By Karen Connor
Photo by Sakura Blue Studios
What inspired you as a little girl to want to entertain your family members as Cher?
Tammy: Cher has always been one of my idols. At the time, The Sony and Cher show was dominating the ratings, and everyone knew who they were. Cher's persona captivated me and I wanted to be just like her. She inspired me to be creative and use my overactive imagination. I was always running around with a recorder interviewing family or cutting out boxes to make it a TV then doing the news or writing stories. I loved watching movies as a kid as it let me dream of what I could do.
You spent 10 years in theatre working as a stage manager, what is involved in being a stage manager?
Tammy: To me, stage manager is very similar to being a film director. A stage manager manages the technical and design departments, including props, costume, lighting, sound and many more. They attend every rehearsal keeping track of the actor's movements and what the director wants added or deleted. At the actual show, they call the cues during the performance. Only difference is you can't call cut!
What inspired you to move from theatre to film?
Tammy: Life gets busy with kids and work, so I just didn't go back to theatre. It was late in my life when I had found an old story I wrote and decided to turn it into a script. To my surprise, I won the Jane Leblanc Filmmaker award. That is what started it all. I was hooked!
What has been your greatest obstacle and your greatest achievement in film thus far?
Tammy: Where I have only been at this for a few years, my lack of knowledge would be my greatest obstacle. There is so much to learn about film, but I have a passion for learning, so I just soak it all in. The greatest achievement is being surrounded by great people. Having knowledgeable people on set to help my vision come to life is very comforting. The incredible people that have helped me along the way blows my mind. That they have the same passion and the creativity to make it all come together is amazing. I cannot thank them enough.
How did it feel to win an award with your first script, a Little Light.
Tammy: When I won my first award, I was stunned! I couldn't believe that I won. Me? I won? At first, I doubted myself and wondered if I could do it, but the great people at the NBFC gave me confidence that I could. I’m still stunned whenever I win!
When you begin a new project, what does your creative process look like—from initial concept to final cut?
Tammy: When I write a script, I picture it in my head. I picture how I want each scene to be shot. The movement, actions and emotions are all played out in my head. I will then try to translate those into a shot list. The script is rewritten several times to improve the shots because sometimes it just won’t work. When the casting call is sent out, I try to pick someone that embodies the part and how I want it portrayed. Storyboards are a big help to me. I look forward to working with the DOP as their ideas are so great. They give me a lot of inspiration. When it's all put together, I am so proud of what a great job everyone has done. It is so amazing.
Are there recurring themes or ideas that you find yourself returning to in your work? What draws you to them?
Tammy: The last few films have made people cry. I am drawn to drama as I have found a way to capture and share the unique stories and experiences of people. My good friend gave me ideas for the last 2 scripts. I want to create thought-provoking and visually captivating pieces that resonate with the audience. I hope in the future to do a comedy, actually.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a director in New Brunswick, and how did you navigate it?
Tammy: I really haven’t had a big challenge yet as I have great neighbours that allow me to create in their space and the helpful staff at NBFC who are always there to lend a hand. Whoever I work with has always guided me through. I love collaborating with creative minds. The only thing I am finding hard is securing locations, but with faith, it always turns out. Cat LeBlanc is my extraordinary go to at the NBFC. She is always willing to answer my questions and her knowledge is incredible. My obstacles are always overcome after a chat with Cat.
What are you currently on and what excites you most about your work?
Tammy: I am currently in pre-production with my fourth short film. It contains sensitive subject matter so it might be a challenge to tell the essence of the experience. But awareness can be drawn to the subject, which is important. I hope to not only entertain but also shed light on stories that make up our world. For me, it’s exciting to watch my stories come to life, to see the thoughts in my head up on screen. While on set there is a satisfying feeling as you watch actors perform those characters you created from your script. It’s all very exciting from the start to the finish.
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their filmmaking career?
Tammy: My advice would be to not be afraid and just go for it. I started this film journey late in life and even with 58 years of experience in life, I was still so nervous. Google was used a lot from the beginning to research how to make a shot list and different camera shots/angles. I would tell a person that you will learn along the way, mistakes will be made but there is so much to learn with film. Lastly, take advice from experienced people and try to surround yourself with them. So, just get out there and just get started!