Scott MacLeay - Interview

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What really excites you artistically or emotionally?

In a single word: “exploration” – particularly of the human condition and my position as a participant in this ongoing enigmatic circus. I believe in the importance of being lost, of having to use all of our intellectual and emotional resources to find our way in unknown environments.


Marlon Brando said “Never confuse the size of your paycheck with the size of your talent”. Do you agree?

Unequivocally yes!

Have you ever been discouraged by someone about your life\career choices?


Honestly no, I have never been discouraged by someone about my life or career choices. I was fortunate to have parents that always supported my decisions even when they did not feel they were the right ones from their perspectives. They had confidence in my judgements about myself. I think that this is fairly rare. I am fortunate to have a wife and daughter who provide me with love and support. To be honest, I never really cared about what people thought about my choices in life or about my work. Perhaps it sounds arrogant, but I always thought that I alone was capable of appraising my actions, failures and successes in any truly relevant manner. 


Do you think is harder for a woman being a filmmaker?


Yes. In fact, I think that with few exceptions, it is unfortunately more difficult for women to break into most professions at every level of activity. When you think objectively about this, aside from the obvious intolerance such a situation reveals, it is simply ludicrous to prevent the world from benefiting from 

the intelligence, talents and creativity of such a large segment of the population. The same is true of course for minorities of all types who suffer intolerance and discrimination. 


Do you think that fame and money could easily change your own vision as a filmmaker\actor\screenwriter?

No, at least not consciously.  However, who really knows how such events ultimately affect our work without us even realizing it. I think this is the reason it is so important to take risks and explore new directions throughout our journey as artists. 


Who’s the Movie star that made you dream for the first time?

If we are speaking of the great stars of traditional cinema, I would say Peter Sellers. I am thinking here of films like The Pink Panther, Dr. Strangelove and The Party. His unique form of humour struck a chord in me and I discovered that worlds capable of transporting us to intriguing new places could be created in short works of an hour and a half.  If we are speaking about the stars of the video art world, then without a doubt I would have to say Nam June Paik was responsible for my awakening to the power of this new form of expression to reinvent our dreams in altogether new non-narrative ways that injected doubt, ambiguity and uncertainty into the equation. I have Don Foresta and Anne Marie Stein of the Center for Media Art at the American Center in Paris to thank for introducing me to video art in the period from 1980-1983.



Make a wish about your career...

My simple wish would be to continue to explore, take chances and produce work I feel is relevant until my dying breath.


Talking about cinema\showbusiness, how hard is to remain completely honest to yourself as an artist?

It is remarkably easy for me as I am not affiliated in any manner with the traditional cinema or showbusiness world. These worlds have no influence on my motivations, perspectives or actions. 

The film you have loved the most?


To be honest, I can’t really name one film. Depending on my state of mind, my answer would be completely different and would in all cases be totally divorced from whatever work I was doing at the time. The traditional cinema was always, for the most part, simply entertainment to me, a way of taking a break. 

However, there are films which left a trace for one reason or another: Casablanca (because it was my father’s favourite film), Citizen Kane (the use of light and camera angles), Death in Venice (the cinematography and complete synergy of music and image), Love and Anarchy (the wonderful mix of Italian humour, romance and political drama), Annie Hall (the humour and relevance of the portraits traced), Stranger Than Paradise (relevance of the mundane), Blue Velvet (innovative revisiting of the “film noire” genre), Betty Blue (perspectives on marginality) … I could go on … but there is no single film that stands out from the rest. I honestly don’t know how there could be given the immense variety of work.


And now, don’t be shy …. the one that annoyed you the most?


Once again, hard to name one, there are so many. I just don’t see the value of repeating stereotyped narrative formats over and over and over again. If I had to pick a film that is perhaps symbolic of my lack of enthusiasm for this type of cinema, I might choose “Titanic”, because I don’t like the concept of “blockbuster” movies in general, but to be perfectly honest 99% of Hollywood’s romance and romantic comedy films would be on my list of annoying films. The exception to my dislike of these genres would be Italian films of directors like Fellini, Scola, Pasolini and Wertmüller.


Your biggest artistic goal is …


I would say that it is attempting to be true to my values while continuing my journey of exploration and discovery in the new media universe. It has always been my goal. I have had the good fortune to have my still images exhibited worldwide and my videos featured in major festivals around the world. I obviously greatly appreciate this privilege and am deeply indebted to the dedication of those persons who supported and promoted my work over the years, but notoriety was never my goal. I always looked upon “success” as a lucky by-product of my dedication – lucky because I was fortunate to have encountered like-minded people who enriched my life in so many ways and opened doors that I might have never known existed.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Master carpenter / woodworker


How important is to be rewarded as an Artist?

It depends on your definition of “rewarded”. If by this you mean financial reward, then obviously it is always gratifying when people or institutions purchase works or sponsor projects. I have been fortunate in this way. However, it is fundamentally important that young artists understand that no amount of dedication and/or talent can guarantee financial stability from your artwork alone. You need to be able to fall back on some other income-generating source if you intend to make art your priority. If by “rewarded”, you refer to recognition by the public and/or your peers, then I would say that it is always gratifying, at least temporarily, and can certainly help us over the periods of doubt that we all encounter along our journey. However, once again, it is not fundamentally essential to seeing our work progress in ways we find relevant. Only solid commitment to our journey can ensure progress. 

But beware. Sometimes the rewards of money and recognition are a double-edged sword, constituting unconscious enemies capable of promoting a certain stagnation with respect to our processes and subject matter. The status quo is the enemy of progress.


Do you have regrets?


None. They only serve to slow you down.  I have always believed that my decisions and actions in the past were based on my best analysis of the situation at the time and how that situation affected my goals. I always chose the path that I thought best served these goals. We evolve over time and perhaps who we are today would not have made the same choices, but that is irrelevant because at the time, we were not who we are today. The only justification for regret to exist is a situation in which we purposely chose to not be faithful to our values and goals for some reason. I cannot remember any situation where this was my case. 


What’s the message you wanna express through your art?
   

Truth is elusive and evolving. Dig deeper, we can always understand our existence and the world around us more thoroughly. Always question everyone’s thoughts and perspectives, including your own.

For you a Film is...

about enjoying, entertaining, and imagining new creative ideas and sharing them with the crew to develop a great piece of work and ultimately present it to the audiences. 

What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing? 

I feel a mix of excitement and a bit of nervousness when I’m directing.

You can go to the Movies with an actor/director/screenplayer that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and with who you're gonna watch it?

I will go to the Movies with a famous Japanese actor, Takuya Kimura, will watch the action and thriller detective film like Sherlock Holmes. 

Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is Impossible”, what do you think about it?

I believe that with positive thinking and strong belief, anything can be achieved on the path to success.

Can you live just of your passion?

I don’t think so. You need money and support from others to live out your passion. 

What's more important talent or luck?

I believe both are important, but luck is more important than talent. Moreover, talent can be developed through effort and practice. Many celebrities fall into the latter category.

You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie... 

Blade Runner 

Have you ever accepted a part/ a movie to direct/ a script to write even if you didn't like the project?

No, I haven’t had that experience before. I usually choose things that interest me.

What's the best compliment you have received about your Job?

A producer, Al Boyd, complimented me, saying, ‘Brilliant work, Vivian. You should be proud of yourself.’ I volunteered to be one of the extras to help others while the actors practiced their lines during the rehearsal.

Are you satisfied about your career?

I would say that I’m not satisfied. I’m still searching for my dream job. I’m actively joining different communities and networking to meet more people and expand my connections.

Do you have a good luck charm?

I believe that I always do. 

Which is the worst moment on set ?

When everyone is getting tired, and you still need to complete filming, it becomes incredibly stressful. With multiple takes and repeated shots, the pressure builds, especially when you’re running out of time and need to finish everything overnight.

How do you feel when a job you've been part of it's ending?

I felt accomplished, honoured and relieved, as it felt like I had completed a mission and was able to witness the entire process unfold.

Have you ever lied to get a part/job?

No, I haven’t done anything like that before.

If you should win an Oscar your first thought would go to…  the teachers who taught me filmmaking during my time at university film school.

My Master’s film school teacher, Debbie Ballin, taught me so much, especially about storytelling in documentaries and the craftsmanship of creating films. She provided me with significant guidance and inspiration for making my independent film.

Mark Thomas, who introduced me to Debbie as my tutor, also gave me a wealth of helpful advice. He was as a fantastic source of inspiration, offering thoughtful critique and feedback on my work.

Lastly, my undergraduate film teacher, Evangelo Angelo Costadimas, was a great source of support. He invited guest speakers to give us a deeper understanding of the film industry in Hong Kong. He also showed excellent leadership, guiding our class as we worked to wrap up our film projects.