What film do you think everyone should watch?
Dang, that’s hard. It feels impossible to pick just one film everyone should see. Tastes are different and there are so many wonderful flavors of film! If you happen to be in a late 80s arthouse kind of mood, you really can’t go wrong with WINGS OF DESIRE. Then again, if you have a ten year old Star Wars obsessive in your life, SPACEBALLS is deliciously silly.
What’s your favorite part about living and working in the DC/MD/VA region?
It’s home. I didn’t grow up in Virginia, but I did “grow up” here. It’s where I found my voice as a filmmaker and where I built a family. Yes, Virginia is a gorgeous state, rich in history and natural beauty… but what I love most are the people.
Who inspires you?
The list of filmmakers who inspire me is long and has shifted over the years. Jeff Nichols, Chloé Zhao, Nicole Holofcener, Leslie Linka Glatter, Sean Baker, Debra Granik… They’d all for sure all be on that list.
What story do you wish someone would tell?
Hmmm. Generally, if there’s a story I’m dying for someone to tell, I just put it on my “Things I Plan To Write” list. There are lots of stories on that list. But what I most love, is to stumble across a film that tells a story I never could have imagined… a film that gives me a glimpse of a world or an issue outside of my own limited sphere of awareness. Those are particularly satisfying.
What’s my favorite place to celebrate success with my crew?
Well, I’m primarily a screenwriter which is mostly a solitary affair. That said, one of the most joyful memories of my life was singing 70s rock anthems with the crew of SUNSHINE CLEANING in a hotel bar somewhere in Albuquerque. Perhaps I’ve said too much.
