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Question:
I was reading on the
Maggie and Annie website that you attended film schools after locating
yourself in California. You attended Hollywood Film Institute, most
notably. How did Film School prepare you for the realities of making an
independent film?
KW:
Film School teaches you the basics
when it comes to filmmaking. But no matter what you learn in film
school it really doesn't prepare you fully to make a movie. I came to
Hollywood to be a writer/filmmaker. Acting was not really a love of
mine but to get my feet wet I started studying acting. I did that for
years and eventually became an acting coach. A director told me years
ago you need to study acting if you are ever going to be a director.
How can you direct a movie and actors if you know nothing about the
craft? The film school teaches you the shots, angles, blocking,
the simple stuff. Years as an acting coach and doing scenes in the
workshops prepared me more for directing. Making a movie, especially
a low budget movie you need to be first and foremost a business
person. You need to be a manager of people. You can go to all the
biggest film schools in the world and if you do not learn the craft of
acting and have business skills you will be lost.
Question:
If I'm correct, you shot "Maggie and
Annie" on an $80,000 budget. By today's standards, of course, that's
just amazing. What's even more amazing is that you managed to create a
film that works beautifully on that budget. How did you do it? What did
you want to do but couldn't because of budget constraints (if
anything)?
KW:
For one thing it was
shot Digital. That alone saves $80,000. Most people do not know that
the film Stock alone is $80,000 for a two hour movie maybe more now. I
paid for the whole movie myself. My life savings. Every penny. We did
it non union. Amy and Joy got paid very little and the rest, more or
less worked for gas money, meals and a back end deal. My best friend
and Producer Loni Martinez helped in lots of ways. It was just her and
I doing pre-production. Locations were mostly donated. I tossed them a
few bucks but not much. I wished I could have had more time to film.
We filmed 16 days straight 12-14 hours a day. Everyone involved in the
film had jobs and could only get two weeks off. We were rushed from
locations. The scene where Maggie and Annie are walking at night. That
was shot at Midnight. We started filming that morning at 9am. It was
the last day we could be at that location. They were all troopers that
day. At one point I was giving the actors direction and the DP feel
asleep at the camera. No lie. The sound and the lighting hurt me the
most along with some white walls. It shows we had no sound person or
lighting person. Thank God for Digital and the editing system. Rule of
thumb is you never film with white walls. We had no choice. They were
the only locations we could get for free.
Question:
What was it like to attract the cast
you managed to attract? In particular, Joy Yandell and Amy Thiel are
just wonderful in your film.
KW:
Amy Thiel and Joy
Yandell were gifts from God for me. I filmed this in LA. Everyone is,
was or wants to be an actor. To tell you what the competition is like
here. I ran two ads in Back Stage West (entertainment magazine) In two
weeks I received 1000 pictures and resumes. That is no lie. 550 men
450 women. From here it is a crap shoot. If I seen a look that fit
then I looked at their film training. If they trained in the No Acting
technique. (Conrad Approach or alike) then I called them in to read.
Being an acting coach I cast it also. Once Joy and Amy excepted the
roles I got them together had lunch and then took them that night to a
lesbian dance club in Long Beach. Their chemistry was magic from the
start and as you watch the movie it only got better.
Question:
I'm
constantly astounded, even by reasonably entertaining films, at the
budgets involved. I saw "Curious George" this past weekend...perfectly
fine, cute, adorable, innocent cartoon...I loved it, but a $50 million
budget? Stunning when I think of how hard you worked on a film such as
yours. It just seems like Hollywood has gotten lazy...numerous sequels,
repetitive/predictable scripts/bland and formulaic films...Of course, as
long as the public goes to see Big Momma's House 2 or any number of
other recent films...I suppose Hollywood will churn them out. Why do you
think this is?
KW:
Films are never filmed for what they say they were. I cringe also
when I see the money they spend. My friends and I laugh when we go to
a bomb that was made for millions. Why most of the movies are bad is
because it is almost impossible to get your script read in Hollywood
by the major studios unless you have a connection. I had someone
write me that seen the movie and complained about the low budget-ness
of it. She said she felt like she got ripped off. I wrote her back
and let her know I understood. that I went to a low budget movie
that same weekend and felt I got ripped off. (Subject Zero with Ben
Kingsley) I told her that was filmed for 20 million or more and Maggie
and Annie was filmed for $80,000 or less and no money to spare. I
explained it all to her. She wrote me back and apologized to no
end.
Question:
How hard was it to get
your film finally released on DVD (which is how I found it, at
Blockbuster)?
KW:
Very hard. It took me over year to get a distributor to take it.
then they sold it for nothing to a gay and lesbian distributor and he
got it in Blockbuster. Great job on his end. I still have never seen
a dime from it. Hard to tell if I ever will.
Question:
I read that you're from Wisconsin?
Miss the Winter? I'm in Indiana right now feeling a bit envious of your
warm weather.
KW:
All my family still lives there. I go back a few times a year. Don't
really miss the winters but it is becoming more and more of a jungle
out here. Almost impossible to live a good life. One million people
have moved here in the last 8 years. The whole area has 30 million.
I love the Midwest and the people from the Midwest. They do not come
any better. I plan on moving back to Wisconsin some day. I guess as
soon as I stop chasing my dreams.
Question:
What can you tell me about your next
film?
KW:
I have several scripts written. As
of this moment I am pitching the true Story of Karla Faye Tucker. She
was the first woman executed in Texas in over 100 years. I feel I
wrote a great script. Researching and interviewing the people was
great. That script I am trying to sell to the studios. It would be
hard to do it low budget. Of course I would love to direct it but if
a studio buys it the exec may want his wife's third cousin's brother's
best friend's aunt's daughter that is fresh out of film school to
direct it. I am trying to find four investors to invest $50,000 each
to make a film script I wrote based on a true story about a guy I knew
that became addicted to a bikini club called the Chee Chee Club. I
could do a nice film for $200,000. So far no luck with the investors.
Question:
How often do you write? The more I
read about you it sounds like you are pretty much constantly writing. I
love your idea of the animation. I have to tell you that one of the
things that hit me even during "Maggie and Annie" is your ability to
communicate emotions and humanity very purely and innocently. Any
thoughts of writing something aimed at a younger audience?
KW:
I never stop writing. It is my therapy. Very easy for me. Again I
have several film scripts written. I have a wonderful animation
written but that is the hardest part of Hollywood to break into. I
once heard a famous writer say that the best thing about not selling
your stuff is that it will never get ruined. I grew up in the blue
collar world of farmers and everyday people. Clothes on the back - a
meal and a warm roof over your head is all that mattered to my
family. Real people writing material cannot get any better.
Question:
How often do you go to
the movies yourself? Do you have any favorites?
KW:
I love the movies. Very seldom ever
watch TV unless it if from my collection of the Honeymooners or the
early Andy Griffith shows. I think the greatest film ever made is THE
DEER HUNTER - A sleepy movie that very few have ever heard of is AFTER
HOURS - a classic. Of course my number two movie of all time is THE
WIZARD OF OZ. My range is all over.
Question:
You talk about wanting to touch your
audience...as a lesbian, how did you cope when you started experiencing
rejection from the gay/lesbian community over how "Maggie and Annie"
ends?
KW:
I never really thought about until
the festivals started turning it down because of that. I got torched
by some people from the AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL that showed it. OUCH -
Like I told them not everyone in life rides off into the sunset.
Question:
If you could offer some advice to
someone who's out there like you were wanting to make their own
film...what would you say to them?
KW:
Study film acting if they are going
to direct. Study business. Making a movie is a business first - then
all else follows. Never stop believing. When I did Maggie and Annie
I was the only one that believed in it. Everyone around me thought I
was crazy for doing it. Life is full of risk. Don't be scared to
take them.
Question:
I was reading your bio...you
obviously have a support network of friends, you network well, and you
obviously kiss ass well (to steal your term)...but, it sounds like when
you headed out to California (via Wyoming, initially) it was pretty much
just you? Did you have supporters? doubters?
KW:
I had no supporters. All doubters.
If you know Midwest winters, you can get pretty depressed by the time
one comes to an end. I reached that low point and packed my bags and
left. I came to LA by myself not knowing anyone. I had an old station
wagon and about $1000 to my name. Was blown away by the city. I would
get a motel one night - look for a job - sleep in my car the next night
- check into a motel - shower look of a job - sleep - look for a job
then sleep in my car the next night. I did this for about 7-10 days.
Then I found a job- rented a room- and Immediately started studying
acting. Was a very scary time in my life to say the least but I wasn't
going back home. I told my Mom all along I was staying with a friend.
People come here to chase dreams and die on the streets here - I was
close.
Question:
What did you learn (good and bad)
from your first film making experience?
KW:
All good experiences.
I just wish I had more money for better sound-lighting and those damn
white walls.
Question:
As I read your website,
you clearly are loyal to those who've supported you (and the film), you
clearly have things you believe in passionately and you've seemingly
managed to balance all of that and have a career in film. Where do you
see yourself going from here?
KW:
I will always keep
dreaming. No matter who you are you have to have dreams and goals. All
we can do in life is give 100 % of what God gave us. You have to put
something into life to get something back. Most people want everything
out of life but want to put nothing into it to get it. I am hoping to
make another movie and sell some of my scripts. I will do my best.
Question:
One last question...It seems like
the latest "thing" is that all the big film companies are starting
smaller "indie" subsidiaries...like Warner Independent, Sony Classics,
etc...is this having an impact on the truly independent filmmaker like
yourself?
KW:
The real true concept of indie films
is going out the door. Sundance for example is a joke. It was
created by Redford for little films like Maggie and Annie and no name
low budget movies. Now it is all Hollywood and $10 million dollar
movies. I tell all new filmmakers never to send their film to the big
festivals. $50 a pop. They get 1500 submissions and accept a handful
of films-now mostly those with star power.
Question: Thank you so much
for your time!
KW: Thank you!
"Maggie and Annie" is currently
available on DVD through Blockbuster and Netflix. For more information
on Kimberly Wilson's upcoming films visit
Rainbow Chaser
Productions. |
