Phyllis Nagy
Phyllis Nagy
Phyllis Nagyis an American theatre and film director, screenwriter and playwright. In 2006, Nagy was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for writing and directing Mrs. Harris, her screen debut. In 2016, Nagy received an Academy Award nomination, among numerous other accolades, for Best Adapted Screenplay for the 2015 film Carol...
event island kid passionate private school small wondering
When I was a kid in a small private school on Long Island and this event occurred, we were all fascinated. For years, I've been wondering what to do with the material. I think it should be an opera. They're all so operatic and passionate in their personalities.
pace shifting
The pace is especially important in this, when it isn't so much a whodunit. We had to find a way to structurally keep shifting the focus, where you think you know something but you see that you don't.
account awful bedroom believe case compelling drive happened happens heat hope mean personally shots storm
Obviously, there are shots that she doesn't account for. What I believe just personally is that she did mean to drive up in an awful storm and kill herself. As for what happened once she was in that bedroom -- I'd hope the film makes a compelling case for what happens in the heat of the moment.
distance informed level line needs script sort walk
She maintains that sort of distance, and I think that's the kind of distance one needs to walk that line with that humor. So the script is informed on every level by it.
change factions hard love mind minute ourselves pride sorts suppose sympathy
It's hard not to feel sympathy for her for all sorts of reasons. There are warring factions of pride and devotion. I suppose if we put ourselves in her position, if you have a love that operatic, you change your mind from minute to minute about someone.
handled serious sort
That is the way I write. Everything I write is about very serious things, but handled in a sort of idiosyncratic manner.
believe fire fit handling meant personally shoot tend test trouble
I personally tend to believe her story, that she meant to shoot herself. She did do a test fire; she did have trouble handling a gun. But it all didn't fit with the jury.