Today we’d like to introduce you to Phyllis Bancroft.
Hi Phyllis, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m originally from Hartford, Connecticut. I trained as an actress at Boston University and Circle in the Square Theater School, I quickly learned that I wanted to direct theater. I was one of those actors who had notes for everyone. This was my first clue that directing might be in the cards for me. I initially worked as an assistant director at the Hartford Stage Company, but quickly moved to NYC to work with performance artists and writers who were just starting out as a way to expand my network and skills. After having some success with that, I decided to move to Los Angeles with the hopes of directing television.
Unfortunately, the opportunities were limited. So, I took a job as an Executive Assistant at several studios and learned everything I could about the business side of Hollywood. Those years were valuable because there was a lot I didn’t know. After realizing that I didn’t want to take the path toward being an Executive, I returned to school to finish my undergraduate degree at Antioch Los Angeles and my MFA in producing from the American Film Institute Conservatory. To supplement my ambitions, I created an Arts Education program called the Red Balloon Playroom (www.redballoonplayroom.com), which was a 12-week film bootcamp for middle and high school students. Now I have eight short films, two web series and 25 student films under my belt.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am in the process of pivoting into a more expansive directing career. It has not been a particularly smooth road. Unfortunately, when I moved here, the stats for working women directors of color were dismal. Things haven’t changed much, but the industry is making headway because of people like Ava Duvernay and other programs in Hollywood that aim to even the playing field. For me, I am more ready than I have ever been to shift into to directing TV. I haven’t given up on my original goal. My latest award-winning short film …with salt. is my strongest work to date. The film is having great success on the festival circuit, Most recently the Culver City Film Festival, where my lead won Best Actress.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My AFI Thesis Film won BET’s Lens on Talent $100,000. – That was a gift that allowed me to direct my first short out of film school. You can watch it now for free at: https://tubitv.com/movies/682664/burned?start=true. I’m really proud of this film. It’s an emotionally wrenching film that tells the story of a female firefighter and Air Force veteran who returns from the Iraq war suffering from PTSD. BURNED aired on BET and Centric as well as garnering substantial recognition at film festivals nationwide.
I’m even more pleased with my latest film, “…with salt.” It’s a powerful short film that deals with the self-silencing that occurs in the aftermath of a traumatic assault. In it I explore the relationship that women have with themselves and the masks that they must wear to survive in the world. This intense drama is authentically told from a women’s perspective. It is an intricate yet subtle study of predator meets prey, leaving the naive character, Natalie (newcomer Dominique Denny), confused and dismantled by Roger’s (Grey’s Anatomy’s Moe Irvin) engaging charisma and covert manipulation. The storytelling promises to spur conversation as it courageously investigates the genesis of shame in women who are survivors of sexual assault.
I was inspired to tell this personal story after reading Roxanne Gay’s account of her own assault in Hunger. I thought: ‘if my story could touch one woman the way this writer touched me by tapping into the memory of this dark moment, the potential benefit to others will be invaluable.
I want to start a conversation that gives freedom, voice and vision to survivors who have similar defining moments. Although more the norm than not (1 in 6 women in the US) this point of view is often unseen and unspoken. It’s important to me to let survivors who have been isolated know that they are not alone.
“…with salt.” makes us look at the normalization of rape culture and the self-silencing that occurs when it happens. Instead of normalizing the culture, the movie encourages us to think about the residual damage that women often face silently as survivors of sexual assault.”
I really liked when Taraji P. Henson said ’I believe that normalizing stories around stigmatizing matters will make them more palatable for audiences to embrace.’ This is not an easy topic to discuss, and that makes it all the more important that we do talk about it.”
My willingness and passion to dive deep into difficult topics and delicately tell stories that humanize women of color set me apart from others.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Learn more about my creative process for “…with salt.” by listening to the In Thrive podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXywns3U9hE
Contact Info:
- Website: www.phyllisbancroft.com, www.withsaltthemovie.com
- Instagram: @hollywoodflowonthego
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phyllis.t.bancroft
- Twitter: @ptoben
Image Credits
Amina Touray
Craig Stanley
