Tom Quinn for The Workbook Project: Last week, I had the honor of being the first American filmmaker to take part in the Toronto International Film Festival Talent Lab. I arrived in Toronto two days before the festival to meet 23 other young filmmakers from Canada and the UK, as well as lab producers Sandra Cunningham and Brad Fox of Strada Films.

 

The lab is intended as a workshop where beginning filmmakers can interact with seasoned veterans, focusing on the craft and the art of making films rather than the business. To oversee the week, the producers assembled a team of four “governors” who would run the discussions and act as constants. They were UK Producer/Director Stephen Woolley (Stoned, Breakfast on Pluto,The Crying Game), Canadian Actor/Writer/Director Don Mckellar (Last Night, Child Star, Blindness), French Writer/Director Olivier Assayas (Clean, Irma Vep, Paris Je T’aime), and New-York based director Alison Maclean (Crush /Jesus' Son).

 

While the guest speakers were as varied as Brian DePalma (pictured above), Fernando Meirelles, Samira Makhmalbaf, and the Dardenne Brothers, we often returned to the subject of directing actors, particularly nonprofessional or first time actors. As a low-budget filmmaker, I feel the craft of casting and building nuanced performances from first-time is most essential to my career. By learning to do so I can empower myself as a story teller and make the most of the means available to me.

 

Brian DePalma kicked off the week by reminding us to always be assertive; to seize every opportunity. He spoke of meeting young filmmakers who complained about their lack of money and studio attention, or worse, filmmakers who did not take charge of their own careers. DePalma feels that breakthroughs in video technology over the past 10 years has erased any lingering excuses. “If you can’t go get a digital camera and get some actors together,” he asked, “why are you here?” However, his best advice was regarding clear communication on set. “Be careful,” he told us, “Not with what you’re saying, but what they’re hearing. Red to one means blue to another.” Solid advice.