We're lucky. We got a chance to meet and work with a remarkable woman who is on her way NYU to study filmmaking. With a record like hers, you wonder why she's going to NYU.

We spent some time with Sophie talking to her about her experience on her latest film "Fate Smiles" as well as her future plans.The film was shot in 16mm using an advanced Panavision camera. Sophie also got to work with great companies like Fotokem on process, Kodak on film choice and Widget on foley. She was also involved with editing the film on an Apple G5 using FInal Cut Pro.

No, filmmaking isn't just for the guys. For the record, even the talented filmmaking guys think she is an incredible filmmaker.

See the trailer to "Fate Smiles." (requires Quicktime movie player)

The Record: Sophie Shepherd is a senior at the Culver City Academy of Visual and Performing Arts. After graduation from Culver she will be majoring in film at NYU. In the Academy Sophie has taken over 18 film courses including Beginniing Cinematography, Advanced Cinematography, Director of Photography Seminar, Directing, World Cinema, American Cinema, Production Sound, Screenwriting, Digital Video Production I-III, 16mm Filmmaking I-IV, Film Noir, The Comedy Genre, Directors Vision, and Documentary Seminar. She has also written and directed films. Her credits include Fate Smiles 16mm (Director), Sub Rosa 16mm (Writer/Director of Photography), And So It Goes 16mm (Assistant Camera), Kill Your Radio 16mm (Script Supervisor), Art Film 99 DV (Director), and Reel Day 16mm (Director). Sophie has also crewed on (2nd A.C.) on a graduate thesis film at UCLA. She has completed workshops at Kodak (film stock/three years), Panavision (camera/2 years), Mole Richardson (lighting/2 years), Fotokem (film processing/3 years). Her films have screened at the Big Bear Film Festival, the Hollywood Student Film Festival, the Los Angeles International Shorts Film Festival, The Frost Film Festival, UCLA, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Harvard Westlake Showcase, The South Bay Film Festival and others. She also spent the summer with Young Filmmakers Academy shooting a 35mm film.

Sophie Shepherd: Pursuing filmmaking for the love of it

Sophie scouting a location.

On Making Films
Q: What was different about directing “Fate Smiles”?

A: It was much, much bigger. Before that I had done movies with only about three people crewing, so I didn’t have to deal with too many people. This film had about 35 people working on the film. I was able to focus much more on the creative end whereas on the smaller films I would have to do everything – crew work and physical work. I had a lot of fun. It was nice to sit back and look at the film from a creative perspective.

Q: How was it working with the professional actors?

A: At first it felt strange because some of the actors were double my age. It was different telling actors that age what to do, but they were all really nice and participated well together.

Q: How did you pick the actors – who picked them?
A: We auditioned them – me, the casting director, Jim Knight and Sara, the writer, sat around and discussed who we thought fit each part. We pretty much all agreed on what actors we wanted.

Q: Did the actors provide much input to you during the production?
A: Yeah, a lot. They noticed continuity problems, some flaws in the script and inconsistencies with the characters.

Q: So you incorporated their comments and recommendations?
A: If I agreed with them (laughing)… but I agreed with them almost all the time.

Q: What did you enjoy about this film?
A: All of it. I made a lot of new friends. I learned more about the technical side. I knew a lot about the camera and lighting, but directing a bigger film forced me to learn more about sound and working with actors. This was the first time I had worked with and directed professional actors.

Q: What surprised you about the production?
A: How cooperative everyone was. I expected to have more problems with the shoot, and to have more social problems with people arguing. But everyone got along really well and did what they were supposed to do. It went so well because they were enthusiastic. Even if they didn’t know certain things they wanted to learn about making films. Everyone was just happy to be there and had fun with it.

Q: What do you think of making films after this experience?
A: I like it even more! The social aspect, the entire creative process, the technical challenges – everything about making a film is great.

Q: When did you start working on this film?
A: We started writing the script at the beginning of the school year last Fall. Sara wrote the script and finished it in November. She came up with the script idea and wrote the entire script. I helped her with the ending and character details.

Q: How did you get selected to direct the film?
A; You must have the experience and show that you are committed to the project. Some might be interested, but they may not demonstrate the commitment by participating in our projects. You have to work for it.

Q: When did you know that you wanted to study filmmaking?
A: I’ve been interested in and fascinated with film all my life. I realized I wanted to do film as a career in the 9th grade. I wanted to make skateboarding videos because I liked skateboarding, so I joined the film program to use the editing equipment. I didn’t care as much about making films, but I got into it and loved it. Before the Culver program, I made some home movies on a camcorder.

From there I did editing, worked on various projects and learned enough to get a chance at directing this film.

Q: Who has been the most inspirational and helpful to you in your development?
A: Through high school, Mr. Knight has always been there to help us and answer questions. He is really dedicated to the program. He started out as a history teacher, but he got involved with film because the kids wanted to do it. His being so dedicated makes everyone else want to be dedicated to film.

Q: Is there anything else that would have helped you better prepare for the most recent production?
A: I think we didn’t have any class on directing actors. We had had classes on the technical areas – lighting, sound, and film. I was not familiar working with actors, especially professional actors who are twice your age. But it ended up being ok and was a lot of fun. The rehearsals and script readings helped me be prepared when I showed up on the set. I knew what I wanted the actors to do. Just hearing the actors read the script gave me more ideas, and I was able to talk to them about their ideas. We rehearsed the entire script before we even got on set.

On the set of "Fate Smiles".

Her Future
Q: You’re off to NYU to study film this Fall. Why NYU?
A: I considered USC, but I wanted to get away because I’ve been in LA since I was six. NYU is a great school. It seemed like a lot of fun to go to NYU, and I like New York City. The other reason is that NYU seems more independent, hands-on and inclusive whereas USC seems exclusive to a few students.

I’m looking forward to meeting people who are into film just as much as I am. I sort of wanted to go there, but I wasn’t sure. Being there and feeling the atmosphere of NYU convinced me this is the place.

Q: What areas are you interested in film?
A: I’m interested in cinematography and I thought that’s what I wanted to do. But after directing “Fate Smiles,” I have an interest in directing as well.

Q: What do you want to do after NYU?
A: Make movies. Movies that make people think about things – psychological films as opposed to action films.

Q: Seen any good films recently?
A: “Coffee and Cigarettes“ – the new Jim Jarmusch film. I’ve seen "Ghost Dog: and "Down by Law." Tom Waits is in his new film. His films are so simple and character-driven. It is so interesting the way he did this film. What I also like about his films are that each is different.

(Author comment: Jarmusch's "Dead Man" and "Down By Law" are also unique independent films.)

Q: What do your parents think about your interest in film?
A: They’re supportive of it. They’re happy that I’ve found something fun to do.

Q: How do they feel about your going to NYC?
A: They’re scared. And NYU is so expensive.

Q: What was it like working with Dan Engelhardt and Brad Leong?
A: A lot of fun. It’s nice to be with people who are really into film. Some of my friends don’t understand what I am doing when I am away for weeks at a time making movies.

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