My Chat With Orphans Director Ry Russo-Young - Page 3

No, I don’t think the movie is stronger because of Lily’s death. I know that Lily was really proud of her hard work in the film and that we all had a magical time making the movie. The character she plays in the movie (Rosie) is struggling to survive in some sense and it’s a life/art coincidence that her sudden and horrible death came so close to the film’s premiere at SXSW film festival.

Orphans is a film that can mean so much to so many people, but what does it mean to you?

It’s a very personal film that has meant different things to me at different times in my life. When I was writing the film, I was thinking of my relationship with my older sister and of the loss of childhood, a loss of innocence. As we made the movie the theme of survival (in the storm, in the adult world) became more prevalent. Since Lily’s death, the meaning of the movie changed yet again for me to one of memory. To be honest, it’s still difficult for me to watch and discuss the film because a part of me still can’t believe she’s dead.

Talk a little about working with James Katharine Flynn.

James is always completely present and has a hawk-like attention. The camera loves her face and there were so many times when I would just watch her in close-up and be amazed by the subtle energy and light emanating from her eyes and her face.

What other projects do you have that we can look forward to?

I just finished my next film called You Won’t Miss Me. It’s about Shelly Brown, a 23-year-old alienated urban misfit recently released from a psychiatric hospital. Stella Schnabel plays Shelly Brown and gives a very raw performance. We shot on five different formats: HD, 16mm, DV and Super-8 so that the film feels more like a documentary than a traditional narrative. The structure of You Won’t Miss Me is thematic rather than linear. The film will be playing at the Sundance Film Festival this January!

Who are some of the filmmakers that have influenced you?

Article Author: Jordan Richardson

Jordan Richardson is a Canadian freelance writer and ne'er-do-well. He writes stuff here and here.

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