We recently connected with Nancy Boyd and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nancy, thanks for joining us today. Some of the most interesting parts of our journey emerge from areas where we believe something that most people in our industry do not – do you have something like that?
Character trumps talent every time for me. I know a lot of people in the film industry who continue to hire people who aren’t the best to work with because of their talent. In my experience, it’s never worth it. There are so many kind, caring, collaborative people in the world and this industry and many of them are extremely talented. If you take the time to look for them, you will find them. I think that if you can help it, you must gather a crew of people who will create a positive environment on set. We are working 12 hour days together; we might as well enjoy the company we keep. I think that a positive and relaxed enviornment makes everyone more comfortable to share ideas and be creative. When you have a tense set, people close themselves off and I think the work suffers for it. So why hire people who create a negative environment when it is bad for the people and bad for the work?
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m a filmmaker who tells stories that center women. Whimsy and laughter are the tools of my trade. I remember thinking for the longest time that I had to be very serious to take my art seriously. While in graduate school at USC, I learned that I shouldn’t stifle my voice by putting myself in this box and everything flowed much more freely. I just recently directed a dramedy feature film, Lady Parts. In the movie, a young woman’s sex life becomes a family affair when she has to undergo a vulvar vestibulectomy. Her loving, but overbearing parents help her through recovery (despite her cringing) and learn that saying “vagina” loud and proud is the first step to advocating for herself in all aspects of her life. I love being able to spend awareness about a topic I care deeply about (vaginal and women’s health) using my native tongue: comedy. I want to tell important stories that teach people things not through documentary, but rather have them learn while laughing.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I’m a person who starts to go stir crazy when she’s not creating. I truly cannot imagine a life where I’m not making something. I’ve had some moments in my life where the work I’m doing is more right brained and producing oriented. It can be a different kind of creativity, but some of it is a lot of spreadsheets and numbers and emails. In those moments, I’ve found that my mental health declines if I don’t spend time being creative outside of the work. Maybe I’m too busy to direct a short film or write a feature in that moment, but I can take some photos or draw, or write a short story. Being creative is a need. The most rewarding part of being an artist as a living is that my work fulfills this need. And when it doesn’t, I know what I can do to fill it while I wait for the next bit of work that does!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I think that people should know sooner that your fellow filmmakers are not your competition. The people you surround yourself with are the greatest resources you can have. Surround yourself with people smarter and more talented than you and don’t be jealous. Go to their film screenings. Shout their successes! Learn from them. And keep working so you can become resources for them too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/fancypantsynancy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancypantsynancy/
- Other: https://ladypartsfilm.com
Image Credits
Photos are stills from Lady Parts and BTS photos by Nate Comay. Headshot by Khayman Brunswick.