We met up with Director Karina Lafayette to learn more about her role as a director.
As a child, did you want to be a director or did it fall into place through other activities?
I’ve always been creative. I started off writing short stories in elementary school, and somehow one day in sixth grade I decided to write song lyrics. At that point I wanted to become a music producer, having grown up in a family where a lot of my relatives play music, and my uncle even produced bands for a number of years. Finally by my second year of high school- at about fourteen- we were reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream in English class, and I sort of fell in love with the storytelling and how I could picture the characters while reading. That’s when I started writing my first screenplay.
Who inspired you to follow your dream to pursue a career in film directing?
I guess a number of people and things sort of led me here. Like serendipity. When I was younger my grandmother used to babysit me, and on weekends I remember us watching ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’, and a lot of old movies with Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant. Then there’s my Uncle Joe and Uncle Sam, who both passed away a few years ago- they gave me my first camera back in 2012, right around when the Quebec Student Strike was about to happen. It was a tiny Fujifilm camera, and I decided to carry it with me at the protests, and I used it to do some of the interviews in my documentary on the strike. There was no plan for a documentary at first either, the clips just came together. I didn’t even know how to use a camera properly at the time. I just wanted to record everything because it was a special time.
What challenges have you faced in the entertainment industry?
Probably something that most women in the industry deal with. I’ve been lucky that almost all the sets I work on are pretty 50/50 when it comes to cast and crew, but the dynamic onset is still very much the same a lot of the time, with male crew members and male actors being heard the most. Looking at the statistics, something around only 18% directors right now are women. It’s also that much harder to get financing and support from government funded programs unless you’re already established in the field.
Another challenge I think has to do with my age- I’m only turning 26 next month but I’ve been doing this, for what feels like forever! I was basically a kid when I started writing screenplays, so despite having that experience there’s still this necessity for many of us to have to prove ourselves more than we should have to. That has to do with society, not just film.
What has been your most rewarding experience?
Definitely moving to Toronto! I choose to move here with about $1200 saved up from a job I had back in Montreal, and didn’t know what I was in for. The first few months were hard, but I quickly developed a strong support network and even got to freelance as a script supervisor. My first job here was serving popcorn at TIFF.
What is your favourite type of character to write?
I like coming up with characters that people relate to. A funny pattern in almost all of my work till now, is most of the characters tend to be “outsiders”, who usually aren’t very close to their family or have some issue with being ostracized, or this feeling of “not good enough”. Then at some point they overcome it and live happily ever after. I guess it’s a lot like my own background.
What market do you currently work in?
I’m mostly based near North York and Downtown Toronto.
Are there other areas you would like to work?
Recently I released a poetry book on Amazon. It’s a collection of poems and some lyrics I wrote in the past decade. I’m also really interested in doing work to help people who deal with poverty, and would like to open an art school one. Art education keeps getting cuts in the public school system, and that’s something I want to change.
What advice would you give to someone new trying to make it in the film industry?
I’d be careful to give too much advice, because in some ways I have taken risks for my career. It probably has to do with my childhood being unstable and moving around growing up. When I moved to Toronto I wasn’t that prepared, but at the same time that leap of faith is kind of necessary. The reward is only worth the pay off if you come in here with a clear plan and vision. Film is more work than it looks, so if you want to make it, you have to be all in. You can’t have one foot in the door, and one foot out. There’s no plan B- like I always heard in high school, and there’s no “what if”. You have to be committed to making it work, like a relationship. Do a lot of networking, but most importantly, let people be there for you. You need each other.
Why did you decide to stop your corporate life to become a director?
Haha! I don’t think I’ve had much of a corporate life. Aside from doing different customer service jobs and temporary jobs in-between to help with bills, much of my life is really about film. I have a few friends and relatives outside of the industry to keep me grounded, but beyond that, my head and heart are in movies, always.
What fuels your passion?
Knowing that I’m not the first one to go through certain challenges to build a good career and having role models. I listen to Les Brown and enjoy watching documentaries about other directors and even musicians. It’s a sad cliché that so many artists come from tough childhoods- obviously not all of them but quite a few stand out. When you grow up feeling like you’re not taken seriously or accepted, art is always there. Having also dealt with abuse, there were times when writing and directing were the only outlets to express myself. Now I have so much more and I have friends to count on, but film has definitely been a constant.
What is something about you that most people would never guess?
That I’m really assertive and stubborn. I always know what my goals are and what I want, but I’m also introverted, so it takes a while for me to warm up to new people. Being vulnerable is something I need to work on. I like sharing ideas with people, as long as everyone can feel accepted. We don’t have to always agree with each other to love each other, you know. I don’t like the idea of fitting the mold, or having to follow trends to be a part of something. Individuals are awesome.
If you were to do it all over again, would you do things exactly the same?
And put myself through the same panic attacks and anxiety- of course. It’s nice not to be able to predict the future, otherwise stubborn me probably would have tried to avoid changing. Mountains are hard at first but the view is worth it.
Do you have any regrets?
University. It’s great for many fields and filmmaking isn’t one of them. You really can teach yourself how to use a camera and how to write a script by actually doing those things, and there are ways to get experience onset, by volunteering and freelancing. Commitment can take you a lot further than just having a degree.
Successes that make you proud?
Graduating from college is one of them. It gave me a lot of experience and I’m still in touch with one of my teachers from Dawson. Then in 2015 I had my first interview on Global Television with Jamie Orchard for ‘The Student Diaries’, because it also happened to be the same weekend as the three year anniversary since the strike. That project took almost two years to work on and to share it with people felt really emotional. I visited Montreal this February to do the show again to talk about my first feature called ‘Jane & Finch’. We’re going into production soon and I’m really excited about this one! So everything’s come full circle. Right now we have an Indiegogo campaign, so anyone who would like to either donate, or learn more about the film (my baby) should definitely check it out.
To follow Karina, please check out the links below:
Facebook: Jane & Finch – The Movie
Queen of Hearts – A series of poems
Instagram: @janeandfinchmovie
Twitter: @BlackthornJane
For the ‘Jane & Finch’ teaser trailer and to donate to the Indiegogo campaign:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfTIuPMKrb0
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jane-finch–3#/
To order a copy of Karina’s poetry book:
