Lisa Immordino Vreeland is an award-winning director whose credits include “Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel” and “Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict.”
“Love, Cecil” premiered at the 2017 DOC NYC film festival on November 12.
W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.
LIV: This is a film about Cecil Beaton, one of the great polymaths of the 20th Century. His sense of the visual dictated a style that set standards of creativity that continue to resonate and inspire today. Despite his feeling of being an outsider, he achieved everything he set out to do.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
LIV: Beaton’s creative breadth is what drew me in instantly. The pace with which he created throughout his life was relentless and ultimately he would sacrifice everything at the altar of creativity.
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?
LIV: I always want people to feel that they can dig deep within themselves to find the strength to achieve whatever they want. Beaton certainly did that!
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
LIV: We wanted to be sure to hit on the most important historical facts of Beaton’s life and include all the relevant archival material. With a career and life so full it was difficult at times to decide what we were going to cover in the film.
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.
LIV: Our film was funded through a variety of sources: a pre buy from a film studio, my own personal investment and other investments, and donations through Women Make Movies. We have had a very strong team of executive producers who have helped us in many ways.
W&H: What does it mean for you to have your film play at DOC NYC?
LIV: The whole team is thrilled! Beaton had an important and vibrant career in New York so it is especially important to be able to celebrate him here with a New York audience.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
LIV: I just try to work with my gut instinct and after each film there is always a takeaway — it can be creative or something having to do with production. Whatever I learn in a past film, whether good or bad, I always carry over to the next film
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
LIV: To believe in yourself and just go after what you want and whatever project you want to pursue.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
LIV: I am a fan of Lina Wertmüller’s films, both “Swept Away” and “Seven Beauties.” She dealt with subjects about power and class struggle in an unexpected way and I became instantly hooked.
W&H: There have been significant conversations over the last couple of years about increasing the amount of opportunities for women directors yet the numbers have not increased. Are you optimistic about the possibilities for change? Share any thoughts you might have on this topic.
LIV: In the past years when I have made my films I have never encountered an issue with my being a woman director. What is important is to make a good movie and to keep moving forward and have complete belief in the film that you are developing.
