Before making her feature debut as a writer-director with 2021’s “The Fallout,” Canadian filmmaker, actor, and singer Megan Park had already built a significant résumé in front of the camera in titles like “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and “What If.” Her sophomore film, “My Old Ass,” is a heartwarming coming-of-age dramedy that screened before a sobbing audience at Sundance earlier this year; it’s debuting in limited theaters on Sept. 13. Here, Park looks back on that surreal premiere and talks about how she uses her acting background as a directorial tool.
1. What was it like to have “My Old Ass” premiere at Sundance?
“The Fallout” premiered at SXSW during the pandemic; it was completely remote. We won three awards, but [we got the news on] a phone call. So to go to Sundance in person and have the reaction we had felt like a first. Tom Ackerley, the producer, kept saying, “Soak this up, because this is the Sundance experience everybody dreams of.” We got our first laugh within 30 seconds of the film starting. And to see the emotional reaction at the end was surreal. You just don’t know if those moments are going to pay off; you dream that they do.
2. How does your work as an actor inform your directing?
The most valuable tool I have as a director is how comfortable I am around actors—figuring out quickly what they need or don’t need from me. I know how a piece of wardrobe could take me out of character, how draining the small talk on set [could be]. I can relate to little things like that more than directors who haven’t been on the other side.
3. How would you describe your filmmaking process?
I want my sets to feel relaxed; that creates the most collaborative experience. I like to not overshoot or over-rehearse. The rehearsal process is usually when I make a lot of the changes; talking about the scenes is when you discover stuff. And I keep it pretty loose. I do a couple scripted takes, and then, it’s fun runs. I learn the most about myself as a writer-director in the edit, once I’m faced with the footage I have. It’s one movie on paper, a different movie on set, and a third movie in the edit. That’s when I can trust my audience more and make some bold choices.
4. Do you have any advice for actors who are interested in becoming filmmakers?
Go with your gut, and stay open-minded. If there’s an area that isn’t in your realm of expertise, stay egoless and be honest. By doing so, you’ll connect with the right people who are eager to collaborate. There are no rules; if your film is authentic and true to who you are, it’s going to be better than most of the stuff out there. Filmmaking is a team sport—and if you go into it with that intention, you’re already 10 steps ahead of most directors.
5. What question would you ask your older self, and what would you tell your younger self?
Where in the world am I going to end up living? That’s such a debate in my mind all the time. And the advice I would give my younger self: Be more conscious of time, which is obviously the theme of “My Old Ass.” In my 20s, time was endless. But it goes by so quickly. Slow down; don’t rush your life so much.
This story originally appeared in the Sept. 5 issue of Backstage Magazine.
Headshot photo credit: Alex Evans