INTO THE NEXT STAGE

by Guy Aoki

November 2007 Newsletter


TITLE:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Interview with ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡On the Lotิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡sิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Shalini Kantayya
ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡On the Lot,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Foxิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s reality show about 50 directors (chosen from 12,000 submissions), aired its finale this past Tuesday with Will Bigham named the winner of the $1 million development deal with Dreamworks Pictures.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ The series faced many problems including an ever-dwindling audience that sunk to less than two million viewers (the finale got the attention of 2.5 million), the firing of Chelsea Handler as original host and the hiring of greenhorn live host Adrianna Costa.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Despite being the originator of the current reality show format, executive producer Mark Burnett apparently didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t realize that if youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re going to force viewers to wait a full week to find out which filmmaker didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t garner enough votes to continue on, youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡d better show bits of their work the following week to remind us of what theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡d been judged on (he didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t).ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Even last weekิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s vote for the three finalists was marred by technical problems in receiving on-line votes.

The main interest of ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡On the Lotิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ to readers of this column, though, was the participation of Shalini Kantayya, a 30 year old director originally from Connecticut whoิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s lived in Brooklyn for the past 10 years.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ The Indian American won MANAAิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s 2004 scholarship and demonstrated her commitment to the cause week after week, finishing in the Top 10.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ What follows is part one of my phone interview with her.

Guy Aoki:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Well, first of all, weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re so proud of what youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve done.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡
Shalini Kantayya:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Oh thank you!
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I mean, whatิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s really terrific is that you used at least one Asian person in every one of your films (SK laughs).ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And you know, thatิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s so refreshing because I often hear Asian American writers say, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Well, Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m gonna have to wait ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡till I make it [to help Asian Americans].ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ They get onto the writing staff of a TV show, and theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re still very self-conscious about being Asian American.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I understand that:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ If thereิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s like only one Asian in the whole writing room and everyone else is white, then they donิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t want to be an advocate right off the bat.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ They want to just kind of fit in and show that theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re like a team player.
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Very understandable.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And then you wait and wait and wait and you wonder, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Well, are they going to remember when they make it, or are they just going to get so used to doing white stories and casting white people that theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re gonna forget about it by the time they, quote, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡make it?ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ So I was so happy that every one of your films featured an Asian person, and it didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t take away from the piece, and it was part of the success!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Was it [intentional?]
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Well, we had a pool of actors to work from so youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re pretty restricted.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Do I have a commitment to diversify?ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Absolutely.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ But I think more than thatิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I never want to be held back or boxed in as an Asian American filmmaker.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I hope that if Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m asked to make a film about Latino gangs, Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ll be able to do it, or white American suburban life that Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ll be able to do it.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ But I think as my voice grows as a filmmaker, we make films about things that we know about.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And I happen to know, for instance, the script for ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Doctor-In-Lawิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ was great.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ That script couldิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve been about any immigrant community.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ It couldิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve been Czechoslovakian people, couldิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve been any first generation family, but I think those kinds of immigrant stories are very close to my heart and ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Doctor-In Law,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I think, was a script asking for me to direct it.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ So you didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t necessarily write the pieces that you directed?
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ We did write them.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Doctor-In Law,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I revised pretty significantly.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ We were asked to write many of the films we directed.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I think three out of the four films I wrote, but I donิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t pride myself on being a writer; I pride myself on being a director.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I think the films that are my strongest are actually the films that there was a script and I rewrote it, you know. But I feltิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ like a lot of this competition was based on writing ability.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And not all directors are writers especially in a short time period when theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re asking you to write a film in 24 hours or 48 hours.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I know they made it sound as if you were really struggling when you had to shoot ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Doctor-In-Law.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Was that really how it was for most of the shoot:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ You didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t really feel like you knew what you were doing?
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ No.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Not at all, actually.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Whenever you watch something, be it Reality TV, documentary, fiction, the perspective that youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re seeing is never the truth.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Thereิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s never an objective truthิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I was definitely very worried about doing a comedy.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ That was true.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ But for the most part of my set-- and the other directors, actors will speak to this-- my set ran very smoothly.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I had a lot of fun doing it and what you saw, I think was just a very minute fraction of what actually happened.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And I think the larger story, which isnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t shown, was that I worked really carefully with my actorsิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ In order to make a good film, you have to know what youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re doingิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡
People should look at all media with a critical eye and know that what theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re representing is onlyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ the story that the producers want to convey.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ The way I took it is that, maybe in the beginning you were kinda [worried]-ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ you know, thereิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s a part where you go, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡What am I doing?ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I donิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t know comedy!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Maybe that was real in the beginning?
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ No, I mean half of the things, Guy, I was joking!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ When I said, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re killing me!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re killing me!,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ that was a joke.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Just as we as filmmakers have a particular story that weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re trying to create, the producers have a particular story that theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re trying to tell.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Well, I thought it actually worked to your benefit because weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re kinda set up to think itิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s not gonna be good.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And then we see it, and weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re laughing, and weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re going, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Wow!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ She pulled it off!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ So I actually thought that it actually worked to your benefit.

SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ It did, but I represent .01% of directors in Hollywood as an Asian American woman.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ There are virtually no Hollywood directors that are women of color or Asian American-- or however you want to define me-- directing films in Hollywood.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And although I made a good film, and I feel great about the film, what concerned me about that representation of meิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ is that I feel like thereิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s already a stretch for people to view me as a director.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ For people to look at me as this 5ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ 1ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Asian American woman and say, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Oh, she looks like a film director!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ (laughs)...ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And had they chosen to show when I was working closely with the other actors, or had they chosen to show some of the really critical work we did together, then I think it wouldิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve done more for the cause of furthering women and Asians in film.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ You mean it wouldิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve given you more support from the people who were voting?
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Yeah.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I do.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I felt like if theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡d shown my set was running smoothly and although my apprehension of doing a genre that I hadnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t done before, that I actually know quite what Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m doing on set, then I wouldิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve felt that wouldิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve been closer to the truth.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I guess the thing that seemed to back up the impression that you werenิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t sure of what you were doing with the comedy thing was when they talked to that actor [Jamison Yang] who played the son-in-law.
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Yeah, I spoke to the actor.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ The other actors came up to me after the performance and said what a pleasure it was working with me and how professional I was and how competent I was on set.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And they were upset about what the actor said.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ The actor does respect me, and heิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s told me that he wants to work with me again.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I found his comments to be extremely unprofessional.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And I would never speak badly about an actor or anyone, and that this was not the experience of the other two actors.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Again, I respect what youิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re saying.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I think for the average person thatิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s watching the show, it still made you look good because the way I took it is, maybe you started off kinda shakey but you really got yourself together and the finished product-
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I worked with that actor very closely-- much more closely to get the performance that you saw.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I worked closer with him than the other two actors.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And many of the takes that we took, we took the 8th or 9th take of his performance.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ So I will say in my defense that I knew clearly what I wanted, and I worked very closely with him to get it.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ You donิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t get performances like that by accident.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Itิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s nice that you used Jack Ong because Jackิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s a friend of mine.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Heิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s a nice guy, right?
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I adore Jack!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And in fact, I wish you would interview him because he was just telling me how outraged he was about that commentิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I was disappointed that they didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t highlight more of the accomplishments of women in the final episode.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ It is kinda weird that the last six [finalists] were all white guys! (laughs)
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ If you look at that, and if you look at the final episode, I know that I was extremely disappointed that what you saw of the women were you know, them [the judges] saying, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡You shouldิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve called her slut mom,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ you know, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re laughing at you,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡better leave a man for the man,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Shalini doesnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t know what sheิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s doing.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And I was disappointed that they chose to show those moments for women directors and not all the successes that we had.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And there were many successes-- for me, for Shira-Lee, for Hilary.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ We all had great moments on that show.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I had a moment where the director of Transformers said I had the best visual eye of anyone up there.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ So ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Speed Dating,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ you wrote that?
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Yeah, I wrote that.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ That was good.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ What I loved about that was that you crammed so much into one minute, and it was also funny.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And I was disappointed that the judges didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t seem to warm up to it, but I just really loved it.
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Oh, thank you!
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ There was that little joke about outsourcing from the [Indian] guy who was delivering the singing telegram.

SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Yeah, thank you.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ When you did the gay comic [short], that was really taking a chance because you said you felt like you werenิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t sure if the audience was gonna be able to relate with it.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ But then Michael Bay said he had chills watching it, so that was amazing.
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t know how a mainstream audience would react to a film like ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Laughing Out Loud.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I did take a huge risk making that film.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I feel like thatิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s just the kind of filmmaker Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m gonna be:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m gonna take risks.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m not gonna stay where itิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s safe, Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m not going to give the audience the same film theyิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ve seen before.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m gonna have a strong voice, Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m gonna take a risk, Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m gonna push the box, Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m gonna go to the edge.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And thatิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s the kind of director I really seek to be.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Is that scary?ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Itิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s scary as all hell (laughs)!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I was never more terrified, I think, than when I stepped on the stage to face [the judges for] that film.
And I think knowing still the sort of political climate of the United States, and still what an issue that is for so many people, and what it was in the last election, I was taking a huge risk.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ But at the same time, I really hope the audience would see my work as universal.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I really say that although they were about Asians, I really tried to espouse being universal and accessible to anyone.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And whether we feel like weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re not smart enough, weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re not funny enough, weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re not good looking enough, or weิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡re not skinny enough- we all have these things- ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡Iิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡m an artist and my family doesnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t accept itิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ or ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡I never quite fit in.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ All of us have that feeling.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And we all have a dreamิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And I think the power of that film is something that we all seek, which is overcoming our fears and following the thing that is our highest calling.
Now, I was terrified because I didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t know whether this would be relatable.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And to have a blockbuster filmmaker like Michael Bay say that about your work, no one was more surprised than me (laughs).ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And it really gave me a lot of confidence to say this work is relatable.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ All people can get into this.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ If a blockbuster filmmaker will support my work, then I have a voice that is viable and that people are gonna relate to.
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And for a while, they were taking a poll [asking] which personิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s film did you like the best and didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t they vote yours the best?
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ They did.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡
GA:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ That was amazing too.
SK:ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I think thatิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s what happens when you take risks!ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Like sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ But I think that I was so proud that that film aired on Fox.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ Very proud.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ And those are exactly the values that I wanna share in my work and the kind of humanity that I wanna see reflected in the films that I create.
Till next time, keep your eyes and ears open.