Pamela Romanowsky studied behavioral psychology at Macalester College, verité documentary filmmaking with Barbara Kopple, and narrative filmmaking at New York University’s MFA program. “The Adderall Diaries” is Romanowsky’s first feature film. (Tribeca Film Festival)
“The Adderall Diaries” will premiere at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival on April 16.
W&H: Please give us your description of the film playing.
PR: “The Adderall Diaries” is about Stephen Elliott, a memoir writer accused of fabricating his past by his estranged father. In an effort to avoid his problems, Stephen immerses himself in a high-profile murder case while his relationships with his girlfriend, best friend and editor fall apart around him.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
PR: I’m fascinated by memory — how it is foundational to our identities, but extremely malleable. You have these two people with very different versions of their shared history, who are working through the why of it.
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
PR: For me, it’s re-writing and editing. Both are places where it gets hard to see things objectively, to abandon something beautiful or hard-won that isn’t working and to find new ways of expressing the intention.
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?
PR: How each of us organizes our own memories and narratives — where each of us has edited and exaggerated to present a certain character, and whether that’s a character we still want to be.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
PR: Same advice for any gender: be relentless and be kind, and appreciate the hell out of the people who help you.
W&H: What’s the biggest misconception about you and your work?
PR: Hmm, I’m not sure I know that answer yet. I don’t have any Adderall on me, though.
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.
PR: Producer Vince [Jolivette] and I were introduced to our financing producers Windowseat by Alexis Garcia (of WME Global), who I met at the Sundance producing summit. I’m very grateful to him and to Windowseat for believing in and supporting the film.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
PR: Claire Denis’ “Beau Travail,” for the immersive and fascinating world and for the incredible surprise ending.
