Marina Zenovich is an Emmy-winning filmmaker whose credits include “Independent’s Day,” “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,” and “Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic.”
“Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind” will premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival on January 19.
W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.
MZ: It’s a funny and heartbreaking documentary about comedian and actor Robin Williams.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
MZ: I’m a fan of his and thought he had a compelling story to tell. I also wanted to know more about him.
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?
MZ: I want people to really appreciate Robin for all that he was — I think they do that already, but I’ve heard that people who see the film really appreciate him in a new way.
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
MZ: There were many but I’d say the biggest challenge was doing justice to his comedy. His comedy is so quick and in the moment. The challenge was how to capture that magic within the confines of a documentary. Getting that balance right was hard. I took a lot of time just trying different things.
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.
MZ: It was funded by HBO.
W&H: What does it mean for you to have your film play at Sundance?
MZ: No matter how long you have been in the business a call from Sundance is a call from Sundance! It means a lot.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
MZ: The best advice I got was early in my career and came from Steven Soderbergh, who I met through my first documentary, “Independent’s Day.” He said, “You’re only in competition with yourself.” That has stuck with me.
The worst advice was probably something stupid like “Don’t join the DGA.” I didn’t take that advice.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
MZ: I think this advice works for all genders: Never ever, ever give up. Make it happen. It is a great time to be a female filmmaker these days — for the first time in a long time, if ever.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
MZ: That’s a tough one! One of my favorites is Agnès Jaoui’s “The Taste of Others,” which just spoke to me at a certain period of my life when I was spending a lot of time in France.
I love the acting, smart writing, and themes of identity and belonging — I just love the film.
W&H: Hollywood is in the midst of undergoing a major transformation. Many women and some men in the industry are speaking publicly about their experiences of being assaulted and harassed. What do you think of the recently announced anti-sexual harassment Commission made up of industry leaders? Do you believe that it will help make systemic change? What do you think needs to be done to address this issue?
MZ: I think the new Commission is a great idea. Acknowledging the behavior is a good first step. Having it out in the open makes people pay more attention to how they behave.
The biggest question is, why are women so underrepresented? In the past few months we have begun to see the real reason why. Women want to work and we have a lot to say. Give us a chance.
