Which films and filmmakers have been the most inspiring or influential to you and why?
I have been inspired by many different directors. Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s I didn’t have many female roles models to look up to. I was fascinated by Quentin Tarantino’s early films – the way he would structure his stories, the use of dialogue and the many original characters. I was also impressed by films like The Godfather, The Deer Hunter, and films by Martin Scorsese. Ridley Scott, I like because he is one of those few male directors who also made films about interesting, strong, independent and profound FEMALE protagonists. Growing up in Denmark, I did have one female role model which is Susanne Bier who went on to direct the Golden Globe and Oscar-winning film In a Better World, Netflix’s Bird Box, and HBO series The Undoing. She showed us girls and women that it could be done.
I have also found Michael Haneke’s film very inspiring because he, like me, often deal with taboos and very difficult subjects.
How did film festivals, filmmaking competitions, fellowships, etc. play a role in your career?
They have only recently come into play because when I finished film school in Denmark (I attended the European Film College in 2003/2004), festivals were not really a thing for young directors. I had my showreel on Betacam tape – imagine that! This was before social media and before Filmfreeway. You made short films to put them on your reel and your CV, not to send them to festivals. So, in the last few years, I have started to explore the world of festivals and competitions, and I say explore because it is somewhat of a jungle with many opportunities for failure. The market seems completely saturated both in terms of films and in terms of festivals. The bigger festivals that do screenings, round tables, markets, workshops, etc. can be of tremendous value to the filmmaker. However, the endless amount of monthly online festivals will not do much more than take your submission fee and give you a pair of laurel. Maybe that is what you are going for, but it will not advance your career.
The pandemic has greatly affected the entertainment industry. How did it affect your side of things?
For me, the pandemic has been a good thing. It gave me more time and it made me realize the importance of global connections and networking. It made it possible for me to do a short film in remote and go on a journey I never otherwise would have imagined to do. I know a lot of people have suffered because of the pandemic, but I was one of the fortunate people who was not affected in a negative way. One of the good things that came out of the pandemic is that the industry is now more open to hybrid ways of working. Working from home and being more flexible when it comes to online meetings is something that, in my opinion, has been a positive change.
There couldn’t be a more perfect time to be a female filmmaker in the entertainment industry. What were the monumental life lessons, mistakes, and things you’ve learned throughout your career?
Like so many other women, I also have my MeToo experiences, and I hope, with continued awareness, we will see these experiences drastically reduce in the future. I see so many young women being aware of the situation, knowing their worth, fighting for their rights, and standing up and challenging the patriarchy. I love seeing that, and I hope we will keep fighting until we have complete equality. I have always been a feminist at heart, but when I grew up, I never felt supported by society or felt that I had a platform to speak about that. This is why I am now passionate about helping female filmmakers, and I am an active member of several female promoting organizations within the film industry.
Together with one of the producers of The Pill, Elaine Roberts, I also founded a group called The Leading Ladies which is a series of meetings for the female members of “The Entertainment Industry Collaborators” (The Facebook group in which The Pill was created). Our intention was to create a safe space for debate, help, support, and inspiration. We have had such inspiring guests as Starr Parodi, President of the Alliance for Women Film Composers, Emmy-nominated film composer Miriam Cutler, and Sundance award-winning director Diane Bell. Anyone can join “The Entertainment Industry Collaborators” on Facebook, and all women are welcome to participate in our Leading Ladies meetings which are always held the second Wednesday of the month.
What do you think the future of filmmaking would look like? What kind of stories do you think will emerge and capture the attention of producers and executives?
We already now see a tendency to go towards more female-driven stories and also more diverse stories in general which is wonderful. I really hope this will be the new norm and not just a current trend. We all deserve to see ourselves reflected on the big screen and be able to identify with characters and situations.
What’s your advice to aspiring filmmakers who want to break into the entertainment industry?
Have patience and passion. Patience because it takes a long time to create a name and to break into an industry that is already saturated. Even with great talent you still need some amount of luck and being in the right place at the right time (the good news is you can increase your good luck by working hard). Passion because that is what will keep driving you forward.
On a more practical level, I would recommend young filmmakers to reach out to more experienced filmmakers and ask them for help, advice and guidance. Maybe someone will even mentor you. Get involved with filmmaker communities (whether it’s online or in your local community) and do all the networking you can possibly do.
And lastly, I would of course recommend them to buy my book about remote filmmaking which is intended for young filmmakers. I am currently doing the last finishing touches on the book, and hopefully, it will be out at the beginning of next year.
What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind as a filmmaker?
I have a tagline, I use for my email signature, social media, website, etc. It’s one sentence that describes the kind of films I make, and I hope my audience will agree with that:
“My films turn taboos into dinner table conversations”
I aspire to be a filmmaker that creates debate and challenges people’s way of thinking. I also hope to be known as a woman who fights for women’s rights and opportunities.
Do you have other upcoming projects you want to share with us?
I am currently creating and hosting a series of conversations that showcases inspiring women with very different backgrounds who have overcome great obstacles in their life and/or who are fighting for a change of the narrative. The series can be found on the streaming platform XOTV and is called Changing The Narrative.
As I mentioned before, I am also finishing a book on remote filmmaking where I explain in detail how you, as an indie filmmaker, can do a film production remotely. I go through the entire process of the production and end with some first-hand impressions and small interviews with some of the cast and crew of The Pill and other Hollywood film industry professionals.
My next film project is an all-female-cast feature film called Sisterhood. It is a mystery horror film that ALL women will want to watch.
If you want to know more about my previous or upcoming projects you can go to my website: www.louisebrix.com. And if you are interested in seeing behind the scenes videos from The Pill you can find a link at www.linktr.ee/louisebrixa.
