– Who is Roberta Pyzel?

I am a native New Yorker; I’ve worked in various theater venues here in NYC in many capacities: stage manager; light/sound tech. I studied filmmaking at the NYU-SCE.

– What inspired you to become a filmmaker?

I LOVE films!! Working with so many interesting artists, especially in downtown NYC art performance venues, led me to video work: interviews, music videos and in 1994 producing, directing and editing a full length documentary, “SHOOTING STARS” – about living with AIDS.

All of this work led me into writing: first plays and now a full length screenplay (based on a short play of mine).

–Do you think the cinema can bring a change in the society?

ABSOLUTELY!!! I believe that all the ‘ARTS’ have the power to touch people’s hearts…to open up their thinking – this is what makes real change possible.

– What would you change in the world?

We are in a very difficult and challenging time – it seems more dangerous than ever in many ways. I believe that one of the most serious obstacles to our solving the problems that we all face (climate destruction/economic desperation/racism/endless war/nuclear weapons…!!!) is the lack of communication between people; as long as people are isolated in their own political/social ‘bubbles’, productive conversations and serious solutions aren’t possible.

“Divide and Conquer!” When we are fighting so hard between ourselves, a few powerful people continue to control the world for their own benefit.

– Where do you see the film industry going in the next 100 years?

People love films: the great commercial, ‘Hollywood’ style films will always have their audience. I particularly love ‘independent’ films which today’s technologies make possible. The wonderful diversity of films that are being made and that are available for us to see – from every country on the globe – makes me hopeful that ‘ordinary’ voices will be heard…that ‘ordinary’ people will come to empathize with one another more and more. I believe in the healing power of understanding.

I think that there will be more and more diverse, independent voices speaking to a wider audience as time goes on.