Annie Marie Elliot’s directorial debut is a real horror cult – HERO

EJ: How did you make the transition to cinema?
AME: I’m adopted and I was so shy as a kid that some people thought I was dumb. I was in a very big family of siblings and they are all older so it was very rowdy. I was always super artistic as a kid. I have really bad ADD so I wasn’t the best in school. I knew I wanted to do something in the arts, but I was too shy to get into acting or directing. I started modeling at fifteen, then moved to LA on my own when I was seventeen with $30 to my name. Modeling was paying the bills for seven years, I lived in London modeling for a year or two, training with an acting coach and then I got deported. (laughs) It was traumatic, but it’s okay. My work visa expired and then the day after I was deported I met my partner Devin, we’ve been together for six years and he gave me the confidence to pursue acting. Then I booked an A24 pilot last year and have been shopping around. I realized that I like directing much more than acting.

EJ: How do these two things inform each other?
AME: In the few projects I did I learned what to do and what not to do. I never want to stress my actors out and make them think they are doing something wrong. It was helpful to know how to talk to the actors as a director, to make them feel comfortable and confident and put them at ease. Being a former model and actor, some of my actors have said, “Oh my God, Annie, you’re the first director to ever tell me to raise my neck a little higher because you have a double chin.” (both laugh)

EJ: In terms of framing and aesthetics when making your films, which directors do you look to as reference points?
AME: Definitely Ari Aster and Greta Gerwig. I didn’t even like horror movies growing up, but after seeing them Hereditary I said, “What the hell? I am so disturbed.” I had to go home and think about it and analyze it for weeks. I’m also inspired by Darren Aronofsky – I like directors who make me feel a certain way, like Greta Gerwig made me feel in The ladybug – It simply stayed with me. A lot of
Ari Aster and Darren Aronofsky’s movies are heavy metaphors to go home and analyze.

EJ: You mentioned that you didn’t like horror before Hereditary and now you’ve made a horror film, what draws you to the genre? Are there other genres you’d like to explore?
AME: I didn’t like horror movies until Hereditary because I feel like it’s very easy to make a cheap horror movie or make a slasher that we’ve all seen before. I like horror films that have a surrealism and a psychological twist. I definitely want to do a coming of age story, The ladybug and Hereditary they are my favorite movies.

EJ: I like it The ladybugwhen a coming-of-age movie is done right, they’re just perfect.
AME: So true, The ladybug it was so sad. I want to explore more films like this that show the complexity of interpersonal relationships.