337 Directing with Vanessa and Eric

·50 min·5 clips

Eric describes directing actors as protecting them from looking foolish, while Vanessa sees herself as a spirit guide on set.

In this episode of Strange Aeons Radio, hosts Eric and Vanessa engage in a Filmmaker's Forge segment focused on directing film. They begin by explaining their personal paths into directing: Eric started from an acting background in Idaho before moving to Seattle for film school, while Vanessa initially pursued screenwriting in England during the 2007 economic downturn but shifted to directing after a poor screenwriting class. Both describe their film school experiences, with Vanessa attending a one-year intensive program at Met Film School in Ealing Studios with basic equipment, and Eric studying at the Art Institute in Seattle. Vanessa recounts her first post-school project, the short film 'Heart', which she made after being passed over for a company-funded pitch; it became a silent film due to budget constraints and won best short at the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival. Eric discusses his early work, including music videos for the band Nightshade. The hosts delve into their directing styles: Vanessa emphasizes guiding actors emotionally and avoiding result-directed commands, while Eric focuses on creating a fun, protective environment for actors and valuing collaboration. They share on-set challenges, such as Eric's feature film incident where a grip truck damaged a car, leading to an insurance claim, and Vanessa's logistical issues with bathroom access during a park shoot. Vanessa also tells a story about creatively sourcing deer for 'Heart' by negotiating with a handler in Richmond Park. The conversation touches on pre-production methods, with Eric detailing script breakdowns and storyboarding, and Vanessa using notebooks and location photos. They discuss working with crew, highlighting the importance of trust and the difficulties of managing personalities, including instances where crew members talked behind Vanessa's back. Eric praises collaborative crew members who fill multiple roles in small productions. Reflecting on favorite projects, Eric mentions 'The Connoisseur' as a fully realized short, and Vanessa recalls the satisfaction of completing 'Heart'. They note how post-production work has improved their directing by enhancing visual storytelling skills. The episode concludes with mentions of future content, including a Lifetime movie review, and promotional calls for listeners to subscribe and support the podcast.

As heard by us

A loose, practical directing conversation where bathroom planning and deer-finding become useful production lessons.

Directing with Vanessa and Eric treats filmmaking less like a mystique and more like a string of practical calls that can make or break a day.

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Why you'd press play

Press play when you want directing talk with a bathroom logistics lesson, low-budget scrambling, and an unexpectedly useful deer lead.

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