My, how times have changed and the momentum keeps gathering speed. I’m referring to films and television that recognize and foster diversity in their content. Entertainment has long been recognized as a platform for reaching millions with a message. If that message is in the form of a film that is made well, people will be impacted by it. To hold everyone’s attention throughout the duration of a film, I believe is always and should be the intention of the filmmaker. As a writer and director, you have a golden opportunity to either entertain, to teach or to do both. Many times, it’s film and television that can tell you those hard truths. If nobody is talking about the elephant in the room, it might be that the writer hasn’t explained the backstory yet. One outstanding privilege of being a writer/director is your influence over an audience and where you can take them, once you have them in your palm.
Canadian award-winning director, writer and creator Lisa Rose Snow is a force that has been driving the film bus and hitting every stop along the way. As part of the LGBTQ+ community, she is helping people to be seen, to be heard and understood. She is the first director to direct a lesbian MOW, Under the Christmas Tree and she continues to raise the bar. Snow has always been interested in timeless stories that smash stereotypes, celebrate the underdog and have a strong visual style. She is a voice and a vehicle for minority stories but also for universal stories, children’s stories and primetime. The industry is changing and becoming more diverse/inclusive and it’s opened the stage for an entire new library of stories and films. Snow’s writing and directing credits include Lifetime’s 2022 GLAAD Award nominated and first holiday lesbian romance MOW, Under the Christmas Tree, PBS – Emmy Award-Winning series, Odd Squad Mobile Unit, Amazon’s Emmy Award winning series Dino Dana, PBS’ Odd Tube, which recently took home the Kidscreen Award for Best Web Series. Her writing credits include Netflix’s Frontier, ABC’s Ten Days in the Valley and HBO’s Max’s Detention Adventure.
We are huge advocates for change, diversity, inclusivity and pure talent. We just had to talk to Lisa Rose Snow because she is fostering change through her own projects and representing on a world-wide stage. We always want to salute that, promote good messaging and talk to the people leading the charge. It was an outstanding conversation. Roll the tape!
HNMAG “You’ve had a very interesting career as an actress, writer and director. In 2013 you were accepted into the AFCOOP FILM5 program where you wrote and directed your first short, Two Penny Road Kill. It went on to have tremendous success. Would you say that was a catalyst for your writing and directing?”
LISA “As soon as I finished my Feature program, I immediately started working in television, which sometimes happens. Living in Toronto certainly took it in a different direction.”
HNMAG “You began your career in entertainment as an actor. What was behind the shift into writing and directing?”
LISA “At some point I wanted to take more control over my career. (Laughing) There’s no more control on the other side of the camera as there is in front of it. I wanted to have a bigger hand in shaping the narrative of the stories I was telling. When I started writing my own stories, I would intentionally write characters that I couldn’t play. It allowed me to lean into the writing and directing aspect of it without the distraction of acting in it. Growing up, I didn’t see women behind the camera and I didn’t know they were doing it, which of course – they were. When I was a young girl I had gone to a play and fell in love with acting and knew it was my path. Although I still love performing in front of the camera, I feel grounded and more authentic behind the camera.”
HNMAG “Congratulations again on directing the very first Lifetime lesbian romance in Movie of the Week. You’re really smashing the ceiling.”
LISA “That was a joy to make and it’s been a joy to hear the responses from it. There’s a lot of good messages in it and a lot of people are feeling very seen. It’s been spectacular and a real honour.”
HNMAG “How do you receive feedback on your work, is it primarily through social media?”
LISA “It’s mostly through social media, Twitter and Instagram. I did once get a fan letter, via my agency. You also get it in person, when people are allowed to be around each other again (laughing).”
HNMAG “That MOW was written by Michael J. Murray. How did you end up working together?”
LISA “The project came through my agent and he was approached by the producer; they were looking for a queer director and my agent put me forward, we had a great meeting and then many weeks later I found out that I got the job. In this business, there’s a lot of rejection and a lot of time can go by before you hear any feedback. After my interviews, in my head I always wish it well and then let it go, so I’m not bogging myself down with the ‘what ifs or the maybe’s’. It’s a gift when you do find out that you did indeed get it. I’ve never actually met Michael in person but we’ve had many great chats through Zoom and emails. He’s a wonderful writer.”
HNMAG “I find it fascinating that a man was able to write a story about lesbians.”
LISA “He’s a gay man and he also wrote Christmas Setup, which was Lifetime’s first gay MOW. The same team of writer, producer filmed it the year before and Lifetime followed it up with our film.”
HNMAG “Do you have a preference between writing and directing?”
LISA “No, I’ve always been a storyteller and whichever way that I get to tell the story I’m always happy to do it. I also write and direct my own projects, which is always fun but it’s also an honour and fun to be given someone’s written work and direct it. I really enjoy that as well.”
HNMAG “I’ve also noticed that you direct a lot of children’s shows. Where does that fit in?”
LISA “I am a storyteller and the kids shows I’ve been able to work on have been so much fun to do. I like to tell stories that smash stereotypes, celebrate the underdog and inspire hope. I love a happy ending, even if you have to go through drama to get there. I think that big hearted comedies are my sweet spot. All of the kid shows I work on all do that – they smash stereotypes and are big-hearted. I love kids, they’re so much fun to work with and to tap into their imaginations to play. They’re working just as hard as the other adult actors. I feel very lucky to have worked on all the kid shows that I’ve done. They’re also technically very fun and challenging, there’s visual effects, so it’s very creatively satisfying as well.”
HNMAG “You seem to have a knack for switching gears because you were also part of the writing team on the show Frontier.”
LISA “I was the writer’s assistant and script coordinator. I started at the bottom of the floor and worked my way up a little. It was a lot of fun and is very different from other shows I’ve been on. It was extra fun because we got to shoot it in Newfoundland, which is such a wonderful place.”
HNMAG “ABC’s Ten Days in the Valley, HBO’S Max – Detention Adventure, are these shows that you’re still currently writing on?”
LISA “Detention Adventure, yes. I wrote on season 2 and 3, which is out now on CBC Gem and will also be out on HBO as well; it was a lot of fun! Ten Days in the Valley is not on anymore and it used to be on ABC.”
HNMAG “Have you ever found yourself writing on multiple shows at the same time?”
LISA “No, it hasn’t aligned for me yet. I do always have my own shows that I’m writing on, so there’s always a few stories in my head at once. I feel that I’m pretty good at being in the room when I’m in the room, but there’s a lot of characters that live up there.”
HNMAG “Could you explain what a day in your life would look like in the writers room?”
LISA “I suppose it depends on whether we’re talking about current times or pre-pandemic times. When we were in the writing room, I guess it would be similar but the snacks are better in the writer’s room (laughing). If it’s in person, usually everyone talks about the shows they watched the night before. When you’re in the writing room, you’re writing all your shows but you’re also consuming so much more content because everyone is talking about the big shows. You pick out your lunch and then you start the day. Depending on where the show is, in terms of development or production – you’re either breaking down the overall arc or episode arc, so you’re pitching ideas depending on what the showrunners need. The same process is used on Zoom, you’re pitching ideas. In a writer’s room, there’s usually a whiteboard or cards are up on the wall. On Zoom, you’re using many different technologies, such as shared screens. I’ve been in a room where we use a Trello board and we can move cards around in real time through the app. They’re lots of resiliency and creative ways to keep the content flowing during these wild and unpredictable times.”
HNMAG “They say, if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. Is it true?”
LISA “Well, yes and no. Some days are more challenging than others but I certainly feel like I’m where I need to be and it feels very good that I get to do it. If I were to reflect on my own journey to get here, it sure wasn’t a straight road. I’ve worked all of the jobs, random included; all the things to get here. The fact that I get to just be a writer and director to support myself, feels very satisfying. It took a long time to get here but it feels good to have achieved that. Knock on wood (laughing). In this industry, it is a marathon and you can forget where you are in the race. Is there a finish line in sight? I don’t know but I’d never want to stop, in case the finish line is around the corner.”
HNMAG “What are you currently working on?”
LISA “I’m working on a feature film and it will be the first feature that I wrote and directed. I’m currently looking for a producer and I’ve been working on that for a long time. I also direct on a show called Overlord in the Underwoods, which recently got picked up by Hulu in the US and will be playing this summer. I’m also working on a book adaptation. It’s a limited series from a book adaptation that will likely live in the 40-minute world/streamer dramedy space. It’s not a half hour comedy and it’s not a full hour drama, it’s more in the middle.”
HNMAG “If we were to flash forward 5 years and we just started this interview, what would you say you were currently working on?”
LISA “An ambitious 5-year goal would be putting my mark on the Marvel cinematic world. I have big Marvel dreams. I really just want to be working consistently as a writer/director and telling stories that matter and make people feel good and to keep working with awesome people. It’s always my goal and if I wind up at Marvel, I’d like to tell really awesome stories with really awesome people and make the world a little bit brighter.”
HNMAG “Will your writing continue to focus on the LGBTQ+ community as well as other minorities?”
LISA “Oh yes, definitely – 100 percent! There’s room for all of us, for all stories and it’s a really exciting time to hear from more voices, especially underrepresented ones. I feel very proud and honoured to be able to tell my own stories, to share my own perspectives and champion others.”
Lisa Rose Snow continues to raise the bar and shine a light on those, kept in the dark and underrepresented. She’s found her audience and she’s found her balance in the stories she wants to tell. I admire her tenacity and skill as a filmmaker, director and writer for change and it is our honour to help promote her stories and outstanding career.