Kristen Stewart has spent most of her life in entrance of the digital camera, however, now, she’s confidently stepping behind it. Moreover, she’s calling out what she believes to be outdated attitudes that preserve others from helming movies. As she promotes her feature directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, Stewart is getting actual in regards to the movie business and, true to type, she isn’t holding again with regards to the form of gatekeeping that also dominates conversations round who’s certified to direct.
In a fireplace chat interview for the nonprofit Breaking By the Lens, Kristen Stewart mentioned the myths surrounding filmmaking, particularly the belief that an individual wants intensive technical data or years of expertise earlier than telling a narrative by way of movie. The Twilight alum, who beforehand directed music movies and brief movies, argues that the concept of this technical adeptness requirement comes from a really masculine custom of filmmaking and is supposed to maintain out sure voices. She stated (through Selection):
There’s this bullshit fallacy that you could have expertise or kind of like technical adeptness, and it’s safeguarding the enterprise. It’s an actual male perspective. Like, as if it’s this tough factor to do. Anybody could make a film if they’ve one thing to say.
We’ve arguably seen this fantasy dispelled as extra actors step behind the digital camera with out technical “coaching” or prowess. Stars like Olivia Wilde, Elizabeth Banks, Daniel Kaluuya and John Krasinski have all seemingly directed with out a perceived intensive data of the filmmaking craft from a technical standpoint.
Nevertheless, these actors had been all skilled storytellers, contemplating the intensive time they’ve spent in entrance of the digital camera, making the audiences join with their characters. Stewart doubled down on this concept, saying:
However there’s no quantity of studying or ability, like that’s simply crap. In case you can simply really feel allowed to speak and due to this fact get in contact with one thing that wishes to come back out, a movie will come out of you. It shouldn’t have taken so lengthy … And I can’t look ahead to the following one.
On the one hand, these sentiments appear to specific simply how a lot Kristen Stewart cares about increasing the quantity of voices behind the digital camera. However, in addition they convey simply how significant her directorial debut is to her.
Stewart’s The Chronology of Water is an upcoming book-to-screen adaptation based mostly on Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 memoir of the identical identify. It’s a few younger girl who finds her voice by way of swimming and finally discovering a path by way of educating and motherhood. Stewart attended the premiere on the Cannes Movie Competition this yr, because the movie was offered within the “Un Sure Regard” part.
The previous baby actress has seemingly confirmed her level about succesful filmmakers. Regardless of having restricted technical coaching, she appears to have succeeded in helming a robust movie. The film is already receiving implausible evaluations out of the competition and at the moment holds a 92% critics retailer on Rotten Tomatoes. Stewart has a historical past of working with auteurs, and I would not be shocked if she picked up a pointer or two as a result of these experiences. Additionally, it looks like that is only the start for Stewart, as she’s already wanting ahead to her subsequent directing endeavor.
You may see Kristen Stewart’s The Chronology of Water when it finds its means onto the 2025 film schedule in some unspecified time in the future. Within the meantime, you possibly can see her newest work as an actress in Love Lies Bleeding, which is at the moment accessible to stream with an HBO Max subscription.