Golden Nuggets from Nashville Film Festival

Nashville’s 43rd Film Festival, rated one of the 10 best film festivals in the country, is currently playing in town, so I enjoyed a media pass with photo op to visit one of the top panel discussions today. Nicole Kidman joined actors-turned-directors Famke Janssen, Beth Grant and Carrie Preston to discuss The Evolution of Women Behind the Camera.

These four talented women expressed some wonderful gems, and gave an honest look at life as actor/producer/director in an industry where men have traditionally held the top positions. As a fellow Aussie, I share a kindred spirit with Kidman, who also now resides in Nashville with her country music star husband, Keith Urban.

Their credits are impressive. Nicole Kidman (producer and Academy Award winning actor); Famke Janssen (“Golden Eye,” “X-Men” Trilogy); Beth Grant (“Sordid Lives,” “The Artist,” “A Time to Kill,” “Speed”); Carrie Preston (“True Blood,” “Doubt,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding”).

Let me share some of their golden nuggets…

Nicole Kidman:

“I want (to work with) someone who is sensitive, so I can feel brave.”

“Find mentors. Find people who believe in you, to help you through the tough times.”

“You’ve just got to try stuff. Just keep going – it’s your story.”

“I want to play women who push the boundaries, whose stories otherwise wouldn’t be told.”



Carrie Preston:

“The margin of error is very small when you’re a woman.”

“Don’t give your power away to anybody. Now, more than ever, people can create their own thing. Just start doing it (filmmaking or whatever).”

Famke Janssen:

“I encourage everyone to explore every part of themselves. In Indie films the only thing we can do is let actors play roles they would normally never get to do.”

“Everything is an opportunity. What you do with that opportunity is up to you. Don’t let people box you in.”

“It’s really important to stay true to yourself. You have to be highly creative all the time. There is no one path to anything.”

Beth Grant:

“I try to get my ego out of the way, and seek to serve others and bless them. How can I help this actor, producer, crew tell their story today?”

“Yes, and…is a better philosophy than arguing.”

“As artists we have so much energy, we can’t just have an ordinary career. We need to do so much more!”