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Written by Allison Allen
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Monday, 07 January 2008
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Page 2 of 2
Undaunted, the next short film she wrote and directed was planned much more deliberately. She collaborated with a director of photography for three months before she actually shot it. He encouraged her to work through the basics of making a film, helping her think through each shot very carefully. Eventually, she created her most important tool, a storyboard using photographs.
Her thoughtful approach paid off. Her second film landed in more than 16 film festivals, a few of which were Academy Award-qualifying film festivals, including Nashville Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, and DC International Film Festival, to name only a few.
Mary enthuses about the collaboration and creative problem-solving process of filmmaking although she acknowledges that the process also caused her plenty of sleep loss. She remembers waking up more than once at 4:30 am thinking, “Oh my God, WHY did I do this? I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M DOING!”
What kept her going? The fact that people were counting on her. She let loose with a big laugh when recalling that people working with her fully expected her to be the expert, to provide competent direction. “I learned that a big part of this is saying, ‘yeah I can do this’….and people just think you can!”
Mary and I talked about how intimidating it can feel to have to figure out how to do something new. We shook our heads at how often we’ve let that fear stop us from tackling a new project or venture. Both of us have noticed that it seems to be an issue for many women.
Mary’s film experience taught her a thing or two about that fear of ‘just figuring it out’.
She and I agree that the biggest part of doing something you’ve never done before is simply committing the time and attention necessary to figure it out. She wisely said, “People are good [at figuring things out] because they have the right attitude. It has nothing to do with pre-knowledge.”
Another big realization for Mary was that her own mental limitations held her back. “What aggravates me more than people putting me in a box, is ME being willing to put me in a box”, she said. “Our world can be so much bigger than we think.”
She mused that “Women our age believe what our culture says about becoming more invisible as we get older. We just believe it and act the way people treat us. Why do we do that?”
Mary’s willingness to take on filmmaking, and succeed at it, gave me permission to do something I never dreamed I could do. Sometimes, all it takes is someone you know being courageous enough to take a risk. Suddenly something shifts inside and you begin believing you could do it too.
Mary summed it up beautifully, “Where you are is where you’re willing to put yourself. It is all in the attitude.”
 | LIST OF COMMENTS |
1/4. first comment
Written by Guest - Saturday, November 17 2007 |
first comment for testing |
2/4. Invisibility, moms and choices
Written by WomenBloom - Monday, December 03 2007 |
You go, girl!
What is invisible anyway? I guess our moms didn't have the kinds of professional or economic choices we have. Visibility for them often was limited to their family, friends, and immediate community. Women like Mary, and me, were lucky enough to come along when those choices were expanding exponentially. Now, as Mary said, our own minds create our limitations more than cultural expectations. We can be glad our daughters will have even more choices than we have. |
3/4. do I have to have a title?
Written by Guest - Wednesday, January 16 2008 |
great story that can inspire us all to take a new path. now I want to see her films. how do I contact thee, Mary? |
4/4.
Written by weihanteng - Wednesday, December 14 2011 |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 June 2008 )
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