QUESTION#1: What excited you the most when making this film?: 42 SECONDS offered a specific mission and the potential of having a positive social impact. It reminds us to care for the survivors of traumatic events like the mass shooting depicted in the film. Their journeys toward healing are always painstakingly slow. I was also excited by the potential of using production design elements and performances to contrast the "pre-trauma" and "post-trauma" (pre and post-mass shooting) worlds in the hopes of generating empathy for our protagonists.

QUESTION#2: What was the most significant film you've seen AT THE THEATER in 2024, and how did it influence your filmmaking?: "The Other," a documentary that reveals an ecosystem of peace builders and activists in Israel/Palestine working together towards a better future. This film reminded me that even in the most dire of circumstances there is hope and it is often filmmakers and other artists who share this truth with the world. It helped me clarify what I'd like my future audiences to feel.

QUESTION#3: What's an obvious and not-so-obvious question someone might ask about your film?: Obvious question: "The film has some intense emotion in it. Did you work with the actors to find that level of vulnerability?" Not-so-obvious question: "Was it a choice to not show bullets hitting bodies and if so, what was the purpose of that choice?"

QUESTION#4: A magic movie genie is giving you an unlimited budget for your next production! However, you're only allowed to use it on either "above line" or "below line" resouces. Which do you choose and why?: Oh, my. This is not a fair question! Since I'm a bit more into creative development and actor performances, I'd have to go with "above the line." I can watch a great story and great performances in less-than-ideal lighting, but rarely the other way around. And I wouldn't mind paying actors a ton of money!

QUESTION#5: What is it about your current movie that will influence your next film?: 42 SECONDS is a hopeful but heavy film, and I'd like to laugh more in 2025, so I'm looking for lighter material to work on.

Social media tags to share with our readers: https://www.instagram.com/steveandersonactingcoach

5Q's w/: Steve Anderson "42 SECONDS" Director