We recently connected with Kate Rees Davies and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kate, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
I love treating myself on a weekly or sometimes daily basis. I treat myself to a massage, a coffee at a fancy hotel or trying to eat healthy. If your mind and body are in a positive flow, then so is your creativity. It gives ideas an opportunity to expand. I also meditate, especially at times when I feel overwhelmed or stressed. It is a most effective way to refocus and rebalance the healthy flow of thoughts. Worry, anxiety and stress are very detrimental to our positive mental health. I will also spend a couple of days a month in my PJ’s watching old black and white movies!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As an Award Winning film director and producer, I have already made a name for myself in the industry. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, I have created six short films that have been featured at Cannes short film corner, and my work has been distributed by Sony. I have just wrapped a feature length documentary called Fragile World, about the life and work of contemporary artist from the UK, Carl Hopgood. The documentary has been a labor of love and has taken 3 years to film. It is my first documentary and was an incredible experience. We are about to go into post production and are looking for finishing funds to complete the project.
My love for film began at a young age. Growing up in Wales, UK, I was always captivated by the magic of cinema and knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the industry. After working in the corporate world and traveling the globe for many years, I realized my passion for storytelling was the one thing missing from my life. In 2007 I moved to Sydney Australia to study filmmaking and acting. I spent years honing my craft, studying film techniques and exploring different genres, until I was finally able to make my mark as a director in Los Angeles in 2011.
After getting distribution and a theatrical release for my feature film, Altered Perception, I was considered for a newcomers award at the prestigious Directors Guild of America. Despite this success, I am always looking to push myself to new heights. I am passionate about creating stories that are engaging and
thought-provoking and I thrive on the process of bringing them to life on the big screen. As such, I am eager to expand my horizons and explore the world of television.
After coming to Los Angeles in 2009 and studying directing at UCLA, I was thrilled when they asked me if I would like to teach film students in the UCLA Extension program. My first class was in 2018, teaching Directing Workshop 1 – Composition and Movement. The feedback I received from students was so overwhelmingly positive, it inspired me to start my own teaching program online. The Directors Chair 5050 Workshop is an online 10 week course for diverse filmmakers. It is an advanced filmmaking course that encourages diverse storytelling and prepares it’s participants for next level success.
Personally I feel there is no greater gift than helping others achieve their goals and this workshop fills a huge gap in an industry which is still starved of stories from diverse communities and storytellers. I am so proud to say that 85% of workshop participants have been POC and over two thirds of them have been women. One of the latest films to be developed and eventually produced through the workshop, called Magda, which stars Oscar nominated actress Abigail Breslin, was Oscar qualifying and although we didn’t end up getting a nomination for the film in 2024, I am so proud of the team and how the Directors Chair workshop is making a difference to diverse filmmakers.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Life experience, world travel and confidence. Before coming into the entertainment business, having a corporate job and traveling the world were so important. It gave me life skills to deal with certain challenges and I met people from all walks of life. On my world travels I got to experience many different cultures, customs and religions. I visited some of the most beautiful places all with their own rich histories and unique stories. From the Rocky Mountains to the ancient Temples of Asia, the experiences were spectacular.
Despite the thousands of miles, I covered, my biggest takeaway was despite the difference in culture or skin tone, we all experience the same human condition of family, friends and emotions. We all love stories, telling them and listening to them. I am fascinated by other peoples lives and stories and in my work I have explored other peoples experiences, that are so different from my own.
I just wrapped a documentary called Fragile World, that I directed. It’s about a contemporary artist who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community. As a straight woman, it was so fascinating to discover the world from a gay perspective and the challenges and tribulations people from that community have to endure, even today, when we think the world is so advanced and progressive.
The artist Carl Hopgood was recently triggered by the ban of the word Gay in Florida and created a piece of art made of wooden chairs and the words “Just Say Gay” in neon lights suspended from the chairs, in retaliation. Ironically a renowned art collector saw the piece at an art show in LA and purchased it for her private gallery space in Palm Beach, Florida. The art piece found it’s home, in a state, that at present, is a battle ground for the LGBTQ+ community.
The documentary also covers Carl’s life growing up in the UK with aspirations of moving to Los Angeles, to pursue and create his art work. Since arriving in the USA, Carls work has taken on more of a political stance, in response to the anti LGBTQ+ support and the ridiculous laws being passed in certain states. How the Pandemic inspired some of his best work yet and how he has made a name for himself in the LA art scene.
Fragile World has been in production for 3 years and it has been an amazing journey for both Carl and myself. It has taken me to some amazing places and I have learned so much about contemporary art. This is my first documentary I’ve directed and what I’ve loved the most about this experience, is how the story developed itself. Coming from the narrative world where there are strict production schedules to follow, this documentary has been a labor of love. A journey of discovery with no real script, just an idea and Carl’s life journey.
I also teach directing at UCLA and run a private advanced directing workshop online, called The Directors Chair 5050. This workshop has been 80% women of color participants and is geared more towards diverse filmmakers and their incredible stories.
The advice I give all of my students, is watch movies and TV shows, especially the ones nominated for awards. I also advise them to keep creating stories on their phones, from the everyday events in their personal life for instagram, to writing short story ideas down in a notebook. Reading magazine and newspaper articles are always a great source of inspiration for story ideas.
Getting a break and getting paid to be a director, especially from the diverse community of being a female or a person of color, is still very challenging. The latest statistics regarding the Academy Award nominations for directors is “Out of the 477 nominations for Best Director, only 9 nominees have been women”. This is not that encouraging, especially when over 50% of the students coming out of film school are female.
I also encourage my emerging filmmaker students to network at film festivals and film organizations. It’s all about who you know in Hollywood. If you are lucky enough to get a film working on a studio set as a PA, it is a great entry into the business, to learn on the job and meet the people who can hire you down the line.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I take Rest and Relaxation and spend some time in Meditation. Sometimes I’ll have a pajama day and sit in bed watching back to back movies and think of nothing. I also try and get a Massage every other week or splash out on a day at a Spa.
It is so important to take some down time and regroup. I also find making a weekly or daily list of things I want to accomplish and what I need to do in order to do so. I try and prioritize and tackle the thing I hate to do the most, first so it gets it out of the way.
Take a walk on the beach or in nature, living in LA we are so close to the beach and there are heaps of hiking trails. I also play tennis and sometimes go to the golf driving range, which is more conducive for me than the gym. Occasionally I’ll go for a coffee in a fancy hotel and people watch, or use it to plough through my emails.
It can be a challenge to motivate yourself when you are a filmmaker, but getting out of the house, being in nature or doing a fitness activity can make a world of difference to your mental health and wellbeing. It is often when my mind is switched off and focussing on something non film related that I get the best ideas.
The trick is, to live your life like you are in a movie, believe it will happen for you, have fun and enjoy the journey. It’s the best recipe for a happy life and at least you can say, you gave it your all.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.katereesdavies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfabuloushollywoodlife
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-rees-davies-7baaa359/
- Other: For more information on The Directors Chair 50/50
Workshop please email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Kate Rees Davies
