboration and the transformative power of storytelling.
Creating the Documentary 'The Stories We Tell'
Sarah Pali reflects on the process of creating the documentary 'The Stories We Tell' and the complexities involved. She explains that the film examines different versions of the same story within her own family, exploring the subjective nature of storytelling. Pali discusses the challenges of exposing her own life and her family's emotional journey, as well as the ethical decisions she had to make during the filmmaking process. Despite the difficulties, Pali found the exploration of truth and the power of storytelling to be a compelling and transformative experience.
The Importance of Asking Questions and Creating Space for Open Dialogue
The podcast episode highlights the significance of asking questions in different ways to elicit diverse answers and foster open dialogue. It emphasizes the value of not interjecting during conversations, especially within families, to enable a complete and authentic storytelling experience. The episode provides examples of how new information and revelations about family history can arise when individuals are given the opportunity to express themselves without interruption. It also explores the power of using a camera to create space for people to open up and share their stories.
Lessons Learned in Filmmaking and Reflecting on Career Choices
The podcast episode features insights from a filmmaker who reflects on her career choices and the challenges she has encountered. She discusses the importance of using filmmaking as a medium to tell stories that fit the current reality and the dangers of turning films into personal therapy sessions. The episode delves into the complexities of directing and highlights the need to assert oneself while maintaining a collaborative and respectful work environment. The filmmaker shares personal experiences of turning down roles to stay true to her artistic vision and the journey of finding confidence as a female director in a male-dominated industry.
SEASON 2 - EPISODE 46 - SARAH POLLEY - WRITER / DIRECTOR / ACTOR
Team Deakins sits down with writer, director, and actor Sarah Polley (WOMEN TALKING, STORIES WE TELL, AWAY FROM HER) on this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast. In the beginning, Sarah discusses her early career in acting and how she stepped away to focus on political activism. We later ask Sarah about the challenges transitioning from acting to directing, and she describes realizing that even if she didn’t consider herself an expert in the role, she recognized that she was the expert in the stories she was deciding to tell. At one point, Sarah credits director Atom Egoyan with setting the template for creating meaningful experiences making meaningful films which she applies to her own projects. Also revealed: which Sidney Lumet film Sarah found the most helpful to study while working on WOMEN TALKING.
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Recommended Viewing: WOMEN TALKING
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This episode is sponsored by TrueCut Motion & Falca
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