Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Marshall Hall
Spencer Zender has gone from shooting a remake of the movie Semi-Pro with friends and family to writing and directing a feature film, What’s My Name Again?, that won ‘Best Drama’ at the IFS Film Festival in Los Angeles. Zender talked to NYOTA about movies that inspire him, filming during COVID-19, and writing a film based on actual events.
Do you remember there being a certain film that sparked your interest in filmmaking?
A few different films have had a profound impact on me at different stages of life. A Knight’s Tale was the first movie I watched on repeat! I couldn’t get enough of how seamlessly the contemporary rock and dance weaved into the period and how many genres were blended through the story. My goal in anything I write is to bend and subvert genre, and music, specifically needle drops, have been integral elements of my style. Those aspects of my filmmaking approach definitely came from A Knight’s Tale. Swingers was the movie that made me believe I could make movies! With such a low budget, the actors being friends and making something that felt lived in, personal and fun was very inspiring. After watching the film, I immediately started writing my first feature script (still unfinished), my ode to making it in Los Angeles. Silver Linings Playbook was around the time the spark turned into a small blaze that then went full wildfire after seeing Birdman.
Who are directors that inspire you?
David O. Russell, Yorgos Lanthimos, the Coen Brothers and Martin McDonagh are making the movies I want to make. My sensibility leans towards drama that is so heightened that it is comedic. I think these directors make the absurd feel exciting, yet grounded and relatable. That is a really interesting balance to me.
Tell our readers about your upcoming film What’s My Name Again? Which is inspired by real life events. Was it cathartic to work on?
What’s My Name Again? is a coming-of-age dramedy set in San Diego in 1985. It follows Bo, a seemingly quintessential SoCal teen whose identity unravels as he’s forced to choose one of his 3 fathers’ last names before he turns 18. The story takes place around the 72 hours before, during and after Bo’s birthday, where he confronts his sordid upbringing and the impact each of his 3 fathers had on his makeshift identity and the legacy that each of their names carries. The film was inspired by my father and his unconventional relationship with his mother and three dads.
My goal was to create as much distance between the real-life events and the characters as I could without jeopardizing the details of the people and story that inspired me to write it in the first place. The film is not a biography or even close to historically accurate, but it does convey some of the unique personalities, struggles and sense of humor that I grew up around. There were a few moments on set that felt like I was looking into a time capsule or was stuck in a vivid dream watching some of my family members. Those moments were surreal and really stripped me down emotionally. The process helped me see the real-life people from new angles and ultimately from a place of compassion.
The film won ‘Best Drama’ at the IFS Film Festival in Los Angeles. Was that a validating moment for you as a director?
It was very validating! The festival circuit is such a daunting process, so anytime the film is selected it is both a massive relief and honor. IFS put on a really nice event and showcased a lot of inspiring, true indie films, so I was very humbled and grateful for the recognition.
What advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers?
Spend the time on the minutiae on the front end so you don’t get held up in production or stuck on the back end. Every project is exponentially more challenging and takes longer than you possibly think it could, so build your team around people that you love spending time with, love the project and are passionate about their contribution. There will definitely be times when you are a one person army, single handedly fighting to get the thing started or finished. Keep pushing and never give up!
Read the full interview in NYOTA Issue 32 here.