Director’s Panel (Various Directors, 2013): USA

Reviewed by Emma Karlsson. Viewed at the Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara Film Festival.

The Director’s Panel at SBIFF is one of the festival’s most popular event, this year was no different. As always the panel was moderated by Peter Bart. Tom Hooper (Les Mirables), Rich Moore (Wreck-it-Ralph), David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Malik Bendjelloul (Searching for Sugarman) and Mark Andrews (Brave) joined Bart as they discussed common struggles directors face no matter the genre or experience in the field. Even though the directors differ in style and genre, together they all bring up the importance of killing your darlings; letting go of ideas and/or scenes; which is difficult to do for, as Hooper mentions, control freaks such as directors.

Rich Moore, from Oxnard, tells us that he knew early in life that film was something he wanted to do – his first film that he saw was an animation. When it comes to success, Moore talks about that if you put a lot of people with passion into a mission something will happen. Russell, who also knew early in life that film was something he wanted to do (“I was a kid with a camera”) agrees: “it’s all about right people for the right roles at the right times”.

Zetlin spent a year promoting his debut film Beasts of the Southern Wild – it was the longest pause from making film he says.  Zetlin mentions that to create a successful story is to go back into the kitchen and make a meal for the world – not only your closest friends. “What you’re capable of changes” Zetlin says. He also mentions that a key to success is to have the same desire to find people and settings in all your projects, no matter what the budget is. The panel agrees.

Russell also reminds us to not be precious with the work; take notes from everyone. Hooper agrees: “Challenge yourself to hear things you don’t wanna hear”. Bendjelloul says he believes that a film should be as short as possible: “There’s always a worst scene – cut it out”.