Anna: Hello, I'm Anna Jones and this is Entertainment. In the programme

we're going to be hearing from an American actress who seems to be

getting more and more popular. One of her most recent films is Oliver

Stone’s World Trade Centre in which she plays a woman whose

husband died during the 9/11 attacks. When Maggie first started

working be an actress, she appeared in smaller independent films and

in this interview she says she now feels differently about those

independent films than when she first made them. Why does she feel

differently?

I don’t think it’s true that I’m necessarily doing more big studio movies although I do

feel differently than I used to about teeny independent movies. I used to feel when I

was younger and I thought I was sort of punk, to say – well I don’t care if anybody

sees my movies or not. I do care if people see my movies, I’m not making them for

myself otherwise I just like act in my kitchen. It’s a totally different equation when

you’re making a tiny movie which I’ve learned over time.

Anna: Maggie says that she says that she doesn’t think that she’s doing more

big studio movies nowadays but she admits to feeling differently about

independent movies. She describes those independent films as “teeny”

– which means very small. You might also hear the expression “teeny

weeny” which also means very small. Well when she was younger she

says that she thought it was “punk” not to care about whether people

watched her films or not. The expression “punk” refers to the punk

movement of the 1970’s – the punk movement was popular with young

people who opposed any sort of authority and they expressed their

views through shocking hair styles, clothes, behaviour and by listening

to fast and loud music. So Maggie uses the word “punk” to express

how she felt rebellious and anti-establishment by making these small

independent films and not caring about whether anyone watched them

or not. But she says today she feels differently about them and she

really does care if people see her films – otherwise she says, if they’re

not made for other people to watch, she may as well make them in the

kitchen! Listen to Maggie again, this time try to catch the word she 

uses which you normally hear when you’re talking about the subject of

mathematics.

I don’t think it’s true that I’m necessarily doing more big studio movies although I do

feel differently than I used to about teeny independent movies. I used to feel when I

was younger and I thought I was sort of punk - to say – well I don’t care if anybody

sees my movies or not. I do care if people see my movies, I’m not making them for

myself otherwise I just like act in my kitchen. It’s a totally different equation when

you’re making a tiny movie which I’ve learned over time.

Anna: Maggie uses the mathematical term “equation.” - a statement which

means that two amounts are equal using mathematical symbols. The

word equation can also refer to a difficult problem which can only be

understood if all the different aspects of the problem are understood.

So Maggie says that it’s “a totally different equation” when you’re

making small movies – it’s a very different experience than when

you’re an actress in a mainstream or Hollywood movie – there are

different problems that you have to understand. She says that it has

taken her time to understand this equation relating to small

independent movies.

Anna: Maggie goes on to talk more about the equation of making smaller

films and how involved you have to be at every stage. You are not just

an actress, you are involved in the whole process – a process is a series

of actions and in this case refers to every aspect of film-making. Listen

to Maggie and try to catch the different aspects of making a film that

she describes.

First you have to get money to make it which can be a huge process – then you shoot

it which is usually a short process, then you have to get it into festivals then you have

to get it bought then you have to get it in theatres. It’s almost like - if you’re in every

moment of a movie like that – it’s almost like you’re a producer, because you have to

play such a huge part in getting it seen. 

Anna: Maggie tells us that the first part of the process is to get the money.

After that you “shoot” or you make the film, then you have to get it

into festivals and interest someone in buying it and then it has to be

screened in movie theatres or cinemas. She says that your involvement

in small independent films is so great that you almost take on the role

of a film producer – the person responsible for making the practical

and financial arrangements needed to make a film. Well that’s all from

Maggie Gyllenhaal and this edition of Entertainment – join us next

time.