Filmmaking | Interviews

Talking with Flora Cohen

1 Mar , 1998  

Written by Joshua Sandler of the Boston Film & Video Foundation | Posted by:

Filmmaker of Lemonade in October, Flora Cohen talks about her inspiration, her future projects and her advice to aspiring filmmakers.

Flora Cohen is the writer, producer and director of Lemonade in October, winner of the 23rd annual New England Film and Video Festival’s award for Best Experimental Narrative. Ms. Cohen studied film at NYU before beginning her career as an independent filmmaker. Her company Tough Love Films, is based in Florence, Massachusetts. BFVF’s Joshua Sandler interviewed Ms. Cohen for Intervisions.

Intervisions: The short bio you sent in with your entry says that your are "an unstoppable filmmaker." When did you know that this was something to which you wanted to commit yourself — have you always known that this is what you wanted to do?

Read Interviews with other 1998 New England Film & Video Festival Award Winners…

Laurel Chiten
Jay Craven
Laura Colella
Ellie Lee

Flora Cohen: (laughs) No, not at all. I started college thinking I was going to solve the hunger problem in the world. I was studying agriculture, taking all these heavy duty chemistry and math and horticulture courses related to agriculture, and one of my advisors at school suggested that I take a fun course to balance my load. She suggested a photography course taught by her friend. So I took photography, and I was taking a creative writing class too, following her advice, but these two were actually the most difficult classes, the most challenging classes I had ever taken. And I guess I liked the challenge. I don’t know exactly how I put the two together to lead into filmmaking, but I did and I was excited by the idea.

 

Intervisions: The basic idea for Lemonade in October is autobiographical — is that right?

Cohen: Yes, that’s right.

Intervisions: Do the ideas for your films often come from your own experiences?

Cohen: Totally. Yes they do.

Intervisions: Lemonade in October is just a beautiful film all around. The photography and animation, the editing, and the soundtrack all come together so well with your writing and direction. It seems like you had a very strong team working with you. Do you plan on working with the same people in the future?

Cohen: I would love to. Yes, definitely. When I was making Lemonade in October we all were talking about how great we work together and how we wanted to do it again. But, you know, each of the people who were helping me out also have their own projects to attend to. So, right now we are not at work together, but I think that my next film, when I’m ready for people to step in and start collaborating I will call on those people. And I may call on new people too.

Intervisions: So, what’s next? Do you have anything in progress?

Cohen: Yes, I have a lot of things that I’m excited about. I’m just taking a step back and looking at them and thinking and doing a little bit of research, and I’m going to see which one calls to me the strongest. I’m sort of starting to feel at ease with not knowing what to do next, having all these ideas and projects that have started at one point or another, semi-started, semi-researched. So I’m just taking a step back to see what it is I want to commit myself to for the next year or two.

Intervisions: Do you find it difficult as an independent filmmaker to find funding to make your films and then, later, to have them shown?

Cohen: Well, I think that I was really in the zone with Lemonade in October. Miracles happened when I was making Lemonade in October. Everything I asked for, any grants, I got. And more, actually, because BFVF, on top of what I asked for, they gave me a fellowship, which was incredible. So, I haven’t found it difficult to find money to make my films. Now to show them, yes. I have submitted Lemonade in October to many festivals and it has been rejected many times. And sometimes on my bad days I feel like Lemonade in October is falling between the cracks and no one knows what to do with it.

Intervisions: Do you mean that it doesn’t fit into a particular category?

Cohen: Yes. Or, I don’t know because I think that each festival has a vision and they take material according to that vision. So, I constantly remember that.

Intervisions: Well, it has done pretty well here at the New England Festival.

Cohen: Yes, and I feel so appreciative. It’s so great. [BFVF] has been amazing to me. I feel like I have a home with you (laughs), or that my work has a home with you.

Intervisions: Well, we are very happy to have you. Finally, do you have any advice to offer to aspiring filmmakers here at BFVF?

Cohen: I guess my only advice would be: Don’t let any one intimidate your from going and making films. Everyone says ‘Oh, it’s so hard.’ And I just think that until you lift every single stone and look behind every single door, you are not allowed to say, ‘It is too hard.’