Corinna Faith is a writer and director working across television and film. She started out as a movie camera assistant before moving on to reality TV directing. After 10 years in the role, she began producing short dramas including “Thai Bride” and “Care” for which she was nominated by BAFTA. Faith has recently written for Netflix, New Pictures, and World TV. “The Force” is her first feature film.
“The Power” premiered in Shudder on April 8th.
W&H: Describe the movie in your own words.
CF: “The Power” is a supernatural horror story about a young nurse who works on her first shift in an inner-city hospital during the power outage that plagued the UK at the time. Val is afraid of the dark, but he is forced to stay that night and work while the wound is dark. Things go from bad to much worse.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
CF: I wanted to write about toxic institutions and ways that can allow people to act. I choose the time period setting, but this is largely a story about the present, the need for women to find their voice, and the ways in which this is prevented.
W&H: What do you want people to think about after seeing the movie?
CF: I would like people to enjoy the ride, and I hope some find it scary. [I’d also like for people to think] About the dangers of remaining silent when something is seriously wrong.
W&H: What’s the biggest challenge in making a movie?
CF: Finding a site that matches our story ambition was a huge challenge. In the end, the perfect location, actually located in East London where the movie was shown, was opened and we were lucky.
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some ideas on how to make the movie.
CF: The script was funded and developed by a body called Creative England, and then further developed at the British Film Institute (BFI). Then we got funding from the BFI, which is a UK public finance authority, and from Headgear, a private funder.
W&H: What inspired you to become a filmmaker?
CF: I’ve always loved the camera, the visuals, and the stories. I remember going to see Jean Campione “the piano” and thinking, “Wow. I want to do that.” It was huge to have a female role model telling a story this big.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
CF: Worst advice: wait until you make the movie before trying to have your baby.
The best: do whatever you want.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
CF: Hold on to your gun.
W&H: Name your favorite movie directed by women and why.
CF: There are way too many folks out there who prefer nothing, but Catherine Bigelow’s “Point Break” comes to mind. I remember vividly thinking, “Huh. A woman did that. I didn’t think women were able to make movies like that. How fun so much.”
W&H: How do you adjust to life during the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you maintain your creativity, and if so, how?
CF: I’ve finished feature and work in a Zoom-based book room during COVID-19. Work continued.
W&H: The film industry has a long history of underrepresenting people of color on screen and behind the scenes and reinforcing – and creating – negative stereotypes. What measures do you think should be taken to make Hollywood and / or the world of documents more inclusive?
CF: This should be everyone’s fight, not just leave it to the people of color to express it.
Taking care of two more varied products may be a good step.
0 Comments