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Your new movie
Inheritance - in a few words, what's it
about?
Inheritance is about two estranged sisters, Lucy and Paige, who reunite to bury their father, becoming
entangled in the complicated web of their past as they realize they've inherited more from their father than
just money.
How did the project fall together in the first place, and what made
you decide to direct it?
Rachel and Austin, who came up with the story idea, brought a first draft to me very early on in the
process. When I read it, a lot of the story resonated with me personally as a sister and as someone who
has seen family inheritance complicate relationships. I wanted to direct it because I felt like Rachel wrote
a wonderful script that illustrated a unique sibling dynamic that isn't often explored in
film/TV, and I wanted
to see Rachel and Austin step into those roles.
What can you tell us about
Inheritance's writers
(and leads) Rachel Noll James [Rachel
Noll James interview - click here] and Austin Highsmith Garces, and what was your
collaboration like?
I've known Austin for years, so when she introduced me to Rachel and they told me about this story, it was
an easy "yes." Austin and Rachel are both talented actresses and, as a director, it's always exciting to
work with talent that you know can really deliver on the material. They've been great creative allies and
collaborators over the years and have both become close friends. We all work well together because we
want what's best for the project. There has always been a mutual respect for each other and the work which led
to a very safe and creatively fulfilling experience.
To what extent could you personally identify with the
conflicts erupting in your movie? I'm the oldest of two girls, so sister stories are always interesting to me. My sister and I weren't always
close. We're different in a lot of ways and didn't have a true friendship until we were in our mid-twenties
after having some hard conversations. I identified with Lucy and Paige's struggle to connect, even though
it's clear they both yearn to have a better relationship. I also identified with the unique dynamic that exists
between the sisters where Lucy, the younger sibling, has been "taking care of" Paige her whole life. I
don't have this dynamic with my sister, but I've watched it play out with others I know. It’s a very
complicated and layered relationship, especially when a family inheritance is involved.
Do talk about your
overall directorial approach to your story at hand!
I really prioritize getting to know the script backwards and forwards so that by the time I’m shooting I’m
not bound to a physical script or sides. This frees me up on set and allows me to fully engage with what’s
happening right in front of me. Deeply knowing the script (both structure and dialogue) is also a huge
asset in the edit. Seeing the structure in my head allows me to play with moving moments around in post,
but also restructuring or adapting on set if something arises or an actor has a new idea or instinct.
Another thing I like to do is draw out mini-storyboards as my shot lists. This helps me see how the shots
will cut together and know that I’ve got all of the pieces I need to tell the story. What
can you tell us about
Inheritance's key cast, and why exactly these
people? Our two leads, Austin and Rachel, have been with the project since its inception. It was after meeting in
an acting class and often being mistaken for each other on stage that they decided to come up with a
story where they could play sisters. Because
Inheritance was written from experiences we’ve collectively
had, it’s always felt personal. Austin has always been our “Paige” and Rachel our “Lucy”. Their shared
history of friendship and with this story deepened their connection on screen. To round out our core cast,
we looked to talented actors we already knew and loved – Chris Mulkey, Wes Brown, Michelle Hurd,
Brian McNamara, to name a few. The realism that comes through in their performances is no doubt
influenced by the friendships and bonds shared off-screen. A few words about the shoot as such, and the
on-set atmosphere? We were shooting on a literal island, so it was a bit like movie summer camp. We were also dealing with
heavy subject matter on a lot of the days, so we tried to keep things light when possible between takes
and set-ups. And as with most independent projects we were being ambitious with what we were trying to
accomplish on our schedule so that brought a level of stress and focus.
The $64-question of course, where can
Inheritance be seen?
Right now we are showcasing the film at film festivals so if we happen to be in one of your cities, please
come out and support us at a screening! Beyond that, we're in early conversations with distributors to find
the best way to get
Inheritance to the widest audience possible. We're hoping for some combination
of a small theatrical run and streaming, but that's still to be determined. The best thing to do is follow us
on our socials to keep up with news and updates!
Anything you can tell us about audience and critical
reception of your movie yet? Both audience and critical response have been amazing. We've had a few early reviews come in that
have been very complimentary of the performances and the overall emotional depth of the film. Following
our premiere screening so many people came up to us to tell us how much the film moved them. They
wanted to talk about specific moments or characters and, to me, that's a sign that they were fully
invested. My favorite response, though, has been how many people have told us days after seeing the
film that they're still thinking about it. That's a high compliment. Any future projects you'd
like to share?
I have a few feature projects that I'm working on, but I'm hoping that the next season brings some work in
television my way. I've been working on a few show ideas that I'd love to see come to life, but also I'd love
to direct episodes of TV. That's a big goal of mine. What got you into filmmaking in the first
place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?
I did theater as a kid and was always performing, always telling stories. Growing up I wanted to be an
actor, but then in high school I started making films for class projects and being behind the camera
piqued my interest. After high school, I majored in film production with a minor in theater at TCU in Fort
Worth, TX. So, yes, there was some early training in college, but I'd say my real training didn't really begin
until I moved to LA and started working in the industry. I spent my first five years in LA working at
20th
Century Fox Studios, first in television development then physical feature film production then visual
effects. I was getting exposed to all sides of the industry, and it took me a few more years to figure out
that I was at my best and happiest when I was on set. After producing a few award-winning shorts, I
wrote and directed my own short, Drink, which became my visual calling card and got me my first paid
directing job.
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What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to
Inheritance?
Prior to
Inheritance I was directing a lot in the holiday movie space. I’ve had a lot of fun and great success
directing in that world, but I had been wanting to do a more dramatic piece for a while.
Inheritance was a
refreshing experience for me in many ways because it’s subject matter and material that I wasn’t getting a
chance to direct. I’m happy to show that I can do warm and cozy “happily ever after” rom-coms as well as
more character-based emotional stories. I think it was important as a director to stretch a new muscle and
challenge myself. Prior to directing, I was working for various networks and studios in both development
and production capacities. I even had jobs in casting and visual effects. I was really trying to build my
skills in a variety of areas so that when I got into directing/producing, I’d have a working base knowledge
of the various stages of getting a project made. Those early jobs have proven invaluable and have given
me a great understanding of the intersection between the art and business of filmmaking.
Going through your filmography, one can't but notice that
you've done more than your fair share of Christmas movies - to ask quite
bluntly, why is that?
To answer bluntly, that's who was hiring me! :) I never set out to do so many Christmas movies, but after
the success of a few of my early holiday films I kept getting called each year to do another one. I also
started writing holiday movies as well, which expanded the work I was doing in that space. I've been able
to work with some incredible talent because so many people want to do a Christmas movie. How would you describe yourself as
a director? I’m collaborative, caring, and well-prepared. I strive to lead and motivate from a place of inclusion and find
a good balance of work and play on set. I work well with actors and do my best to provide them with a
certain level of freedom within a structured, safe environment. And I think I’m good at pivoting when
things don’t go as planned which is a given in filmmaking! Another thing I do is learn the script backwards
and forwards so that the movie is fully in my head. Knowing the lines, beats, and structure helps me
tremendously both on set and in the edit. Filmmakers who inspire you?
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Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, and Chris Columbus were some early sources of
inspiration. Guillermo Del Toro and Ridley Scott are some others that spring to mind. Certainly, women
like Penny Marshall, Nora Ephron, and Betty Thomas paved the way for female directors. Garry Marshall
was an early mentor of mine who taught me countless lessons. There are so many current filmmakers
doing incredible work that it would be impossible for me to list everyone I’m watching and loving now! Your
favourite movies? This is like asking me to choose between my children! It’s too hard to choose. Some of my all-time
favorites include Rear Window and Jaws. They were films that made me want to learn more about how
movies were made and who was behind making them. ... and of course, films you really
deplore?
I don’t know that I feel comfortable bashing any particular movie. Once you’ve gone through the process
of trying to get a movie made you understand how difficult it is. I tip my hat to anyone out there who is
trying to tell a story, even if it sometimes misses the mark. Your/your movie's website, social media,
whatever else?
Inheritance Instagram: @inheritancefilm2024
Inheritance Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inheritancefilm2024
My Instagram: @emilymosswilson
My Twitter: @emosswilson Anything else you're dying to mention and
I have merely forgotten to ask?
I wish it were easier to get independent films made and distributed. The path is so arduous and unclear,
and I think we’d see such an emergence of wonderful talent and storytelling if we didn’t make the hoops
so hard to jump through. Thanks for the interview!
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