Arts
Emily Sheehan is an upcoming, award winning, filmmaker fresh out of the Boston University Graduate Filmmaking program, who has been featured in Variety Magazine as a filmmaker to watch. Her short film, After, won 3rd place in the Boston Redstone Film Festival in 2015. In the same year, she was awarded the $5000 Adrienne Shelley Production Grant for young female filmmakers, to make her film, Skipping Stones. Her documentary, Adaptation, also won 3rd place in the best film category for the 2016 Boston Redstone Film Festival. She is currently in post-production with her film Borderline, which explores the devastating effects of addiction. Emily is well spoken, charming, and funny. Whether you are brand new, or a seasoned veteran with the process of making film, this episode covers a lot of ground, and provides some great nuggets of practical information for filmmakers. In this conversation we delve into Emily's creative process, discussing: Emily’s journey from theater to filmmaking Developing a story idea into a screenplay As a director, exploring themes and questions Thoughts on vulnerability, nudity, addiction Short film form vs. longer narrative formats How to communicate with actors Pros and Cons of various cameras Being stranded on a desert island Links from the show: Emily's website Her director's reelEmily's film, After Boston University The Golden Compass Wheel of Time series Pan’s Labyrinth Justified t3i Alexa Canon c100 camera Emily used for After. Great camera, but not the best for low-light. Sony f3 camera used for Skipping Stones - higher dynamic range Shogun External Recorder Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera very high resolution, and versatility with the lenses DaVinci for color correcting and color grading 5d mark III has a full frame sensor MaketheFuckingFilm.com People mentioned: Bryan Sih Jan Egleson Guillermo del Toro Philip Pullman Tim Ferriss Show notes: How Emily goes from theater in High School to Filmmaking at Boston University [4:15] The art of making a short film vs. a longer/ feature length film. [9:05] Exploring the feeling of a fragile reality breaking in Emily’s film, After. [11:07 ] In short film, having one theme, and asking the audience a definitive question/s. [16:31] Emily’s latest film Borderline, exploring the impact of addiction. [18:55] Art/ filmmaking as therapy. [20:18] To be or not to be, vulnerable? [24:32] Emily’s friend, Bryan Sih, suggests interviewing people. [26:20] Trauma, body image, nudity, self acceptance. [28:13] Emily reflects on words of her mentor - filmmaker, and BU professor, Jan Egelson. [34:45] The development of Borderline’s screenplay [35:46] Breaking the story down into clear beats - Emily (and Jan’s) approach to screenwriting. [37:03 ] Emily sense of freedom while shooting her documentary, Adaptation, in China. [44.24] On directors working with, and communicating with, actors. [46 :54] Cameras, Emily’s thoughts on. [56:40] The difference between color grading, color correcting, and the Black Magic Pocket [1:00:16] Emily says, full frame is the way to go. [1:07:22] The one tv series Emily would choose were she stranded on a desert island. [1:11:05] What Emily attributes her award winning success in filmmaking to. [1:15:48] Emily’s morning routine. [1:19:02] Last thoughts on becoming a filmmaker: don’t be the tool. [1:30:03]