A masterclass from Kasi Lemmons today feels like balm to my soul in the madness. #SundanceDirectorsLab 
"Eve's Bayou was the first script I wrote alone..." Kasi says it was a very personal, autobiographical film, which was a "fantastical and allegorical look at things"
With this, her first official feature, she felt like she "proved what she had to prove."
With this, her first official feature, she felt like she "proved what she had to prove."
Themes of Eve’s Bayou?
“It’s about family."
“If two people remember something differently, where does the truth lie? I don’t live in an absolute world. I wanted to communicate what my world feels like. Concrete vs Metaphysical...Making boundaries fluid…"
-Kasi Lemmons
“It’s about family."
“If two people remember something differently, where does the truth lie? I don’t live in an absolute world. I wanted to communicate what my world feels like. Concrete vs Metaphysical...Making boundaries fluid…"
-Kasi Lemmons
As Sundance Fellows we have to massage our most "challenging scenes" from our feature scripts. Kasi shared the challenges of this scene:
The HUGE MIRROR was an unchangeable obstacle. Kasi used the reflection as a creative element. "13 takes &Debbi Morgan nailed it every time."
The HUGE MIRROR was an unchangeable obstacle. Kasi used the reflection as a creative element. "13 takes &Debbi Morgan nailed it every time."
On Rehearsal vs Discovery on set:
“I believe in the magic of film & i believe in the alchemy. There are moments you know you want the hairs to stand up on the back of your neck. You need to have a physical reaction to the thing happening in front of you before you move on.”
“I believe in the magic of film & i believe in the alchemy. There are moments you know you want the hairs to stand up on the back of your neck. You need to have a physical reaction to the thing happening in front of you before you move on.”
To contextualize the last tweet: Kasi Lemmons prefers to explore on set rather than over rehearse. There are certain moments you can't rehearse, like "Megan Good kissing Samuel Jackson" in Eve's Bayou. It had to happen as the camera was rolling...
Extremely inspired right now. Needed this jolt of meaning in this time. I'll inevitably miss some major keys because I'm soaking Kasi's brilliance in!
On HARRIET being a physically grueling shoot:
“You have to get people to a place where they’re willing to do things like that [trek through mud with equipment] for you. I had a vision and I wasn’t going to leave until I at least tried to get it…”
“You have to get people to a place where they’re willing to do things like that [trek through mud with equipment] for you. I had a vision and I wasn’t going to leave until I at least tried to get it…”
On setting the tone for her set:
"I am present, focused, upbeat, kind, zen...Anybody can save your life on any day [esp when you feel your day slipping away] and I treat them like they can save my life. I love and respect my crew and cast." -Kasi Lemmons
"I am present, focused, upbeat, kind, zen...Anybody can save your life on any day [esp when you feel your day slipping away] and I treat them like they can save my life. I love and respect my crew and cast." -Kasi Lemmons
On hiring crew:
"I hire a good group of people. I hire people who are kind." - Kasi Lemmons
This poignant to me because so few working Directors mention this. They mention skillset and acuity, but being a good person on set nurtures the ultimate vision.
"I hire a good group of people. I hire people who are kind." - Kasi Lemmons
This poignant to me because so few working Directors mention this. They mention skillset and acuity, but being a good person on set nurtures the ultimate vision.
On set Directing strategy:
"I try not to let actors use all their energy and burn out on wide master shots. I try to save the alchemy for the closeups. And you as the Director need to stay absolutely present..."
"I try not to let actors use all their energy and burn out on wide master shots. I try to save the alchemy for the closeups. And you as the Director need to stay absolutely present..."
