BLOCKS writer/director, Bridget Moloney sits down with FREE THE WORK to discuss her individual journey to claiming her career and the stories she wants to tell.
FTW: What are your thoughts on the categorization of woman director? How has it affected you and your work, if at all?
BRIDGET MOLONEY: Relatively speaking, it’s a great time to be a woman director. But it’s also ridiculous. It could always be better, but I am fine with exploiting that as much as possible. I’m very into my femaleness and AFI helped crystallize that for me. I’m interested in domestic anxiety, and realized that’s my thing. There are a lot of people who are interested in that, and not just people with children and not just women. You can have a strong voice without feeling like you’re a niche filmmaker. Of course, you wonder if your film is interesting to anyone else. You have a moment where this idea is so close to you and you feel like surely everyone feels this way, too. And then you’re like oh, that’s not true. Everyone has very different life experiences and opinions and takes. It’s reassuring because even if multiple people have the same idea, we’re going to execute it really differently.
FTW: What kinds of stories do you want to tell and how do you want to shape the world with your art?
BRIDGET MOLONEY: I’m very interested in a heightened reality take on everyday life. I’m pitching “Blocks” as a heightened reality, domestic anxiety period. I’m interested in how we visually externalize feelings we all have about romance, families, monogamy, and domestic struggles. How we run our lives right now in 2020. A world that is three feet off the ground.
FTW: What’s the best piece of advice you can give to aspiring directors?
BRIDGET MOLONEY: As my friend who’s an osteopath said, “Just shine your weird light man.” You can just do you and it’s not going to be for everybody, but it’s so much better to not be for everyone while you’re being yourself than try to hit something and not succeed. I’m not saying don’t take notes, but if you want to tell a plastic block vomit story then tell it the best you can. prev next Courtesy of American Film Institute Courtesy of American Film Institute Courtesy of American Film Institute Courtesy of American Film Institute Courtesy of American Film Institute