Fox Movie Channel

Make Friends with Failure by Lauren Slusser

Hi, my name's Lauren Slusser and I'm a graduating senior directing student at UCLA.  I shot my first Life After Film School episodes this month and it's been an amazing experience!  I interviewed Marmaduke director Tom Dey and Ramona and Beezus director Liz Allen , an exciting but intimidating introduction to the show.
   
I was especially interested in interviewing Tom and Liz because of their work in children's film, which is what I hope to do someday.  I was eager to speak with them about their approach to family-friendly material and how they work with young actors on set.  Most of the short films I've directed at UCLA have starred children, some as young as 8, and I've found that directing kids is a completely different challenge from directing teens and adults.  I've spent a lot of time with children as a babysitter, teacher's assistant, and camp counselor, but on set, where you have to evoke an emotional performance from a young person, the type of interaction is quite different.  I have often felt confused about whether to take on a parental role with child actors, or to treat them like peers.  I asked Liz Allen about how she directed Ramona and Beezus star Joey King, who was 9 during the shoot.  I was happy to hear that they maintained a very playful and affectionate relationship that helped the adult actors feel comfortable playing as well.
   























I also enjoyed learning from Tom Dey how having children of his own has affected his work as a filmmaker.  He can't run scripts by his 3-year-old son just yet, but Tom does try to make movies that his son would like.  I'm sure that a growing family is also an incentive to keep your hours on set reasonable and to try to make more money.
   























My favorite lesson that Liz Allen imparted to us during the interview was to make friends with failure.  She advises her students at USC, where she teaches undergrad, to experience at least 10 big failures during the term.  The students share their failures with the class to great applause.  The logic behind this unusual practice is that you should put yourself out there, apply for as many long-shot scholarships and jobs as you can, and though many of those attempts will end in failure, that's how you'll land that one spectacular opportunity.  If you're not getting rejected, you're not aiming high enough.
   
In addition to the chance to meet and talk with these talented directors, I also enjoyed the more mundane aspects of the Life After Film School shoot.  The studio space was really beautiful, and full of shiny, shiny grip equipment that struck awe into a film student like me who's used to rusty, hand-me-down Century-stands.  I was also enamored of the craft service snacks provided on set.  On student sets, you're lucky to get Goldfish crackers and red licorice, but we had yogurt parfaits, freshly baked cheese puffs, chocolate truffles, gum, and even vitamin supplements.  I was in heaven.  Thank you, Life After Film School.  I can't wait until my next show!