Sarah Smith, Author at Directors Notes

Sam Baron Reflects on the Stoicism and Fragility of Men in His Actor in Crisis Comedy Drama ‘Big Ears’

Sam Baron tells us how he grounded comedic beats in tragic reality in his new short about an actor struggling in both his personal and professional life.

Live Action

The Modern Archetype of a Desperate Artist Is Given an Expressionistic Depiction in Mitch deQuilletes’ ‘Cowards’

Mitch deQuilletes talks to us about tapping into the confusion and stress of emerging zillennial artists in his comedy about an unaware obsessive writer.

Live Action, Premiere

The Hard Choices of Abortion Are Anchored in Daily Reality in Garrett Detrixhe’s ‘The Girl at the Motor Hotel’

Garrett Detrixhe talks about the significant role location played in setting the tone for his short exploring a woman's choice or lack thereof.

Animation, Live Action

Female Pleasure Is Given a Playful Fulfilling Expression in Alena Shevchenko’s Sorry I Am Late I Was Masturbating’

Alena Shevchenko explains why she wanted to explore female pleasure in her film about a woman banishing pre-date nerves with a spot of self-gratification.

Art & Fashion

Alberto Arellano’s ‘Mental Soirée’ Immerses Us in an Evocative Experimental Voyage Into Telepathy.

Alberto Arellano details the intricate slow motion shots used to capture the spectacular FX in his experimental instructional telepath short.

Art & Fashion

VERSUS Exquisitely Thread Together The Australian Ballet’s Rich History of 60 Years of Movement in ‘Beyond Words’

Directing duo VERSUS talk to DN about building an original zoopraxiscope to give life to unique archival images in their celebratory dance film.

Live Action

The Newman Brothers Comedy ‘Do Not Touch’ Captures the Absurd Actions a Man Takes To Hide His Cheating Ways

The Newman Bros discuss tapering comedy with emotional stakes for their short about an art exhibition which throws an adulterer's life into chaos.

Live Action, Premiere

Neal Mulani’s ‘Tell Me Something I Don’t Know’ Warns of the Perils of Giving Into Your Deepest Insecurities

Neal Mulani speaks to the importance of the camera bible when shooting his cautionary comedy short about maturing friendships and narcissism.

Live Action

Natalia López Gallardo’s ‘Robe of Gems’ Depicts the Pervasive Climate of Fear Drug Cartels Impose on Mexican Life

Natalia López Gallardo reveals the intuitive layered approach to cinematic composition and structure she took for her Silver Bear-winning debut feature.

Documentary, Premiere

Jack Pirie’s Genre-Blurring ‘The Storm Chaser’ Offers a Mythical Revamp to Conventional Extreme Sports Films

Jack Pirie speaks about finding the harmony between nature and humans at their extremes in his profound windsurfing dramatic documentary short.

Live Action

Emma Branderhorst’s ‘Spotless’ Tackles the Worldwide Issue of Period Poverty With an Unflinching Gaze

Emma Branderhorst talks to DN about capturing the intimate vulnerability of a young teen as she navigates the infuriating hurdles imposed by period poverty.

Live Action, Premiere

The Inevitability of Death Invigorates a Renewed Sense of Life in Omar Kakar’s ‘Man in the Morgue’

Omar Kakar discusses the alchemy of the editing process which enabled him to straddle genres without leaving his audience adrift in a sea of confusion.

Author

About the Author / Sarah Smith