Elizabeth Blake Thomas: A Fearless Filmmaker on making movies

A Fearless Filmmaker on making movies: An Interview with film Director Elizabeth Blake Thomas

Hollywood. The land where dreams are created. The place where dreams can come true. From the Walk of Fame, to the Hollywood sign and the Kodak Theatre, everything in Hollywood screams: Cinema! But what does it take to make it?

It takes a lot of energy and passion, two things that up-and-coming Film Director Elizabeth Blake Thomas is certainly not lacking. From the very start of our chat it is clear that to Ms. Thomas Filmmaking is no joke. It’s what she’s truly passionate about, and she’s determined in sharing her point of view on the world through her work. Her positive energy is contagious, and it is no surprise that she managed what seems like a mission impossible: directing seven movies in two years. A remarkable accomplishment, given how much time the making of a movie takes.

What’s the biggest challenge you had to face while filming seven films in just two years?

I think it was the timeframe of it. I didn’t know I was going to be shooting seven films in two years. Once they were all going, you had to complete others whilst others were starting, then you were in the middle of shooting whilst completing the others ready for their screening. The overlapping was the hardest thing. I had never shot anything. so I didn’t know the amount of work that went into postproduction, naively so. When I was on my 3rd and 4th, and I was still finishing number 1 and 2. I was overwhelmed, but then I had built the momentum up to do number 6 and 7, there was no stopping really, I couldn’t go back. I had the same crew so everyone knew how to work with me and that was very helpful.

What’s are the difficulties you had to face while starting out your career as film director?

Maybe people’s presumptions that I didn’t know anything. I knew acting. I knew cast. I was a theatre director so I knew how to get the best out of my actors, but I wasn’t trained in film school, I didn’t understand camera and lenses and the technological terms. So that was a difficulty, but I had lots of supportive people around me and they helped me learn. Once you’ve done it one or two times you pick it up straight away. I had my own name for things, and I know what I’m talking about, so everyone understands me now. Another difficulty was getting that second funding. So the process of putting people together and a group funding the next film allowed me to make the next one. I have so many stories in my head, so that’s not a problem.

In all your movies you have a 50/50 female crew, and you’re a big supporter of women in the industry. How do you think the industry will change after the #metoo campaign?

I feel like a lot of people are supporting women more. And I’m saying people because it’s not just women. Women and men are supporting women. I’m taken more seriously when I say this is what I do, this is what I can do. I feel it’s not going to happen with my generation, it’s going to be my daughter’s generation that sees this change. In 5 to 10 years time it will be the norm. That’s what I believe it’s going to happen.

What kind of stories do you think need to be told in today’s world?

I love true stories, I love stories with heart. I have a story called “The Girl with the Crooked Smile”, which is about a girl in Burbank, Sarah Tubert, who was born hearing, misdiagnosed and then lost her hearing. It’s a wonderful, coming of age, inspirational story that I’d love to shoot. I love stories that have a warmth to them, that aren’t all full on explosions and visual effects but are all about the characters. That’s really important to me. And I like writing stories that will make an impact in people’s life, and affect them in some kind of way. It’s important in this day and age we live in, to have some kind of world where we can disappear into

Is there a director’s style that has influenced your work?

Baz Lurhman. I love what he does, I loved Moulin Rouge, I love his version of Romeo and Juliet. It’s incredible how he can merge music, acting and the theatrical film. I also love Woody Allen, and his shots. I’ve been taking inspiration from different people. I just saw “The Front Runner” by Jason Reitman and I thought it was beautifully shot. I love several of the techniques he uses. There are also up and coming directors that I’m watching and seeing their work.

What is the best piece of advice that was ever given to you?

I would say two pieces of advice. The first one was to be a Film Director. It was the best thing I could have ever dreamed of. After the first film, the same person that gave me that advice said: “Now make your next one”. And I think if I hadn’t gone and made that second one straight away I wouldn’t have been on the momentous journey that I am on. The second advice was given to me at an event. Someone told me: “it might be that you know Steven Spielberg, but Steven Spielberg doesn’t know you”. In other words you need to go out and know people, meet people. That shifted my perspective on being home and writing and merrily doing my own stuff. That doesn’t get you anywhere, everyone needs to know who you are.

Do you remember the first movie you ever saw?

I used to watch black and white cowboy films when I was at home as a little girl. They would be on in the background, cowboys and Indians. I remember an instance where I was at a birthday party for a friend. All my friends were in the other room watching Freddy Krueger and I was with the youngest siblings watching Mary Poppins, because I just didn’t like scary films. I also remember watching Gone with the Wind but I was a Musical girl: Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, I love them all!

What’s your favorite part of L.A.?

I love being near the beach. I love where I live, Hermosa. It’s very family oriented and safe. I love going up to Malibu Pier, it’s so L.A. And I love driving on the 405, following La Cienga and getting to an area where you can see the Hollywood sign. I just look at it every day and go: “Wow! I’m in Hollywood”. Then I have my favorite go-to areas. I love Chateau Marmont, everyone looks after me there. I love going to The Montage and Via Alloro which is this beautiful restaurant in Beverly Hills, so lots of places actually. I just love L.A.

What are your next projects?

I have a couple of things that I’ve been asked to direct: a love story and an epic movie. They’re both big budget projects and I’ll be working with a British Company called GlobalWatch for a Tom and Meg Keneally script called “Fled”. Then there are the scripts I’ve written that I will direct. I’ve been writing with my daughter a film called “Three Doors Down”. That’s a true story. And then one based on my book Arabella. I also have a  couple of scripts that are based in a cabin and I have the amazing Rob Mayes and Kierston Wareing cast in those, together with Isabella Blake Thomas, my daughter. And then I also have a couple of kids film that I love, and would be ready to shoot. You have to have a lot of things on your slate ready to go. I’m also writing a book called Filmmaking Without Fear. It will come out next year. I’m writing it to inspire people. To say: “ just go for it, just do it”. I often have people that I mentor, that come on set and shadow me, and want to understand how to make a film. Never give up and go for it. My book will be all about that. It’s about giving people the feeling that if you have a passion in your life, go for it. I didn’t know this was my passion. I knew I needed to be creative. I didn’t know what it was, but when I found it I went for it, because life’s too short. I’ve been in this industry making films for two and a half years, but I’ve been working in this industry since I was 16: theatre, networking, getting to know people, being on set with my daughter. I think it’s important that people understand that it has come from a long, long time back. It’s not just a new thing I’ve been able to do well straight away. It’s the business behind the business, it’s getting to know people, and it’s all those other things you need to do in order to make this a success.

Your daughter Isabella is an actress and has worked in the industry for many years. You often work together.

I am fortunate enough to have an amazing daughter who loves the sakes industry as me. We’ve started a company together called Mother and Daughter Entertainment. Isabella is 16, we write together, she’s been in this industry since she was 5, she knows a lot more than me and we work together on projects and she acts in my projects. I feel very privileged that I get to spend that time with her in an industry that we both have an affinity with.

If you only had one sentence, how would you describe what Cinema is for you?

Cinema is my naughty get away. I often feel guilty going to the movie theatre because I should be working, I should be writing, I should be having meetings, so it always feel like I’m skiving. I will be sitting in a movie theatre for 2 and a half hours and hiding from people. Cinema inspires me. I leave feeling totally inspired by something I’ve seen.

 

To keep up to date with Elizabeth’s next projects make sure you follow her on:

Website: http://elizabethblakethomas.co.uk/

Twitter: @Elizabeth_B_T

Instagram: @elizabeth_b_t

Facebook: @elizabethblakethomas

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