Q & A with Grace Rowe

Grace Rowe is the writer/producer/actress/editor of I AM THAT GIRL

DisOrient: After watching your film, it seemed like almost two different films in one. I liked the change in tone from the city to the mountains. What inspired you to take the story and scenery from L.A. to the Sierras?

Grace: "I Am That Girl" is meant to reflect the dichotomy of two clashing worlds – the city life that is prone to worldly afflictions (consumption, self-absorption, desire, greed, competition), and the natural world that embraces a quieter existence (reflection, peace, innocence, and connection with nature.) I wrote the story with this in mind – I really wanted to juxtapose these two worlds that are so geographically close to each other yet so different in nature. I also grew up going to Yosemite every year since I was a child so I knew the valley like the back of my hand and I knew the beautiful places I could shoot. Years ago, I also had an amazing experience going to Yosemite by myself after a friend had to flake and I spent a lot of time realizing how beautiful life was in its simplicity. Things can be so complicated when you live in the city when you're trying to get ahead and the time you spend in nature can be very humbling and it reminds you that you can be happy without all the other stuff that we really don't need. Plus it takes me back to innocence- to my childhood.

DisOrient: In your writer's statement, you said that Maxine's character was inspired by one of your friends. What aspects of Maxine's character is inspired by your life experiences?

Grace: In my writer's statement, I did say that Maxine's character was inspired by one of my friend's story. Which is true, but it was also inspired by a relative's story who is quite young and already in a great deal of credit card debt from shopping at Saks too much. As far as Maxine being close to me, I always thought we were quite different although there are some aspects that are similar. I did "prepare" for the role by practicing alcoholism a bit (drinking lots of Cosmopolitans!) and she also has a certain desire for love and affection that is also a part of me. And as I mentioned earlier, that one trip I went to Yosemite by myself really changed who I was at that time. I felt very small sitting at the top of Glacier Point looking at the view of the mountains and the valley and it made me realize what was important in life.

DisOrient: How did you come up with the title I AM THAT GIRL?

Grace: "I Am That Girl" was actually a title that my very good friend (who also plays Noah in the film) came up with. The film was originally called "Licking The Earth," which is based on a quote from Pascal about people's obsession with their worldly desires. I quickly realized that the title was too ambiguous and too heady. My friend (Pedro Pascal) came up with the title after reading the script and realizing that the phrase comes up several times in the film. I immediately fell in love with the title because it was different and it also represents Maxine's ultimate change of identity.

DisOrient: I was impressed that you took on so many roles in the making of this film (writer, producer, actor, editor, maybe more?) Is that what you mean by a "truly independent" film? What defines independence for you?

Grace: Yes, I took on many hats making this film – really out of necessity. Beyond the usual production roles, I also learned how to use Photoshop, how to make motion graphics and titles, how to do special effects, how to create and mix music, how to sound design and sound mix, how to do my own publicity, how to build websites, how to author dvds, how to do my business taxes...you name it, I learned it. This is because I'm sort of a techno computer geek and because I couldn't afford for anyone else who was better qualified than me to do it. So yes, that defines independence for me, but also independence means not having any star names to help fund your film and not having any outside studio money (or likewise!) to make your film. This was truly a DIY movie from beginning to end and it probably will stay that way all the way through my hybrid distribution plans.

DisOrient: As your first feature film, what lessons did you learn and what do you hope the audience gets from your film?

Grace: Oh the lessons. So many and so many I don't really want to recount ever. I would have to say the biggest lesson I learned is one that I shouldn't had to have learned since I was taught by many mentors to do this, and that is you must check references. Many of them. It doesn't matter what the position is- it could be your craft service helper. You just have to make sure people are reliable and trustworthy. I had a few bad seeds although most of our crew was amazing, hardworking, and extremely talented.

As far as what I hope the audience gets? I hope it reminds them of what matters in life- the simple things like nature, family, friends, love. I hope it inspires them to find out what makes them happy and pursue it instead of chasing things they think will make them happy like a huge house they have no need for or eight hundred dollar purses, for that matter. I hope it makes them want to go on a trip to the mountains. I hope it will make them want to fall in love.

DisOrient: Out of curiosity, what would you have done differently in making I AM THAT GIRL if money wasn't an object?

Grace: I don't know. That's a hard question to ask. Sometimes I wonder if money isn't the reason why there are so many terrible big-budget movies. Sure, I would have liked to have a bigger crew but then sometimes you have a lot of people who are just there for the money. The majority of my key crew was there because they believed in the project. I would have liked to have paid them more and all the people who worked for free – I wish I could have paid them. I also did write the script with the budget in mind because I knew I wanted to shoot the film without waiting for outside investors. So if I re-wrote the script with the thought that I had more money, for sure there would have been a helicopter scene. (Grace smiles online here)

DisOrient: I have only seen the trailer of your successful short "American Seoul," but it seems that it was a project that also showcased your writing/acting talents. What inspires you to write/produce films? What are your upcoming projects?

Grace: "American Seoul" (watch it online at http://www.americanseoul.com) was my first feature script that I wrote that was based on my one-woman show, "The Grid Life" (watch excerpts online at http://www.gracerowe.com/thegridlife.html). So my inspiration to write and produce my own films came long before I starting making them when I was an actress in college frustrated by the lack of strong parts for me to play because I was Asian. I wrote my one-woman show out of my desire to play many different kinds of characters and when that show was a critical success I decided to write it as a feature because in L.A., that's what you do since nobody sees plays out here. After a few years of unsuccessfully finding funds for American Seoul, I got frustrated again and wrote a movie I knew I could produce. I never thought of myself before as a filmmaker- I always just thought I was an actress, but now that's not the case. My mother said she always knew that I would produce because when I was seven and she asked me if I only wanted to be an actress I said, "No, I want to be a producer because that's where all the power is." So I guess it was in my cards since I was a kid!

As far as upcoming projects go, I have a lot of things that are in the works that have been on hiatus for a bit since the festival circuit is taking up most of my time right now for "I Am That Girl." I've recently written a bunch of scripts (some that I'm hoping to sell rather than produce) and I'm working on one right now that I'm hoping to direct and also star in. It's something I've wanted to do forever which is sort of based on my life as the lifetime over-achiever who struggles as an actress because of the limitations created by Hollywood. I think it's very pertinent to how many Asian Americans feel- why can't we be represented in leading roles in film and television- we're the leading actors in our own lives, after all! But that's a whole other story that I won't get into here...

You can read about my other projects on my company's website: http://www.idylwildpictures.com

DisOrient: Is there anything else you'd like to add about I AM THAT GIRL?

Grace: I hope you will all be able to catch the film at the Disorient Film Festival, and if not, please join our mailing list at http://www.iamthatgirlmovie.com and we'll keep you updated for other screenings and when the movie will be available on DVD. And if you do get a chance to see the film in Eugene, please say hello to me at the film fest!