Be The Change: A Reflection on Being a Female Director

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, it’s an opportune time to recognise the invaluable contributions of female directors to the commercial landscape. We recently sat down with Nicolee Tsin and Roxy Dunlop to have a candid conversation about how they've broken through the glass ceiling.

Q> Tell us about your journey to becoming a director? What inspired you to pursue this career path, and what roadblocks did you face? How did you overcome them?

Nicolee> I didn’t go to film school so my first footstep into the industry was interning at production companies to gain general insight into the structure and process, as well as gaining experience on set. My interest in film started from street photography so I thought I wanted to be a cinematographer. I then started reaching out to DPs, ACs and rental houses and managed to get a decent number of jobs on the technical side. Thankfully, there were enough people who gave me a chance. From being on set, I always get this tingly feeling of jealousy watching directors work and collaborate. I saw how powerful cinema is, not just externally but also internally and wanted to have a voice in the way I see the world. Making films has allowed me to express myself in ways I never thought I could. 

The struggle is the reality of being a self-sustainable director and the trial and error in between. No one’s going to teach you how to get your first music video brief or your first commercial script. On top you have to pay your bills, hustle multiple jobs, apply to funding applications and use your income to invest in personal projects. Then it’s about putting the work out there and getting it noticed. This whole process in constant repetition is long, lonely, and tough, and I’m sure many can relate to it. It requires a lot of self-belief and resilience, consistency, and a good group of supportive people around you to overcome it.

Roxy> I grew up in a family of actors and artists, with a dad who had such a deep love and appreciation for all kinds of films. I think subconsciously his love for cinema rubbed off on me. My sister and I grew up watching all of his favourite movies - Casino, The Terminator, The Shining, and then on the other side of the coin, he loved Planes Trains & Automobiles and Happy Gilmore. I didn't realise it at the time, but I basically spent my childhood falling in love with film. The only thing was, I didn't know that making films could be a career. I didn't see anyone who looked like me doing it, and so it never occurred to me that I could do it. It wasn't until my mid-twenties, when I was an actor living in LA, that I got introduced to the idea of directing and producing. I decided to direct myself in a short film as part of an assignment for my acting studio and fell absolutely in love with filmmaking.

Q> What unique perspectives or sensibilities do you bring to your work as a female director?

Nicolee> I think being sensitive, analytical, and observant are qualities I’ve learnt to embrace and make good use of as a director. I try to approach things from a more personal and emotional level. I purposely try to make space for more females in the industry whenever I can, whether that is work experience or when we’re crewing up for a project. I love when I’m on set with other female cast or crew. There’s always an unspoken level of comfort and nurture that we share because we all understand what it's like to be in an environment that can be quite hostile and intimidating. 

Roxy> I think that gender is a social construct, so I try not to tokenize myself as a female director. But of course, we live in a world where the gender binary is very much upheld, and there is definitely pressure as a woman in this industry to not ruffle feathers, to not be difficult, to not be too bossy. In general, I just try to be a good human being, to hire folks that represent the world that we live in, to make sure my crew and cast feel safe and respected, and to make the process enjoyable for everyone involved.

Q> Have you encountered any challenges or biases as a woman in the film industry? If so, how have you navigated them?

Nicolee> Yeah, I think it’s inevitable. That said, the bias is often quite nuanced and subconscious. I've been told I’m too quiet and reserved, I have to stand firmer to get what I want, I don’t get looked at when being spoken to, I’m assumed to be many things I’m not. We can’t deny that we live in a society and industry that often hides us from the limelight, as women we have to put in more work to be heard and recognised. Quite frankly, we shouldn’t have to navigate around any of these, it should be the other way round. 

Roxy> One common bias I've noticed is that sometimes folks on set may not immediately recognise me as the director when I arrive. There have been instances where I've been mistaken for someone from the art department or production...like it just doesn't occur to them that I could be the director. I understand that's just a result of our conditioning. Women, queer folks, and people of colour are not often associated with positions of power because our power is so often taken away from us. I think it's important to remember that and just constantly check in with our own internal bias and ask ourselves how we can untangle that in order to break the status quo?

­­Q> What advice would you give to aspiring female directors who are just starting out in the industry?

Nicolee> Ask questions to get what you want. I’m relatively shy and thought I could never make it into an industry that is circled around people and requires high energy. This is wrong haha. Simple, genuine emails and messages on social media have led me to so many wonderful people in the industry. Truly, I am not the same without the support around me. There are so many people out there who are willing to help, all you need to do is ask, and you’ll be one step closer in the right direction. Prepare so when the right opportunity comes, you’re ready. Then make sure you create a space for more females once you get to a more comfortable position.

Roxy> I would say: You can literally do anything you want to do. You are unstoppable. When you encounter sexism in any form, call it out - you don't have to put up with it. And look for the people who understand this, surround yourself with them.