EM has always been known as trendsetters, and a website that likes to feature folks who are on the cusp of breaking it big. Well we have instituted this policy with our brand new “”Catch A Rising Star”” feature. At least twice a month we will do feature length interviews, with hot up and coming directors, writers, and actors/actresses. First up for this new feature is Director Fiona Mackenzie. What makes us think Fiona will be the next big thing?Its simple, she recently directed, produced, and released an interesting new straight to DVD release called “”Deadly Little Secrets.”” She just sold two new series to MTV (Both of which will debut in the Fall), is working on a television deal with Fox, and has a movie in the works with Robert D’Niro’s Tribecca films. So we figured we better talk to her now, before she gets too big for us.
EMI like to start all my interviews off with my standard overly broad question. Tell us who you are and why we’re speakingto you today.FMHi, Michelle. I’m Fiona Mackenzie, the director of Deadly Little Secrets. Thanks for taking the time to talk to me and review the film. EMHow would you describe Deadly Little Secrets?FMFor me, it is a psychological thriller, revolving around the lives of four central (highly flawed) characters, who have histories interwoven before the movie actually begins. We watch as their four lives collide on screen, but it takes a certain amount of time for the audience to realize that they are all previously connected. EM How long did it take you to bring this movie to film?FMWe developed it for about a year, and then started the casting process. But we had set a firm start date in Vancouver, so we worked towards a specific date which kept us very focused. EM What did you shoot on and why did you choose the format?FMWe shot on 35 mm, and used some very unusual film stocks as well as several “”experimental”” development processes to get varied looks within the film. There were certain sequences, particularly the flashbacks, which we wanted to look completely different from the rest of the film. Happily the producer supported this creative idea, as I think it gave a great deal of visual impact to those areas of the story. I wanted each aspect of these characters’ lives to have a look, and 35 mm provided great flexibility. So I was glad that we were able to use this medium, and feel that through incorporating different stocks and developing processes, that we were able to achieve a definite style. EMDid you try and shop this around before you filmed it Independently? What was the deciding factor that made you want to go out and do this on your own?FMNo, we didn’t shop it around, since the producer had already had a plan for financing and developing the project and had done projects this way before. So, in this instance I was very lucky and we were able to have a go picture as soon as the script was ready. Having worked on studio projects, the success of an independent film is all about the passion of the people behind it. Ninety percent of the studio films in development never get made, so hat’s off to all indie producers, writers and filmmakers who can get their projects out of development and into production. EM How did you meet the writer?FMThough I came from a background of writing and directing, at the time I was working in feature film development, running a feature film production company at Sony. The script came to me there. I met the writer and liked him. And after I left that company, I contacted him again to see if his script was still available as it had stayed in my mind. It was, so we got to work. EMWhat drew you to the material?FMThe characters. There were truly original characters in this piece. People who had a version of justice and integrity that was very skewed, but you felt for them and liked them all the same. I am attracted to material that presents a certain story, but then allows audiences to draw their own conclusions, right or wrong. This script had many of these elements within it. It was also a technically complex film and I liked the challenge. For a small film, with a tight shooting schedule, we delivered elements that are usually found within films of much bigger budgets; huge choreographed crowd scenes, car crashes, open water boat chases, visual effects, stunt choreography etc. That was a great challenge and a lot of fun. EM What is your writing and directorial process like?FMIt depends if I wrote the script or am working off of someone else’s script. When It’s my own script, it’s a somewhat easier process as it’s just me and the producers working very closely until the film is cast. I usually write material that I am hoping to direct, but not always. But, no matter where the material comes from, I fine tune the story with the producers and/or writer, for months first. Then once the film is cast, the actors always have a lot to say about fine tuning the inner life of each characters. As a director, my job is to try to bring to life the best each actor can give, balanced within the integrity of the story and film as a whole. It’s always a collaborative process.EMHow was the film financed and how difficult was it to get it?FMAgain, the producer came to me with a definitive game plan, so I was very fortunate as I did not have to go out into the indie world and shop the material. We set a start date and worked towards that. The producer had read one or two of my own scripts that were quite a lot bigger in terms of their budgets, but they had liked my vision and ideas. So we tabled those scripts, and together looked for something that was more in line with the budget they had in mind and the type of movie we all wanted to make. EM Has this film opened doors for you? What has been the general response?FMOf course directing a film is a major step in any budding director’s career. People like to know that you can tell a story, and keep a project moving forward to it’s conclusion. This script is not something I wrote and the material I am writing is quite different, so in some ways, producers I am talking to now don’t always see the connection, and that can be confusing for them. But the main thing is to keep striving to write, direct or produce projects that you have passion for. I loved working with the group of people on Deadly Little Secrets and love telling stories that make people sit up and wonder about how they would handle a certain situation; anger, internal rage, or deep emotional wounds. I think people have responded positively to those elements in the film, and many, many people have also responded to the actual “”look”” of the film, which is quite definitive. EMWhat are you working on next?FMIn film, I’m producing a movie for Paramount with Tribecca Films. It’s a large period piece that has been a huge learning experience, but I love it. I’ve also written a script that has been optioned by the producers of Thelma and Louise which I am attached to direct. It has a strong female lead, which is appealing. I’m also attached to direct another smaller script, a dark teen drama, very frightening. It’s a challenge as we all have to go back to our inner demons and insecurities from high school. I also recently got involved in television, and sold a series to MTV and will be directing some of the episodes. These projects are all very different, so it’s very stimulating from a creative point of view. I just hope to be fortunate enough to keep working with people I really enjoy, and continue to learn all along the way. Thanks.EMOoh, this sounds like a Scoop, can you tell us more about the MTV and Tribecca (Tribecca Films is Robert D’Niro’s Production Company) projects?The MTV series is a relationship, cinema-verite style series, which I created and we sold in April. It is reality based and shooting should take place this fall in NY, Chicago and LA. It could potentially be an ongoing series. We are also in negotiations with Fox on a second series I co created. I think that deal will be done by next week. The Paramount feature project is an action drama, a la Braveheart and Gladiator, set in 60AD, and is out to an A list director and a two time Academy awarding winning star right now. I am producing that in collaboration with Tribecca Films. We may have some good news as early as Monday but I can’t officially release any info yet.I am sorry I can’t give more details (would love to), but some of this info is still confidential until it’s released in the trades. Apologies, but wouldn’t want to irk any of my partners on these projects. I am sure you understand.Feature byMichelle AlexandriaOriginal date – July 1, 2003