Delta Films at IFF Boston
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Mary Stuart Masterson in attendance at IFF Boston showing of "The Cake Eaters"
By Roland Hansen
By Roland Hansen
Actress and director Mary Stuart Masterson made an appearance at IFF Boston last night April
26, 2008 and Delta Films was in attendance. After the east coast debut of “The Cake Eaters”,
Masterson’s first time at the helm of a feature length film as director, she took time to meet
with the audience for a brief Q & A. The charming and beautiful actress looked and sounded
very much as you see her on the screen. She was down to earth and friendly and appeared a
bit embarrassed by the attention. Her hesitant and self-effacing manner of speaking put me
very much in mind of her character in “Bed of Roses”. She seems like someone you could be
friends with.
She just finished producing a film called “Tickling Leo”, written and directed by her husband
Jeremy Davidson and starring Eli Wallach. Her next directorial project will be a baseball movie,
“Slugger” (she loves baseball – who wouldn’t like a beautiful girl who loves baseball). This
movie should be more mainstream and will be her first big budget project. This film is only in
the beginning stages and hasn’t yet been shopped around to the studios. It may be a few
years before we see this one in the theatres. As Masterson herself stated “The movie
industry moves on geologic time”
26, 2008 and Delta Films was in attendance. After the east coast debut of “The Cake Eaters”,
Masterson’s first time at the helm of a feature length film as director, she took time to meet
with the audience for a brief Q & A. The charming and beautiful actress looked and sounded
very much as you see her on the screen. She was down to earth and friendly and appeared a
bit embarrassed by the attention. Her hesitant and self-effacing manner of speaking put me
very much in mind of her character in “Bed of Roses”. She seems like someone you could be
friends with.
She just finished producing a film called “Tickling Leo”, written and directed by her husband
Jeremy Davidson and starring Eli Wallach. Her next directorial project will be a baseball movie,
“Slugger” (she loves baseball – who wouldn’t like a beautiful girl who loves baseball). This
movie should be more mainstream and will be her first big budget project. This film is only in
the beginning stages and hasn’t yet been shopped around to the studios. It may be a few
years before we see this one in the theatres. As Masterson herself stated “The movie
industry moves on geologic time”
Masterson’s directorial influences include a lot of French and Australian directors. She listed a few of them “Trufault of course,
Claude Chabrol, Jane Campions, Peter Weir, some American directors, obviously Francis Ford Coppola doesn’t suck”. She told us
that among her favorite films are “All the Presidents Men”, “The Graduate”, The Godfather”, “Adams Rib” and “400 Blows”.
Q: How did you she got involved with this project ?
A: “I wanted to direct for 20 years. I heard about the script and thought it had a lovely heart. The film already had financing so I
jumped at the chance to direct. We shot the film in 20 days which is really fast. It was really difficult to do as Kristen (Stewart)
was a minor at the time and there are some really strict rules on minors working”
Q: How does it feels to direct as apposed to acting?
A: “I Quit acting… sort of. I still act when the opportunity arises but good roles a few and far between.” She went on to describe
how much more involved you get as director. “Nothing engages me like directing and producing. Acting isn’t as gratifying”
Q: Is it easier for females to direct than it used to be?
A: “It must be because it used to be bloody impossible” “In the big budget ‘penis’ movies there aren’t a lot of women directors. I
think it might be because women tend to go for more character based story driven films and men go more for the action
‘testosterone’ movies.” “I hate being referred to as a female director. Obviously I’m female, but being a good director has nothing
to do with gender or what genitalia you do or don’t have. “
Claude Chabrol, Jane Campions, Peter Weir, some American directors, obviously Francis Ford Coppola doesn’t suck”. She told us
that among her favorite films are “All the Presidents Men”, “The Graduate”, The Godfather”, “Adams Rib” and “400 Blows”.
Q: How did you she got involved with this project ?
A: “I wanted to direct for 20 years. I heard about the script and thought it had a lovely heart. The film already had financing so I
jumped at the chance to direct. We shot the film in 20 days which is really fast. It was really difficult to do as Kristen (Stewart)
was a minor at the time and there are some really strict rules on minors working”
Q: How does it feels to direct as apposed to acting?
A: “I Quit acting… sort of. I still act when the opportunity arises but good roles a few and far between.” She went on to describe
how much more involved you get as director. “Nothing engages me like directing and producing. Acting isn’t as gratifying”
Q: Is it easier for females to direct than it used to be?
A: “It must be because it used to be bloody impossible” “In the big budget ‘penis’ movies there aren’t a lot of women directors. I
think it might be because women tend to go for more character based story driven films and men go more for the action
‘testosterone’ movies.” “I hate being referred to as a female director. Obviously I’m female, but being a good director has nothing
to do with gender or what genitalia you do or don’t have. “
Q: As an accomplished experienced actor, how much does
that help you with your direction?
A: “I think acting helps you with directing tremendously
because of the process. But, you know, no two actors do it
the same way. And to presume I know better than an actor
how to approach a role … it’s …. Nah. But I think they know
that I know that. So I think my experience purchases a
certain amount of trust from them. I know actors who love to
be abused. I know actors who love to have a very formal
relationship with the director. It just depends on the
individual. Acting is such a personal and strange thing to do.
And you bring your various history with you and your
experience and your sensory response to work. So whatever
your childhood was like or whatever, your bringing it with
you. “
that help you with your direction?
A: “I think acting helps you with directing tremendously
because of the process. But, you know, no two actors do it
the same way. And to presume I know better than an actor
how to approach a role … it’s …. Nah. But I think they know
that I know that. So I think my experience purchases a
certain amount of trust from them. I know actors who love to
be abused. I know actors who love to have a very formal
relationship with the director. It just depends on the
individual. Acting is such a personal and strange thing to do.
And you bring your various history with you and your
experience and your sensory response to work. So whatever
your childhood was like or whatever, your bringing it with
you. “
Q: Can you describe how you approached directing a particular scene?
A: Do you have any scene in mind you want to ask me about?
Q: I think maybe the Georgia and Beagle kissing the first time.
A: “The first time? .. .umm. yeah, That was a lot of fun in that scene. I always liked that
scene pretty much the best in the whole movie on the page and they are both tremendous
actors, both Aaron and Kristen. Aaron’s actually from here. We were hoping he could come
but he couldn’t. I wanted to capture the really tender moment as early as possible, cuz you
know, after they kiss a few times it’s not going to be as first timey”
She went on to explain the various shots they did and the order in which they shot them to
get the scene on film.
A: Do you have any scene in mind you want to ask me about?
Q: I think maybe the Georgia and Beagle kissing the first time.
A: “The first time? .. .umm. yeah, That was a lot of fun in that scene. I always liked that
scene pretty much the best in the whole movie on the page and they are both tremendous
actors, both Aaron and Kristen. Aaron’s actually from here. We were hoping he could come
but he couldn’t. I wanted to capture the really tender moment as early as possible, cuz you
know, after they kiss a few times it’s not going to be as first timey”
She went on to explain the various shots they did and the order in which they shot them to
get the scene on film.
Q: How did you find Elizabeth Ashley and Bruce Dern?
A: “Elizabeth Ashley, I just … LOVE. And I just played Maggie in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” the year before and, of course, she was
“THE” Maggie. And so there’s some sort of odd attraction/repulsion there. She’s brilliant and I just knew she was sexy and real.”
“Bruce Dern said to me ‘I’m an irascible old fuck and I won’t rehearse’ He left this message on my answering machine and I’m like
(here she is virtually squealing with joy) ‘YES! He’s gonna do it!’ “
In the end Mary Stuart Masterson thanked the audience for coming and for staying through the end of the credits. As a film maker
she likes to see everyone acknowledged who had a hand in getting the movie to completion. And exit stage left.
A: “Elizabeth Ashley, I just … LOVE. And I just played Maggie in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” the year before and, of course, she was
“THE” Maggie. And so there’s some sort of odd attraction/repulsion there. She’s brilliant and I just knew she was sexy and real.”
“Bruce Dern said to me ‘I’m an irascible old fuck and I won’t rehearse’ He left this message on my answering machine and I’m like
(here she is virtually squealing with joy) ‘YES! He’s gonna do it!’ “
In the end Mary Stuart Masterson thanked the audience for coming and for staying through the end of the credits. As a film maker
she likes to see everyone acknowledged who had a hand in getting the movie to completion. And exit stage left.
