"One In" Director, Vasha Narace, Talks About The Upcoming Premiere At The Trinidad And Tobago Film Festival

Vasha Narace, writer, director and winner of Dutch Golden Stone Award for Best Short Fiction in 2016 chats briefly about her passion, her film and the upcoming Caribbean premiere in the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.

Vasha Narace burst on to the scene quite unexpectedly in 2016, winning Dutch Golden Stone Award for Best Short Fiction. Vasha, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, pursued acting and then an MFA in Filmmaking in Los Angeles, California. I had the opportunity to chat with her briefly about her passion, her film and the upcoming Caribbean premiere in the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.

Director Vasha Narace with Dutch Golden Stone Award for Best Short Fiction 2016

What inspired you to become a filmmaker?

I've loved acting since I was 7years old. I acted in school plays all through high school and then worked backstage for Quantum Productions at University of Miami. I finally came to LA to pursue acting, but starting off you're not supposed to have much of an opinion, which was a struggle for me. Ultimately I wanted to tell the stories, I wanted to tell them the way I wanted to tell it. At the time I had gotten into Cal State Northridge to do my MBA as per my father's request but at the last minute I decided to get my Masters in Filmmaking instead and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

What was the hardest part of making this film?

The subject matter was hard for the cast. In the beginning we couldn't get through a table read without someone crying. So I decided to have them pretend that the film was about something else completely just so we could make it through and still have some fun. Didn't want these kids going home feeling sad or depressed! During the hardest scenes we had to use body doubles and then pillow doubles because it was so uncomfortable. And then after going through all that we still didn't show a lot of what we filmed.

What kind of films do you want to make in the future?

Film over time has become a tool for glorifying violence and lifestyles that has been scientifically proven to have had a very negative impact on society. I want to break these stereotypes and change the way we see other humans by telling stories that are uncomfortable but necessary.

What projects are you working on now?

I have a feature that is inspired by true events about a Trinidadian family that I wrote with another Trinidadian filmmaker. Whilst studying acting I worked as an extra. For a couple months I was a regular on Grey’s Anatomy where I met a Trinidadian woman - what are the chances? At the time I had just started writing and was searching for material, so in between takes she would tell me stories that I would commit to memory and then as soon as I would get home I'd write everything down.

Do you plan on filming in Trinidad & Tobago?

I’d love to shoot some of my feature in Trinidad. I'd have to shoot some of it in NY too. I'm definitely open to meeting with local investors and producers to explore the possibilities.

Vasha Narace - Director of One In

One In Trailer

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