5 Questions with Elizabeth Godar ("Dear Maslow")

1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?

I studied architecture and worked in that field for three years after graduating. But I also took this class called Radical Cinemas of Latin America in college where we covered filmmakers like Glauber Rocha, Luis Buñuel, and Fernando Solanas. They completely opened my eyes to cinema as a medium that pushed people to think deeply about politics, philosophy, and subconscious belief systems. That exposure planted the seed for me to make the jump from architecture to filmmaking three years later. I now work doing production design and more recently writing and directing.

2) What was the initial idea for this project and how did it evolve from there?

It started from just dwelling on a past relationship. Wallowing over exes can feel oddly comfortable and real just as quickly as it feels irrelevant and silly. Maybe basic unfulfilled needs can be misattributed as desire towards someone in particular because those memories can't be taken away. So I began thinking about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and how as we try to work our way further up the pyramid towards real connection and growth, we're often dragged back down to take care of more simple comforts like shelter, security, and orgasms. The short ultimately shows an eccentric character being pushed around by her own primal desires, which end up in conflict with each other.

3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And the easiest part?

Honestly it was all pretty easygoing. Mitch (DP, Editor) and Chelsea (lead) are both so talented and fun to work with. But I had initially planned for the main character to pee her pants a little as a last little push to grab the letter before running to the bathroom. We tried all these things with squirting water bottles and apple juice and ended up dying laughing. Chelsea's dog was in the room just judging the three of us.

4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?

A friend recently introduced me to Broadcast News and it totally blew me away. Holly Hunter plays one of my favorite characters ever, and it's way ahead of its time in terms of showing a multidimensional woman who avoids all the tropes we expect from female characters even today. All the dialogue is surprising and smart. The ending resists feel-good clichés. It's just so good. Also loved The Double Life of Veronique recently.

5) What’s next for you?

I have a few small projects I'm planning to write and direct, and a couple of features to potentially production design towards the end of the year.

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IG: @elizabeth_godar