I was reading a book on Russian lacquer (for an upcoming film project) when I got the Film Annex email in my inbox that features my work. Thank you Film Annex! The tag line is "fairy tales vs. legendary icon". And it got me thinking about the longevity of fairy tales and which ones - which adaptations - make great films.

I like the films that do something different with the fairy tales while maintaining the fundamental thread of the original tale. You can do Red Riding Hood - but if you change who the wolf turns out to be (i.e. giving him a non-sexual nature for instance) to Red - then you have a plain old wolf-tale and not really Red Riding Hood. And I don't mean to just say - take the tale and set it in a different time period - rather, give make me see it for the first time again. Take for instance what the tv show "GRIMM" is doing. They are setting the fairy tales in the present world, putting twists on the plots, but staying true to what the original morals of each tale were. I love it!

I also love new fairy tales, such as "Edward Scissor Hands" and "Pan's Labyrinth". They certainly have archetypes that are well-known, but we are introduced to new characters and take those classic journeys for the first time - again. Same with "The Village". There were a lot of archetypes in that film, almost hidden - in terms of colors, and the girls journey into the forest, that I really respected. I'd rather see a fairy tale film try something new and maybe not hit the nail on the head - but give it an honest try, rather than see a story I've been told a thousand times, all glossy and new - but with no new perspective. Then it's just all predictable happy endings and something pretty to look at. Not what real fairy tales were about at all.

I'm not always successful in my films. I'll admit that. :) But I learn from each one what worked, and carry it on to the next. Fairy tales were changed, and retold, and "improved upon" for centuries - but the basic tale - which speaks to our basic human instincts and experiences are still there. The best way to give it new life, is to breath your own into it. Fairy tales are still so pertinent - we can relate to them. In the TITANIA PREQUEL, I'm trying a lot of things I'll carry into the feature. It's a tale about becoming whole again - going through the dark forest and coming out on the other side. Something we all know about. Sometimes, I film just a few moments of a tale - as in BROTHER AND SISTER. It's me pulling these tales apart, pulling my own life apart and putting them back together as a feature, a short film, a filmed moment, an animation...

I'd love to hear from you about your favorite fairy tale films, or moments in a fairy tale film that really spoke to you and made you see these age old stories for the first time.

Lisa