We recently connected with Nicola Rose and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicola, thanks for joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

The kindest thing people have ever done for me is lend me their talent and time. A few instances come to mind in particular. My producing partner, Tierney Boorboor, took a chance on a first-time feature filmmaker when she teamed up with me to make my film “Goodbye, Petrushka.” You don’t become a first-time feature filmmaker without somebody taking that chance on you, and I can’t overstate how much smoother and easier she made that process.

When it came time to make my second feature, “Magnetosphere,” I was bowled over when four first-rate comedians — three of them Canadian comedy legends (Colin Mochrie, Patrick McKenna, and Debra McGrath) and one a YouTube star (Steven He) — all agreed to star in the movie. I was floored by their generosity and I still am. You talk about somebody taking a chance on you. For whatever reason, they decided it was a good idea, and I will always be grateful to them.

Without these gifts of others’ time and skill (and there are so many more I haven’t mentioned), there is no way I would have accomplished what I have. Like most lucky filmmakers, I owe a lot to a lot of people. I hope to pay it forward and help other filmmakers make their own work happen one day. It doesn’t happen without others’ support.

Nicola, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a filmmaker (director, editor and sometimes producer). I have made two feature films, the coming-of-age comedy GOODBYE, PETRUSHKA — now streaming on Amazon, Tubi and others — and the family comedy MAGNETOSPHERE, about a little girl with synesthesia, due out next year. My website is nicolarosedirects.com.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Take them seriously, respect them, and pay them. Recognize that all the content and entertainment you consume comes from people working like dogs to create it. Society would do itself a favor to acknowledge that creators and freelancers deserve dignity, respect and a living wage – just like athletes, lawyers, doctors and so forth.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Getting to work with actors – specifically, creating an environment in which they feel calm, happy and playful enough to do their best work. If I can make that happen successfully, it means I’m doing my job.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nicolarosedirects.com
• Instagram: @nicolarosedirects, @goodbyepetrushkafilm and @magnetospheremovie
• Twitter: @nicolardirects
• Youtube: @nicolarosedirects

Image Credits
Headshot: Kisha Peart