Emily Hagins Interview
I got the chance to speak with indie filmmaker Emily Hagins, known best for making the zombie film Pathogen when she was just 12 years old after being featured in the Zombie Girl documentary following her film's production.
CC: What inspired you to start making films?
EH: I was always writing stories and watching movies growing up, but I never thought about making my own movies until my family purchased a camcorder. My dad used to work in advertising, and one day he decided to plan an activity with me when I was home sick from school -- make a 30 second commercial.
He didn't do anything for me, but guided me through writing a script, drawing storyboards, learning shots, filming, and editing. I had to do everything myself, and really enjoyed the whole process of putting together a cohesive idea with the basic cinematic tools he taught me. I started making short films on my own, and worked as a production assistant on any set I could get on. I was always trying to learn and grow and meet people in the film scene, and eventually ended up making my first feature when I was 12 -- Pathogen.Ā
CC: I believe I read this on your site a very long time ago, and correct me if I'm wrong, but when it comes to zombies you lean way more toward the classic Romero walking zombies than the 28 Days Later sprinting zombies. Why is that exactly?
EH: That is true. I think it's a cheap scare tactic to make your zombies run, though I do enjoy 28 Days Later. But I understand why that choice was made for that particular film -- they were trying to do something different with the genre. But in general, I think slow zombies are a lot more effective. It's terrifying to think that no matter how fast you run or how far you go...there will always be more zombies, and they may even be people you used to know. Also, it just plain doesn't make much sense for dead people to have that much energy and agility.Ā
CC: How did it feel to be such a well known independent filmmaker only at the age of 12, and after Pathogen and Zombie Girl documentary? Were you caught off guard with the attention toward your film?
EH: Yeah, a little bit. I was learning so much every day, and it's a little embarrassing now to have all of those mistakes in a movie. But at the same time, I hope the doc helps other young/aspiring filmmakers to pursue their projects. It's also weird because I still kind of look the same, and sometimes people don't realize that the documentary was filmed ten years ago. I feel like a very different person now!Ā
CC: Is there a current project or projects you're working on?
EH: I'm working on a few things right now, so we'll see where those go. My most recent film, Grow Up, Tony Phillips, just came out on DVD/VOD.Ā
CC: If you could make a film with any director you wanted to, who would be your first choice?
EH: I've never been asked this question, because usually there's just one director...but there are many directors I admire! I'm a big fan of Edgar Wright, Otto Preminger, Peter Jackson, John Carpenter, Wes Anderson, Danny Boyle, and Billy Wilder.
CC: Last but not least, what kind of advice would you give to any young independent filmmaker who may be reading this?
EH: The best advice I ever got was from the guys who made the Raiders of the Lost Ark Adaptation, who took ten years as teens to make a shot-for-shot remake of Indiana Jones. They told me to never give up, and to never let anyone tell me what I could or couldn't do. It's important to believe in yourself, in the stories you want to tell, and to persevere to the end! So that's the advice I always pass along.Ā
Interview by Patrick Sullivan (2014)
