WENDY MCCOLM TALKS FUZZY HEAD
"My acting teacher was like a mother to me"
Daniel John
This film is to some degree based upon your own life, where does the reality of your own drama end and the fiction begin?
I would say it is all real, the script writing process, and the process of allowing the film to be a re-write of my story, my life. In order to get catharsis it all has to be real.
With how personal the story really is did you always see yourself being the one to portray Marla?
The story is personal. The shame I’ve held and was instilled with as a young child, stayed with me till I was adult, the movie and other things help me confront and heal that. I was on the fence of playing Marla, but my acting teacher from high school who was like a mother to me, Ms. Wendy Atwell, encouraged me. When someone who sees you fully, encourages you, I believe that is priceless and something I cannot ignore. In the end, I am so happy it turned out this way, being Marla was a beautiful opportunity and so fulfilling in many ways and the film was meant to be as it is.
I did hear you mention this as your "last hoorah" as an actress?
Yes, I do say this a lot. I think what I mean is, when I am directing a feature I prefer to be hands on behind the camera. I like being there, I like seeing the other actors light up a lens, and give there all. As bigger budgets and bigger opportunities come in I want to be sure I am able to get inspired, and go beyond what I have achieved before as a director. Now, I am doing comedy again too, so shorts and fun projects, I am happy to play and make appearances.
Acting is where we first saw you start, including roles in different TV series like 'How I Met Your Mother', 'The Office US', and 'Community'. Have you always thought about writing and directing as well or when did you start seeing things in frames?
Well, I do not think I knew I was a director till I met my first cinematographer when I was twenty-two. Though when I look back, I was assistant directing every talent show and play since sixth grade. It really all made sense later that I was at heart always seeing life in frames. Always imagining my life as a movie. Like, for example, my father didn’t talk to us much. He had two giant movie theater speakers in the living room which he played his music on. Every night at nine 'clock he would sit on the couch, listen to Enya, loud as hell. I would wake up often, feeling like I had died. I would float over to the living room and stand and watch him, he could not hear me say, “Dad turn it down”. He would just stare ahead. I felt unseen, but I felt I always saw it like a slow-zoom. Out of body, but completely capturing the moment and feeling, later of course I discovered Altman and the slowly zooming in.
Is there anything you would say to that little girl, something that other creative little girls, and of course little boys with dreams, could hear?
The earliest memory or memories I have is when I was the little red hen in first grade, not sure who helped me memorize those lines, but I truly remember standing stage right, and reciting it all. We also had a VHS camera growing up, and we would edit it on the VCR-rewind to do another take to get it right. And of course, that is funny, it is literally like I am still doing the same thing now, gathering friends and making whatever comes to mind. We would make fake commercials, music videos, talk shows, I even made a feature in sixth grade, but my dad recorded over the VHS with a road trip. Any advice, well I have a ton, and I will flow here a moment. Any idea you have, is source, roll with it, do it. Do not think of the outcome, just do it, this is not for you to decide if it’s good or bad because creativity can never be bad, it is your heart, it is you. Flow and explore. That is all it is about. I truly believe that. Let it lead you to new places. For me art is the only thing that sets me free, and it has always been there for me.
You’ve been able to share this with lots of marvellous people. Both behind and infront of the camera. Who would be the dream, or ambition rather, to be able to cast in one of your films someday?
This is a wild question. Who would I want to work with, everyone and anyone is how I think of it but hmmm! Helena Bonham Carter, Shelley Duvall, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Marlee Matlin, Lily Tomlin, Elaine May, just off the top of my head, David Lynch. Know them?
One, of course, does not even have to dream when working with a cast such as the one in ‘Fuzzy Head’?
Thank you, it’s true. What an honor it was to work with this cast. Truly, I cried most times, tears of joy when they brought the script to life. Unreal. Alicia Witt, poured herself into this role. I don’t think I had experienced an actor doing that before 'Fuzzy Head', granted I most have made comedy and dark comedy. But, Alicia is a talent that is truly remarkable and raw, and I cannot wait to work with her again. Then, we have Mr. Fred Melamed, and no one would do this freakin role! He said yes immediately! And my god, a fearless man he is. I weeped behind camera, he saw me, he saw the vision, he saw it all and delivered without direction the whole essence of the character. Jonathan Tolliver and Numa Perrier, absolute raw talents, and artists. Cassidy Butler, the young Marla, such a pure heart and delivery. Richard Riehle, literally a one take wonder, every time perfect on the first take, we would do more to play but I mean this man has been in Scorsese films! Also the nicest man you’ll ever meet. And of course the magical Rain Phoenix, kind, beautiful and oozes sorcery, a great collaborator and truth seeker. These people, artists, were all in on the journey and that is the most important thing when creating anything, always. I am forever grateful and in love with them.
Being another feature-film wiser, do you now have any projects lined up?
Oh! Actually, yes, I have two features ready to go, a revenge film and a pure wild comedy. As well as a few show scripts. I am ready and they are ready to be made. We love making movies.
