COVER er career has taken off. In 2009, Ukrainian-American actress Vera Farmiga, 38, moviNg was Oscar-nominated for BestH Supporting Actress for “Up in the Air” in a role that gave her the upper hand to George Clooney. That same year, she also starred opposite Peter to Sarsgaard in the dark thriller, “Orphan.” Her first big studio film was 2006’s “The Departed” where she played love interest to hunky leading men Leonardo HigHer DiCaprio and Matt Damon. This year Farmiga has joined that very small world of female movie directors with “Higher Ground” (release date: August 12th). Not only was she directing for Vera Farmiga as Corinne Walker, ground photo by Molly Hawkey, the first time, she was also four months pregnant when the project began. The Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics By Dorri Olds movie premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was included in New New York Resident: When did you first decide you wanted to direct ‘Higher Ground?’ York’s Tribeca Film Festival. Vera Farmiga: I had a deep affection for the story and became attached to the movie The film asks if it is possible for faith first as an actress. A man named Tim Metcalfe introduced me to the script. He had co- and doubt to coexist. Though the story is written it with Carolyn Briggs. But when the project wasn’t going in the direction that I centered on a Christian fundamentalist wanted it to, I removed myself. Metcalfe didn’t want me to back out so he suggested I take religion, “Higher Ground” is not about more control and make it the movie I envisioned. So I did. the rights and wrongs of different NYR: What is the main message of ‘Higher Ground?’ faiths. “The film is about the moments VF: The film is about yearning on the deepest level. Yearning for a sense of a genuine in life where you lose sight of who self, a good self. It’s about holiness. you are,” Farmiga said, “and what you NYR: Did you draw from any other films when you directed it? believe in, and where you are going. VF: ‘The Apostle’ was a good reference for me. I have a deep respect for many faiths It’s about finding your footing during and have no axe to grind with any. I was not interested in proselytizing or trying to those moments of stumbling in life. convert anyone. Nor did I want to make fun of any religion. ‘Higher Ground’ shows that it’s okay to NYR: The movie depicts a religious fanaticism though. fall short, to be inadequate. It’s okay to VF: Yes, the religion in the movie has a fanatical fundamental approach. be afraid and have doubt because there NYR: Was it a strange transition to go from actress to director? will be a path through. You possess VF: It was a challenge compressing the book’s 20 years of life down to movie length. I all you need to draw yourself up to a also learned that ego must be kept in check, both on the set and with your audience. It’s higher ground, to your highest self.” an interesting balance not to take audiences as dunces. You don’t have to spell it all out. The movie embraces the gray area I decided to use the novel as a springboard. I was intrigued by creating a representation within the black and white rules of of the book’s strong female friendship. I had the right actress for Annika. Dagmara religion. Farmiga’s character, Corinne, Dominczyk played the kind of strong woman you want to be—seductive, Mother Earth, struggles with relationships—her voluptuous. The character made no apology for who she was. She was just Annika. parents, friends, husband, children, God, NYR: Was it difficult to make the toe-sucking scene between your character Corinne and herself. “The examination of these and her best friend Annika? VF: It was hard to keep a straight face! We used pink frosting from cupcakes which relationships,” Farmiga said, “proves tasted great. We were acting out Corinne’s sensory fantasies. They were therapeutic how porous and murky a spiritual path during her pregnancy. My pregnancy progressed as it did for the character. I was five can be at times. It explores a notion months pregnant when we wrapped. We shot the whole film in 26 days. It was amazing. I’ve experienced my whole life—that But it was hard enough for me to never want to do that again! spiritual life is hard to master. Great NYR: Were you concerned about how to handle the touchy subject of religion? faith requires great striving.” VF: I love to see spirituality in films no matter what religion. Right now there is a surge Farmiga walked into our Soho of this topic. It’s like a Y2K feeling around 2012. The economic crash of 2008 forced meeting looking even more beautiful people to reexamine themselves. Movies I’m most drawn to are about awakening—like AcAdemy AwArd-NomiNAted Actress than I expected. She seemed right out Alice in Wonderland falling down a rabbit hole and meeting a whole new world. of an Ivory soap commercial, with little NYR: How were the actors chosen for ‘Higher Ground?’ makeup and the look of a farm girl VF: I was able to get every actor I wanted. I had tremendous control over casting. I with a complexion of fresh air, good knew I wanted to be surrounded by the right people; that it would make my job easier. I food and innocence. Her azure eyes wanted people around me who had a commitment to artistic integrity. During the time were ethereal and her smile natural. of filming my sister Taissa was 15. She’s the runt of us 7 kids. Taissa wasn’t looking to Vera Farmiga She exuded kindness and grace and be an actress. Another one of my sisters had a cameo at the beginning. In the scene in appeared eager to talk about the film. the nursing home I used our real grandma who has dementia and speaks in Ukrainian is Now A director Continued on Page 35

Resident August 2011 • 33 COVER er career has taken off. In 2009, Ukrainian-American actress Vera Farmiga, 38, moviNg was Oscar-nominated for BestH Supporting Actress for “Up in the Air” in a role that gave her the upper hand to George Clooney. That same year, she also starred opposite Peter to Sarsgaard in the dark thriller, “Orphan.” Her first big studio film was 2006’s “The Departed” where she played love interest to hunky leading men Leonardo HigHer DiCaprio and Matt Damon. This year Farmiga has joined that very small world of female movie directors with “Higher Ground” (release date: August 12th). Not only was she directing for Vera Farmiga as Corinne Walker, ground photo by Molly Hawkey, the first time, she was also four months pregnant when the project began. The Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics By Dorri Olds movie premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was included in New New York Resident: When did you first decide you wanted to direct ‘Higher Ground?’ York’s Tribeca Film Festival. Vera Farmiga: I had a deep affection for the story and became attached to the movie The film asks if it is possible for faith first as an actress. A man named Tim Metcalfe introduced me to the script. He had co- and doubt to coexist. Though the story is written it with Carolyn Briggs. But when the project wasn’t going in the direction that I centered on a Christian fundamentalist wanted it to, I removed myself. Metcalfe didn’t want me to back out so he suggested I take religion, “Higher Ground” is not about more control and make it the movie I envisioned. So I did. the rights and wrongs of different NYR: What is the main message of ‘Higher Ground?’ faiths. “The film is about the moments VF: The film is about yearning on the deepest level. Yearning for a sense of a genuine in life where you lose sight of who self, a good self. It’s about holiness. you are,” Farmiga said, “and what you NYR: Did you draw from any other films when you directed it? believe in, and where you are going. VF: ‘The Apostle’ was a good reference for me. I have a deep respect for many faiths It’s about finding your footing during and have no axe to grind with any. I was not interested in proselytizing or trying to those moments of stumbling in life. convert anyone. Nor did I want to make fun of any religion. ‘Higher Ground’ shows that it’s okay to NYR: The movie depicts a religious fanaticism though. fall short, to be inadequate. It’s okay to VF: Yes, the religion in the movie has a fanatical fundamental approach. be afraid and have doubt because there NYR: Was it a strange transition to go from actress to director? will be a path through. You possess VF: It was a challenge compressing the book’s 20 years of life down to movie length. I all you need to draw yourself up to a also learned that ego must be kept in check, both on the set and with your audience. It’s higher ground, to your highest self.” an interesting balance not to take audiences as dunces. You don’t have to spell it all out. The movie embraces the gray area I decided to use the novel as a springboard. I was intrigued by creating a representation within the black and white rules of of the book’s strong female friendship. I had the right actress for Annika. Dagmara religion. Farmiga’s character, Corinne, Dominczyk played the kind of strong woman you want to be—seductive, Mother Earth, struggles with relationships—her voluptuous. The character made no apology for who she was. She was just Annika. parents, friends, husband, children, God, NYR: Was it difficult to make the toe-sucking scene between your character Corinne and herself. “The examination of these and her best friend Annika? VF: It was hard to keep a straight face! We used pink frosting from cupcakes which relationships,” Farmiga said, “proves tasted great. We were acting out Corinne’s sensory fantasies. They were therapeutic how porous and murky a spiritual path during her pregnancy. My pregnancy progressed as it did for the character. I was five can be at times. It explores a notion months pregnant when we wrapped. We shot the whole film in 26 days. It was amazing. I’ve experienced my whole life—that But it was hard enough for me to never want to do that again! spiritual life is hard to master. Great NYR: Were you concerned about how to handle the touchy subject of religion? faith requires great striving.” VF: I love to see spirituality in films no matter what religion. Right now there is a surge Farmiga walked into our Soho of this topic. It’s like a Y2K feeling around 2012. The economic crash of 2008 forced meeting looking even more beautiful people to reexamine themselves. Movies I’m most drawn to are about awakening—like AcAdemy AwArd-NomiNAted Actress than I expected. She seemed right out Alice in Wonderland falling down a rabbit hole and meeting a whole new world. of an Ivory soap commercial, with little NYR: How were the actors chosen for ‘Higher Ground?’ makeup and the look of a farm girl VF: I was able to get every actor I wanted. I had tremendous control over casting. I with a complexion of fresh air, good knew I wanted to be surrounded by the right people; that it would make my job easier. I food and innocence. Her azure eyes wanted people around me who had a commitment to artistic integrity. During the time were ethereal and her smile natural. of filming my sister Taissa was 15. She’s the runt of us 7 kids. Taissa wasn’t looking to Vera Farmiga She exuded kindness and grace and be an actress. Another one of my sisters had a cameo at the beginning. In the scene in appeared eager to talk about the film. the nursing home I used our real grandma who has dementia and speaks in Ukrainian is Now A director Continued on Page 35

Resident August 2011 • 33 Vera Farmiga Continued from Page 33

Dagmara Dominczyk as Annika and Vera Farmiga as Corinne Walker, photo by Michael McDonough, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics her since she was a baby. I love her face. It with your life and a respect for individuals can express so much. I don’t know if she’d who are also searching. I believe that ever had a kiss before the movie. She’d all paths lead to God. But that means Taissa Farmiga definitely never acted before. I didn’t know something different to everybody. Even as Teenage it then but my producers were freaking out atheists have some type of god—be it Corrine Walker that I cast her without auditioning her or money or something else to put their faith gibberish so she was perfect to play the putting her on tape. During the filming of in. They have to deal with the same issues part of a woman in a nursing home with that sex scene there were like 40 people on of being real with themselves, about their dementia. set but Taissa is so open she wasn’t scared. life, their yearnings, disappointments and NYR: Many of the women in the movie Honestly, it was easy to direct her and pure relationships. seemed very passive, unliberated. Was that joy for me. NYR: How was it working with George intentional? NYR: Who was the girl that played your Clooney in “Up in the Air”? VF: It was the 1970s so the characters toddler daughter? VF: George is such a delight to be dressed like progressive hippies but it VF: My son! around. It is endearing that he isn’t jaded. was not a progressive time for women NYR: Was it difficult to get Taissa to agree His fame began in his 30s and yet he still and equality. In the 70s women were just to be in the movie? acts grateful to be on a movie set. He’s beginning to become pastors. During that VF: She was reluctant at first but I talked always in a good mood and puts everybody time both men and women put women in her into it and now she’s signed with a big else in one too. He doesn’t have a big ego a box—it was a certain black-and-white agent! My other sister in the film, Wendy, and loves putting the spotlight on others. thinking and it wasn’t specific to faith. My worked out great. For a lot of the cast I used He is the epitome of how every actor character, Corinne, felt oppressed from local people who were perfect for their roles. should be. an early age in her relationship with her I wanted to use as many locals as possible. If NYR: In the recently released sci-fi thriller, mother, who was limiting and controlling. you are going to use non-actors it has to be ‘Source Code’, you share the screen with Her relationship with her best friend Annika because you are in a 100-mile radius from Jake Gyllenhaal. How was that experience? was so delightfully opposite. When Corinne union actors and we were in the remote VF: It’s funny, we weren’t actually filming took up accordion playing it demonstrated Mid-Hudson Valley Ulster County area of together even though it looked that way on how Annika had inspired her to take up New York where I live. screen. Our characters were in two different more space in the world. NYR: What are your opinions about the physical realities so we shot our sequences NYR: What did you want the audience to religion depicted in the film? separately. But I know Jake, he’s a friend of know about Corinne? VF: I don’t want to talk too much mine and I can tell you that he is charming, VF: That she grew up with that about that. I don’t want to affect people’s sweet and generous. oppression plus a huge disappointment in experience of the film. I grew up in a NYR: What’s ahead on your horizon? her parents’ love. She felt so much sadness, household that started out Catholic then VF: I take different jobs for different a yearning in her life. Always looking for a turned Christian. I don’t want to tell people reasons. I’m especially drawn to Indie savior she was drawn to her husband Ethan what religion means to me. It’s about a films. I very much enjoyed working on the and their kids, and to God and religion. But fictitious character based on the book. recently released ‘Henry’s Crime’ which Corinne continued to feel lost and full of NYR: How do you think atheists might stars Keanu Reeves. And I want to direct doubts. feel about the film? again. Instead of waiting for the right NYR: How was it directing your younger VF: I would hope they have the openness scripts to be offered, I’ve made the choice sister, Taissa, in a sex scene? to look at the script and replace whatever to stop asking for permission and create the VF: [Vera’s face lit up] My sister is bold opinion they have about God and religion. projects I want. It’s important not to take with moxie and she’s a very good friend to The story is about yearning for intimacy— anything for granted. I count my blessings. me. There’s a 21-year difference in our ages with your husband, your mom, and your Dorri Olds (DorriOlds.com) is a freelance writer and I’ve been obsessed with photographing kids—and about a thoughtful relationship and web designer.

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