FROM THE MIND OF...
Director & Screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood
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What’s your favorite scene from THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES and why?
"My favorite scene in BEES is when August gives Lily her mother's things. This was a scary one to shoot because it is the climax of the film. It answers the question that was asked at the beginning of the movie -- "Did Lily's mother love her?" The performances were pitch perfect; both Dakota and Latifah fed off each other beautifully. The costume design was brilliant -- they both look amazing. I love the way it was shot, and it was edited brilliantly. And the score kills. Everything just came together to create the perfect scene."
How difficult was it to adapt Sue Monk Kidd's best-selling novel "The Secret Life of Bees" to a script for an hour-and 45-minute long film?
"Adapting the novel was tough, as all writing is, but not overwhelming. "I loved the book, so I used it as my bible, not just a blueprint. The film's turning points are the same as the novel's, so it was just about condensing the story in between those turning points. of course, i wanted to put everything I loved into the film but it isn't possible. But I feel I captured the essence and arcs of every character."
How would you describe your preparation for a film project, and how does it differ from preparation for work in television?
"My prep for directing is research, research, and research. Research is everything. It informs every aspect of my directing -- character development, wardrobe, production design, music, etc. -- and I love it. I am building my vision. In television, everything has already been created and you are following someone else's vision. You try to add your own flavor, but it's not the same freedom."
Can you tell us one of your favorite experiences while making a film?
"One of my favorite experiences on THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES was when I arranged a meeting with the three Boatwright sisters -- Latifah, Alicia and Sophie, in New York. There were not going to be any rehearsals in North Carolina, and I was concerned about how we could possibly build that intangible chemistry of siblings. We all sat down in my hotel room and there was some awkward first-meeting banter. So I just cut through that and started asking them questions about their characters. It was clear they had all thought a lot about their characters and their relationship to each other, and something just clicked between them. They started feeding off each other and building a sisterhood right before my eyes. It was exciting. When I left that night, I knew we were going to be okay."
Can you tell us one of your favorite movie-going experiences?
"There was a period in my life when I became disgusted by what films were being made by Hollywood. It seemed like they were just telling the same story in different ways. I went a good half a year without seeing a movie. I finally broke my 'fast' by going to see the film LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. It was such an amazing film, and it moved me so incredibly. It restored my faith in filmmaking."
can't wait to see it!