That element of empathy is so important today.
Why did you tell the story that way?
She was always trying to make it better.
… Theres always hope.
I really tried hard to be inside the characters as opposed to sort of watching from the distance.
Like Rita, youre also a mother.
Did you connect more with this performance or your style of directing because of that?
Whats different about these two is their relationship is unconventional; theyre each the only person the other has.
Theyre survivors, theyre sisters sometimes; Ruthie is the mom and Ritas the girl, and vice versa.
Its a little bitThelma & Louise, but its alsoPaper Moon.
Stefania arrived about a week before we started shooting, and I knew we had to pull it off.
Depicting real relationships between women is so important; its also vital to see more women directing movies.
I love directing, and I want to do more of it.
I like directing actors.
I want to give those experiences to actors as well.
Tell me about how you, as a director, cast this movie.
I wanted to concentrate on the essence of Pam and not the fact that shes transgender; shehappensto be.
It was important to me to be able to get inside that character, andthenwe watch her journey.
I needed that sparkle because Pam is the heart of the diner; people enjoy being around her.
Shes a human being who attracts people.
Why are those things, in particular, so important to you right now?
People need to be heard, so I hope that this film speaks to those people.
