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Tampa Native Has Her Eyes On The Stars

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EDITOR'S NOTE: 'A Conversation With ' is an occasional feature offering the thoughts and opinions of people across northwest Hillsborough County. By JESSICA BALANZA The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

Updated: 10/29/2007 09:45 pm

CITRUS PARK - Lauren Kinsler, 24, was born and raised in Tampa, but after graduating from high school she moved to Texas, then New York, to pursue her dream as a writer and film director.

She returned recently for a visit to her hometown to cast actors and actresses for her upcoming short film, 'Widow.' Auditions were held at the Jewish Community Center in Citrus Park. Kinsler expects to release the film with a Tampa premiere in spring. For updates on the process of the film and for information once a premiere date is selected, visit www.laurenkinsler.com.

What do you do in New York?

I work part time as a sign language interpreter and part time as a filmmaker.

Where in New York do you live?

Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I love Brooklyn.

What made you decide to move to New York?

The culture, the film scene, the theater community, the art galleries, the amazing restaurants, the beautiful parks. I mean, you name it. It's New York; the arts culture there is like no other place in the world. It's not somewhere I'll be forever, but it's definitely right for now.

What was your life like growing up?

Great. I grew up in Carrollwood, a modest home with my younger brother. My parents always pushed art, all kinds, from painting to piano (I've been playing since I was 8) and education, of course. My parents are great, so supportive, and I had a wonderful childhood.

What's your educational background?

I attended Hillel Middle School and then went to Blake High School, which I loved. It was an amazing experience to be surrounded with artistic teenagers, have access to great equipment and a highly technical environment, and have wonderfully influencing teachers. I feel like most kids' high school experiences were just so-so, but those years to me are priceless. Then I went to The University of Texas in Austin, which was the best decision I could have made. Austin is the most amazing town and has a burgeoning film scene. At UT I thought I would study film, but then I started taking wonderful liberal arts classes and realized I had to learn a little more about life before I started making art.

What inspired you to become interested in being a film director, writer and editor?

I've loved movies since I was young. When I was 16 I spent a summer at Princeton in a film 'boot camp' of sorts, working with actual film and learning how to edit manually with my hands. It was an amazing experience and really set the tone for the rest of my career up until now.

What is it like being a film director?

Fun. I'm young, I don't take myself too seriously. I do projects that I am inspired by or that I find creatively challenging and exciting. It's not about making money. I have yet to make money on anything I do ... eventually that is one of the goals, but for now, it's about figuring out what I want to do, how to do it and just having fun with a passion.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

What's fun about directing is having a vision that's pretty perfect in your head, and then trying to turn that into an actual picture that everyone can see. And, of course, in the end, it never comes out exactly how you imagine, which is better. It's the little challenges that give character to the work.

Your documentary 'Calvin's World' - what is it about and how did you come up with the idea? Where was it aired?

It is about a 6-year-old boy who is the first person in three generations of a family that can hear. His mother, father, brother, grandparents, you name it ... they are all deaf. I was involved in the deaf community in Austin and knew about the Graves family. I thought it would be a great story for Calvin to ultimately tell. The movie was aired at over 10 film festivals all around the country, including the Florida Film Festival, SXSW and The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

What are some other works you have done?

I recently made a music video for the rock band Xiu Xiu that was shot in Coney Island. It was a lighthearted video, very fantastical. It will hopefully appear on the band's DVD soon. I also recently produced a short film called 'Casual Encounters' written and directed by the New York filmmaker Will McCord. I'm also the co-founder of an online arts magazine with Martin De Leon. It's called Blank Screen, and it showcases up-and-coming artists. It's an amazing project that will continue to grow hopefully into a physical space where people can come in and learn more about the artists' work, and kids can take great weird media classes like 'How to make a pop-up graphic novel.' You can visit it at www.blank screenmedia.com.

How did you feel after 'Calvin's World' received Best of Season Award for 2005 at South by Southwest Festival and Honorable Mention at Roving Eye Documentary Festival in Rhode Island?

Honored. It was a project that I made because I loved the story, and then to see that other people also enjoyed it, it is just a great feeling.

How did you find out about the Graves family from 'Calvin's World'? How long did you follow them around?

Through the deaf community in Austin, Texas. We only filmed for about five days. But it was interesting filming all day in a first-grade classroom. It was a challenge to remain 'hidden' when all the children really want to do is play with the camera.

What is 'Widow' about?

'Widow' is about Ruth, a creative, older Jewish woman who works as the spotlight person at a theater and attends her lively widow's mah-jongg group. But, Ruth has a secret. That secret shapes the film and Ruth's history.

How did you come up with the story line for 'Widow'?

Well, it was originally inspired by my grandma, who passed when I was very young. She was very talented and creative and independent and is someone I have always held close to my heart and wanted to make proud. As a child, when a family member passes it is hard, but I felt like I hadn't grieved her as an adult. Making this film is a way of honoring her and my other grandma as well. But, with that being said, this film is a fictional story. Are there influences? Sure. But the story is fictional, which I am excited about because it is my narrative debut.

Why did you decide to come back to Tampa to film 'Widow'?

The script is based in a Florida town, first of all. Secondly, Tampa is the place I grew up. I believe a city (no matter if you love it or hate it) has a big influence on a person, especially a teenager. It is ultimately the place where I became who I am today, and I wanted to come back and showcase the city and its residents. I will be using all Tampa actors and almost all Tampa crew.

What has been the most difficult part of being in the film industry?

Money. I'm not going to lie. It's so hard to make a film, even a super low-budget film, without money. And it's hard to get people to give you money just because they want to be involved in something creative.

What would be your advice for any youngster interested in the film industry?

Do it. Just do it, seriously. There is only so much you can talk and read and worry about until you are 30 and you are an expert theorist (which is great) but haven't actually made anything you like. Find a community and make movies. Write a script, borrow a camera, get people who are at the same level as you are and work for free together.

When you come up with film ideas, what do you hope to accomplish or what message do you try to send out?

Each project is completely different. With 'Widow,' I want the audience to be affected. I want them to walk out of the theater and have the film linger on their mind at least until they reach the parking lot. I also want people to enjoy it because who wants to make a boring movie?

What was your first director job?

When I was 8, I directed a crime movie with my friends called 'Crime City,' about a city that gets overrun with crime and the small people have to save it with neon pink jump-ropes or something. Brilliant, really.

Other than writing and directing, what are some of your other interests?

I love jazz, I'm a little obsessed. I am really into modern art, going to the art galleries in Chelsea. I love theater and am lucky to have some wonderful actor friends. I play the piano when I can and enjoy using my sign language skills.

What are your goals?

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with what I was going to be when I grew up. As I got older I realized I wanted to do a lot of things, and that is kind of where I stand today. I want to run my Web site and eventually add a nonprofit organization to it. I want to make movies that inspire people and are seen by intellectual audiences, I want to be happy and eat my parents' wonderful cooking and play music with my brother and live in a cool city with my wonderful man friend.

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