We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nancy Boyd a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nancy, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I believe that stories about fairies and baking cakes for loved ones are just as important as big stuffy dramas where men explore and the films win a billion oscars. Glitter, whimsy, and laughter have a place, and I don’t think it’s frivolous to enjoy it and it. Especially when the kinds of stories that are seen as “fluff” are often stories told by and about women. I used to think that I had to change the kind of storyteller I was to be heard. Then, going to graduate school at USC, I was told that my voice is what makes me a storyteller. Trying to squash myself into another mold to appease people and feel important was hindering myself as an artist. So I gained confidence in myself as an artist by leaning into that and being the most “Nancycore” version of myself I could be and letting my art show it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As a filmmaker, I’m interested in telling stories centered around women, especially ones discovering their confidence and sexuality. Even in the dramatic moments, I need laughter in my life. It’s how I communicate! So I would definitely describe myself as a comedic director with a love for all things whimsy. Right now, I’m in post production for a feature film about vaginal health called Lady Parts written by Bonnie Gross. I’m really excited to show this movie and bring light to something that we are so afraid to talk about as a society. Like Mary Poppins said, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” So we made a comedy about the topic to get people’s awareness.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One quality that I’m glad I gained growing up doing theatre is a collaborative spirit. I know that no matter what position I am on set, I’m just one piece of it. Listening to other people’s expertise only helps the project, so keep your ego out of it and hear your team out. I’ve always learned how to gracefully get rejected, which I would encourage anyone in film to learn early on. It will always hurt, and I don’t know if you need thick skin like they say. Go have a cry, but then get back to it and make them sorry they said no to you. Another skill I’m happy to have learned is how to speak up for myself. Admittedly, I think it’s something that I will have to work on cultivating my whole life, growing up in the world we live in as a woman. But when I really stick to my vision and fight for it or fight for my needs or the needs of my crew, I know that I’m on the right track to reprogramming my brain against our culture and telling myself “it’s good to have an opinion and you’re allowed to take up space”.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
They still let me borrow their camera after my best friend Meghan and I broke the fridge trying to film an MTV cribs parody in middle school.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/fancypantsynancy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancypantsynancy/
Image Credits
Black and white photo: Khayman Brunswick Shot of Doctor: DP Olaa Olabi Shot of Woman with Toaster: DP Khayman Brunswick Shot of Woman with Fan: DP Khayman Brunswick Shot of Woman with Teddy Bear: DP Meg Weck
