We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Danner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The first thing that comes to mind as a meaningful project is certainly the last film I directed, Miranda’s Victim, which is being released in theaters on October 6th. It was a unique story about Patricia Weir who fought for justice after her assault in 1963. And in the aftermath, the Miranda Ruling was created. Stories about justice are important to me because so many injustices happen in the world. My hope for this story is that it will inspire many to not stay quiet and speak up. Since 1963, there have been many brave women that spoke their truth. It has been very clear with the #MeToo movement that we are still working through this. There are too many injustices where the people responsible never faced consequences.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a film and stage director and acting coach. I have taught my workshop The Golden Box all around the world. It was my father, Alexander Valdez, who opened the very first William Morris Agency in Paris, France. That instilled a strong passion and word that stayed with me. After studying acting in Paris and New York with Stella Adler and Uta Hagen, I have taught acting for the last 30 years, privately with celebrities and at my acting studio the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory.
I have directed several Feature Films including the comedy “How To Go Out On A Date In Queens”, the thriller “Hello Herman”, the family film “The Bandit Hound”, the thrillers “Bad Impulse” and “The Runner” and most recently the legal thriller “Miranda’s Victim” starring Abigail Breslin, Ryan Phillippe, Luke Wilson, Mireille Enos, Andy Garcia and Donald Sutherland. And I just finished principal photography on “The Italians”, a family comedy.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, it’s a passion to tell stories. I am very interested in what is socially relevant because I feel that filmmaking is playing to a big classroom. My mission is to tell stories that are compelling and entertaining. I’m driven to tell human stories.

I love working with actors, both on stage and in film. And I know art changes peoples lives and that will always be the fire in my belly that will push me to keep being creative.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When you want to express yourself creatively and you can find a way to do it, there is nothing more rewarding than that. You get to share your vision with other people and have conversations about it. I love the collaborative spirit of it. When you finished working on a scene and you did a take and everybody on set is moved and tuned it, you know that you have reached people, affected them. And that, for me, is one of the most rewarding aspects of this creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michelledanner.com
• Instagram: @michelledannerla

Image Credits
Headshot by Bjoern Kommerrell Pictures by Walter Thomson