Priscilla Cameron is a writer and director whose short films have won awards, screened in national and international festivals, and have been sold nationally and internationally. “The Butterfly Tree” is Cameron’s debut film as writer and director. In 2014, it was one of the final 10 feature projects to be selected for the Berlinale Talent project, a networking platform for outstanding creatives in the fields of film and drama with thousands of applicants from all over the world.
“The Butterfly Tree” will premiere at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10.
W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.
PC: A tale of competing desires and the sacrificial nature of love depicted through a visually lush magical realism aesthetic.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
PC: The story seed came to me as two separate visions. The first vision was of a young boy sitting alone on the stone steps of an old building waiting for his goddess, an older woman, to return but she never did, and the second was of him flying through the forest hugging a bright green throbbing cicada.
The story grew out of asking, “Who is this boy, who is his goddess, why is he waiting for her, and what is his connection to these insect fantasies?”
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?
PC: How they are going to live whatever time they have on this earth with vitality and vibrancy.
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
PC: Achieving the look and feel of the film with a very limited budget.
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.
PC: The film was funded using Australian film agency government funds and private finance.
W&H: What does it mean for you to have your film play at the Toronto International Film Festival?
PC: We are absolutely thrilled to launch “The Butterfly Tree” internationally at such a prestigious festival. It is an honor to be selected for Toronto and we look forward to embracing the opportunities that this level of exposure offers.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
PC: Best advice: Do your best. Your best is good enough. And also fear it and do it anyway.
I’m sure I’ve been given some terrible advice over the years but have chosen not to focus on it and therefore can’t remember it now.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
PC: Share your passion. Honor, nurture, and respect fellow creatives. Prepare thoroughly and lean into your spirit without fear.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
PC: “American Honey” by Andrea Arnold because it appears she leans into her spirit absolutely without fear and explores both the emotional and visceral journey in each scene.
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.
PC: Focus on creating great screen stories, doing good work, and inspiring fellow female directors to do the same. Share information, support each other, create and support initiatives that work towards shifting this imbalance, and eventually the opportunities for women will increase.
