SXSW 2018 Women Directors: Meet Alison Klayman — “Take Your Pills”
Alison Klayman’s debut documentary feature “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it was awarded a U.S. Documentary Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Defiance. The film premiered internationally at Berlinale and went on to be nominated for two Emmys and a DGA Award. Klayman also directed “The 100 Years Show,” and served as exec producer on “Hooligan Sparrow” and “On Her Shoulders.”
“Take Your Pills” will premiere at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival on March 9.
W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.
AK: “Take Your Pills” is a feature documentary that examines prescription stimulants like Adderall and paints a complex picture of what makes them the iconic drugs of our time.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
AK: These are drugs that touch so many people’s lives across our country, but there isn’t enough open discussion about what that means. Millions of kids either grew up on these drugs or turned to them once they entered college or the workforce. In fact, just recently adults became the majority of people taking prescription stimulants.
I wanted to know more about the drugs themselves, and present a non-judgmental multi-character story that would spark more conversation. I
was also excited by the opportunity to try to define visually what an “Adderall aesthetic” might be.
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the theater?
AK: That this is a film not just about a drug but about America right now.
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
AK: This film is filled with diverse personal stories, and our team spoke to well over 100 people throughout our research and casting process. These are drugs often used by highly functional and successful people — doctors, lawyers, bankers, filmmakers, tech workers, consultants, etc — and so many people would only talk to us on background because they didn’t want their work to know, or because they were admitting to illegal activity, or sometimes it was just too personal and private.
I am so grateful to everyone who did share their stories, and I think all our participants were motivated by wanting these issues to be talked about more publicly.
It was also challenging to think about how to make this a strong visual story. People taking pills and then going about their daily lives isn’t inherently cinematic. But that was one of those challenges that leads you to new visual and storytelling places.
W&H: How did you get your film funded?
AK: Netflix approached me about the project as a fully-funded Netflix Original. Maria Shriver and her daughter Christina Schwarznegger wanted to see a film about this topic and were attached as Executive Producers.
W&H: What does it mean for you to have your film play at SXSW?
AK: This is my first time at the festival and second feature documentary, so I’m really excited about the experience. It’s such a great fit for the film especially because of the festival’s focus on tech and millennial audiences.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
AK: Two pieces of good advice: 1. When giving notes, start with a compliment. 2. Be pleasant to work with and nice to everyone — just generally a good way to be, and you never know when and how you will encounter someone in the future.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female directors?
AK: Tell people what you want from your career. The best way to get help on your way is to let people know where you’re interested in going.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
AK: For recent films I think “Toni Erdmann” by Maren Ade was one of my favorites. It was full of surprises, and such an exacting portrait of 21st century life on both a private/personal and a socio-economic/political level.
W&H: Hollywood and the global film industry are in the midst of undergoing a major transformation. Many women — and some men — in the industry are speaking publicly about their experiences being assaulted and harassed. What are your thoughts on the #TimesUp movement and the push for equality in the film business?
AK: To the extent that this push for transparency also brings access to opportunities and funding, I think it has potential to be a real watershed moment. I’m grateful to the veterans in the industry, especially women who have risen in their careers amid unfair or discriminatory situations, who are pushing or supporting this movement and trying to break the cycle instead of falling back on the mentality of “this is what we went through, [and you’ll have to too.]”
Many women have helped me in my career, and I try to do the same for others. The younger generation is definitely coming up with changed expectations, and it’s up to those in power now to make it so.
