“The most important thing is to get films made because you can’t get better if you’re not working,” says director Mary Harron in the video above, produced by Stony Brook University in partnership with Indiewire.
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Harron talks about collaborating with producer Christine Vachon and Killer Films on projects such as “I Shot Andy Warhol” and “The Notorious Bettie Page.” Earlier this year, Vachon was appointed Graduate Director of Stony Brook’s Master of Fine Arts film program.
“Christine’s philosophy that we adapt the aesthetic of the film to fit the budget was a huge inspiration to me,” says Harron, who will be a visiting guest lecturer at the Stony Brook/Killer Films new MFA in Film Master Class in Independent Film Production on September 15. This will be an Open Classroom / Open House at Stony Brook Manhattan for prospective students interested in applying for Fall 2016. RSVP is required: MFAManhattan@stonybrook.edu.
Harron’s recent productions include the TV movie “Anna Nicole” and feature film “The Moth Diaries.” She directed “The Notorious Bettie Page” and the international hit “American Psycho,” which she adapted from Brett Easton Ellis’ notorious bestseller and received a nomination for Director of the Year by the London Film Critics Circle.
Harron made her debut as a feature-film writer-director in 1996 with “I Shot Andy Warhol.” The film won star Lili Taylor a Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival and garnered an Independent Spirit Award nomination for best first feature film. It was also chosen to open the “Un Certain Regard” section of the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. Harron has also directed episodes of many acclaimed television series including “Homicide,” “Oz,” “The L Word,” “Six Feet Under” and “Big Love.”
In the above video she also takes on the issue of ageism. “I just never worried about age – even though everyone says it’s a young person’s game, you have to be your 20s. I just don’t believe that. Frankly, if you want to do it. I just felt I could never afford to listen to that or take that stuff seriously,” she says.
To learn more about the Stony Brook program, click here.
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