5 Questions with Meryl Jones Willams & Jane Stiles
Meryl Jones Williams (left), Jane Stiles (right). Photographed by Alice Plati.
1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?
We both came to filmmaking as actors and empaths, which is a little chicken and egg at this point. In reflection, it all stemmed from a fascination in people and a desire pouring out of us to share their stories alongside a learned ability to chameleon ourselves through feeling. Acting was just the first vessel. Once out in the world and often finding ourselves disappointed in material and roles within reach, bourne a greater desire to make our own films. At this point, it feels akin to healing all the bullshit we’ve all experienced in an industry that is so often not about making art. When we found each other, filmmaking became our way to come back to what we loved about acting and fulfilled a desire to lead as producer, writer, and director that was there all along, but wasn’t accessible to us.
2) What’s the backstory here - what was the initial idea and how did it evolve from there?
Jane loves the process of bringing together collaborators and it’s truly her magic! She wrote the initial script and trusted a gut feeling by asking Meryl to direct the film so that she could act in it. Meryl dug the story because it was something she too had experienced and had wanted to direct something so she trusted her gut too and said hell yeah! From there, we began the process of growing closer through co-writing, Meryl thinking as a director to elevate the story Jane wrote and each of us figuring out what we were going to need from each other so that Meryl could create the shot-list and Jane could devote her energy to her performance and then come on as a co-director in post-production. We had a lot of long walks and deep talks about how rarely we see a story where a woman’s sexuality is allowed to be open and ambiguous, but knew that so many people had had the same experience due to a lack of being touched the right way both physically and emotionally in a patriarchal world. It became a fuel that we wanted to express and we trusted in each other in order to complete the vision we had few examples of.
3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And generally what part of the creative process do you enjoy the most, and the least?
There’s one scene in Dom’s apartment in the film that feels super dreamy and open, but was actually rather grueling to film without AC on a hot summer’s day with crew stuffed into your director’s own apartment because you don’t have the money to pay a location. Something that also sticks out to Meryl were moments on set when she knew she needed to give Jane space and didn’t have an answer as a first-time director on a short film when you have to move the story along and fast. Those moments on set can be acutely anxiety inducing in a way that you can either crumble or let go of control which is just fear and trust your producer. We are so grateful for Lizzie Shapiro in so many ways, but there were a couple moments she talked Meryl from the ledge while simultaneously offering her creativity as a producer that were whip-smart solutions that made sure we got the story-pieces we needed.
Our favorite was our languid location scouts in pre-production when we walked through Beth and Dom’s old haunts during 4th of July weekend as NYC was emptied out to and formed the city we both love as a major character in the film. Cory Fraiman-Lott, our wonderfully talented unicorn DP who accompanied us mid-way through this process and brought the energy and eye that became the spirit of the piece was crucial in this part of the process.
And this feels like it should go first, but heck bonding with Annapurna Sriram who played Dom and having the tremendous opportunity it was to see her light up the screen. The film is better because of her performance and because she and Jane brought so much tenderness to each other. It was a joy to see friends become friends with friends. We even all coincidentally wore white sneakers the first walk we took! It was really precious in a way that felt like healing an inner-child. Through the process we found life long collaborators, which in the end was the most valuable.
4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?
Angela directed by Rebecca Miller for it’s visceral story-telling and the way in which it opens up the psychology of a child. It’s a film we wish we saw a long time ago, but were so grateful to have found it. It’s not too different than the plot of stories we’ve heard before, but it’s the way it’s told. It remains a talking piece and inspiration that encourages our own visions when we feel lost along the way. The casting is also incredible! For example the choice of John Ventimiglia from The Sopranos as the dad is so different than other stuff we’ve seen him play and one of the best things about it! PS Criterion took it down, anyone know where we can find it?
5) What’s next for you?
Meryl wrote and is gearing up to direct a short called Goldilocks that Jane is co-producing alongside her producer Tim Petryni. We are in the middle of gathering the financing for it to shoot late winter / early Spring 2020. Currently seeking a fairy godmother in exchange for credit if you know of any or are one yourself. To learn more: www.goldilocksthefilm.com & insta/twitter: @goldilocksmovie.
After we wrap production on that, Jane will act and direct in a short she wrote called The Love Spell that Meryl will co-produce potentially late Spring. Fairy godmother search continues!
These shorts are stories within us being made with the larger intention to nurture our singular voices towards our biggest collaboration yet; a feature Meryl and Jane are currently co-writing with the help of Annapurna. Taking place in the southwest, the film cracks open our cultural appropriation of the desert as a landscape within American filmmaking. They will play estranged half-sisters with mommy issues.
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http://www.meryljoneswilliams.com
Meryl Jones Williams: IG: @curlymerly | Twitter: @curlymerlybird
Jane Stiles: IG: @juanita_stiles