"Novis" Director Lauren Hadaway: "Immersion gives purpose to life" [Director's Interview Vol. 448]

Lauren Hadaway has worked on sound for Hollywood's most renowned directors, including Damien Chazelle, Quentin Tarantino, Zack Snyder, and Guillermo del Toro. Her directorial debut, "The Novice," tells the story of the passion and madness of a female college student who is fascinated by rowing. A career change from sound to directing may seem unusual, but the film's stoic content and image creation will place her in the lineage of past visualists. This is a masterpiece that foreshadows the birth of the next generation of star directors. How did director Lauren Hadaway create "The Novice"? We spoke to her.

Synopsis of "Novis"

Alex (Isabelle Fuhrman) joins the university's rowing team, and with JFK's words in mind, "It's because it's difficult that we take on challenges," Alex knocks on the door of the university's women's rowing team. Alex practices furiously and feels a sense of rivalry with her all-around athletic classmate Jamie. When an injury to a senior leaves a spot open for a regular, a fierce battle ensues for the position. Jamie, desperate for the scholarship that comes with being a regular, devises a scheme to take the spot. Having been outwitted, Alex tries to get revenge, but her overwhelming obsession gradually turns into insanity...

Index

• Immersion gives purpose to life
• The effects of a broken lens
• Many directors don't care about sound.

Immersion gives purpose to life

Q: I understand that the film is based on your own experiences as a student. Why did you decide to make it into a film?

Hadaway: My career started with doing sound in post-production, and my next career goal was to write a script and direct, which was a dream I had since I was a child. People often say that the first movie you make should be a story that you know well and that only you can tell. So I decided to make a movie about the four years I spent as a student on a boat. Those four years were a really amazing time, so I thought that making a movie about it would be a huge cathartic experience. I compressed what happened over those four years into one year and created the story.

Q: Looking at Alex's study style, it seems like she has the temperament to immerse herself in things and become obsessed with them, but is there something about rowing itself that draws her that much?

Haddaway: Both Alex and I like to immerse ourselves in something and overcome it. We didn't know anything about rowing, but we started because everyone else was doing it, and it was incredibly hard. Still, we got more and more into it, and before we knew it, we were almost addicted... Until we conquered rowing, we felt like we would keep going even if we died. Alex is exactly the same.

"Novis" ©The Novice, LLC 2021

Alex was obsessed with studying in high school, and boating in college, and I think she'll probably be obsessed with something again. She might be obsessed with table tennis, or with internships at a company. Or even traveling around the world. Anyway, I think she'll be obsessed with something again. The act of "obsessing" gives her a purpose in life and ignites her.

Q: When you were a student, was there anything else you were into besides boating?

Hadaway: I had a very intense time in college. I double majored in business and film, and did internships and volunteer work, all while rowing. I The Graduate at the top of my class. Looking back now, I wonder how I survived those four years. When I decide to do something, I do it to the fullest. I don't know if it's good or bad, and maybe it's self-destructive. But I was immersed in a lot of things.

The effects of a broken lens