Sophie Brooks’ first short film, “Malcolm,” won second place at NYU’s New Visions and Voices Festival. Her subsequent film, “Maple Leaves,” premiered at The Palm Springs International Short Film Festival in 2014. “The Boy Downstairs” is her first feature.
“The Boy Downstairs” will premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival on April 23.
W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.
SB: The film’s about a young woman who moves back to New York and inadvertently moves into her ex-boyfriend’s apartment building. This close proximity makes her reexamine a relationship she thought was in the past.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
SB: I was excited to explore quite personal themes and feelings in the romantic comedy genre.
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?
SB: I hope people leave feeling inspired to be a little braver in love and life. I hope that they relate to the complicated feelings that can accompany first love.
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
SB: It’s a little scary to put yourself out there creatively; trusting that I was making the right decisions was a challenge.
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got the film made.
SB: My producers already had a relationship with our financiers, Motion Picture Capital. We showed them the script, and they fortunately decided to fully fund it. I know how lucky I am to have gotten their support so early on.
W&H: What does it mean for you to have your film play at Tribeca?
SB: It feels pretty special. I went to film school at NYU, we filmed the movie in New York, and the movie is inspired by my time living in the city, so to be premiering at Tribeca feels like the perfect fit.
It’s an incredibly supportive festival, and their selection of the film feels like some validation that I’m on the right track.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
SB: Best advice: To wear comfortable shoes. I also go by most things that my NYU professor Yemane Demissie tells me.
I don’t remember the worst advice I’ve gotten.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
SB: I find that as a woman in film — and in life — you sometimes have to voice your opinion multiple times to get your point across. So do that. Keep voicing your opinion until it’s really heard. And don’t give up on what’s truly important to you and your story. Also, hire nice and respectful people.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
SB: It’s probably “Something’s Gotta Give” by Nancy Meyers. I also adore Nora Ephron.
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.
SB: I think the independent film world is more supportive of women, but there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to studio films.
I think the problem is that not a lot of women — if any — get on the initial lists for a lot of studio movies. We need the people at the top to make an effort to get more women and people of color on those lists so they can be more consistently considered.
