Victoria G: What inspired you to become a director?
Elisabeth Felson: I became a director after ticking off all the other options! Nothing else was worth doing, except making films!
VG: Who are some directors that inspire you?
EF: The classic, Godard, Truffaut, Varda, Browning, Franju, Murnau... The recent ones: Jonathan Glazer, Paweł Pawlikowski, Christian Petzer, Bong Joon-ho.
VG: What is your favorite thing about directing?
EF: When we lock in a beautiful moment.
VG: What was the first film you directed?
EF: A documentary about Francois Truffaut.
VG: What is your favorite project you have ever done?
EF: Night Burns Like Cigarettes
VG: What are some qualities you look for in a project?
EF: Poetry, universality, originality, provocation!
VG: Your film, Night Burns Like Cigarettes is an official selection for the 2022 Raindance Film Festival. How did your film get selected and how does it feel?
EF: I received a lovely email from the Program team telling me they loved the film. It felt very heartwarming!
VG: What is Night Burns Like Cigarettes about?
EF: We are losing the night due of our thoughtless consumption habits, we are consuming it just like a pack of cigarettes while it is such a precious and beautiful natural treasure.
VG: What do you hope viewers take away after watching Night Burns Like Cigarettes?
EF: First, I hope that they will turn off their door lights and unnecessary lights at night. Then we should all reflect on hyper-consumption. We are blowing up the planet in a collective act of denegation.
VG: What was the directing process like when making this film?
EF: Very spontaneous, partly improvised, flawing. We had fun!
VG: How would you describe yourself in three words?
EF: Out Of (the) Box.
VG: What are your social media handles?
EF: https://www.instagram.com/steppenwolvesfilms/
VG: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
EF: Hopefully shooting movies.
VG: What are three qualities every director should have?
EF: I think every director is different. It is the beauty of the profession. There is space for all sorts of people!
VG: Do you have any advice for an aspiring director?
EF: Hard work!
VG: What's next for you?
EF: A feminist thriller! Vive les femmes!
VG: RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS What's your favorite film genre?
EF: Thriller
VG: What's your favorite movie?
EF: Godard's Pierrot Le Fou
VG: What is your favorite pastime?
EF: Watching films!
VG: Who's your favorite superhero?
EF: My cat.
VG: What's your favorite candy?
EF: Chocolate bars
VG: What is your biggest fear?
EF: To die, then to come back to life!
VG: Do you have any pets?
EF: A Burmese cat.
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Victoria G Interviews Elisabeth Felson
Non-FictionOn October 26, 2022 during the 2022 Raindance Film Festival I sent interview questions to the incredibly talented director, Elisabeth Felson, then on October 26, 2022 she took some time out of her schedule to answer them for me through Email. It was...
