PASSAGES
Directed By: Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre
Indie Express: Tell us about your film?
Marie-Josée: My film is an Animated Documentary film called PASSAGES which talks about the horrific birth experience my daughter Fiona & I experienced.
It’s a 25 minutes black and white film finished on 35mm.
IE: How did you come up with the idea for the film?
Marie-Josée: I started to work on the film when I was pregnant with Fiona and I wanted to make an animation on motherhood and how it changes your life to have a baby. Then, when I almost lost my little angel, I could not pass up this opportunity and make a film about it. I am lucky that I am a filmmaker and I have to the tools (filmmaking) to express myself and communicate my story. I am aware I am not the only mother who experienced such birthing difficulties and a brush with an incompetent health care system. This film is for my daughter and all of those woman and their babies that have experienced similar nightmare scenarios.
IE: How did you assemble your production team?
Marie-Josée: I have been working with the same team that I used on my previous film MCLAREN’S NEGATIVES.
IE: How did you find your cast?
Marie-Josée: The film is about myself and my daughter so we are the cast…
IE: How long did the film take? (From conception to final edit)
Marie-Josée: It went pretty fast, for an animated film, it was made in 1 year.
IE: Tell us a little about your process of directing (writing) this film.
Marie-Josée: It was really hard for me to make this film because I was, everyday for a year, recalling the most traumatic experience of my life. But I am extremely happy I made this film because I have come to peace with this experience… The most important thing to me is that my daughter is alive!
IE: What was the most difficult part of the shoot for you?
Marie-Josée: Being so personal and opening myself like this to the audience.
IE: Any particular moments from filming that stand out for you?
Marie-Josée: I like the sequence where my grandmothers come to hell to save my daughter and I from death…
IE: Tell us about the film’s festival experience so far?
Marie-Josée: The film has been screened at couple of film festivals, opening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2008 and PASSAGES got 2 awards in other film festivals.
IE: What are you most looking forward to at the AFI festival?
Marie-Josée: Unfortunately I cannot be there because I am in Japan right now for a 3 months artist residency in Sapporo.
IE: What has been your most interesting Q&A so far? What was your favorite question? How was the dialogue afterwards?
Marie-Josée: I have never been to any of my screenings for PASSAGES because I have always been overseas… But in a sense, I think I would feel a little bit strange standing in front of an audience who knows so much about my personal life…
IE: What films or filmmakers inspire you?
Marie-Josée: Animated films that are unique and documentaries that stand out!
IE: What made you decide to become a filmmaker?
Marie-Josée: I have always wanted to be a filmmaker and I cannot rationalize why!!? Norman McLaren has always been a great source of inspiration for me…
IE: What is next for you?
Marie-Josée: There is a feature-length sequel to PASSAGES as I am writing an animated documentary film called FEMELLES (FEMALES) that documents women in their 30s, from the X generation, who have babies - and how this changes their lives.
I am in Japan right now for a three-month artist residency in Sapporo, making a short animated film on a Japanese calligrapher named Gazambo Higuchi.
IE: What is next for the film?
Marie-Josée: Many other film festivals screenings, I hope!!!
IE: If asked to give one piece of advice to a new filmmaker making their first short film… What would it be?
Marie-Josée: Trust your instinct and don’t let anyone tell you you cannot do this! You have the vision…