Interview with Guernslye Honorés
Improve your financial literacy. Recognize whether your relationship with money needs attention.
As a part of our series called “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker”, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing KC Carthew.
Writer/Director KC Carthew’s multiple-award winning debut feature, The Sun at Midnight (2017) starring Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs),sold worldwide and was released theatrically in Canada, the USA and Australia. Recognized for spectacular world-building in her visual storytelling, Carthew excels in bringing forth award-winning performances, cultivating innovation and pushing both technical and narrative elements to new heights in her work. Polaris is her second feature. The film has garnered nine awards internationally with theatrical releases in multiple countries and is now available in the US.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit of the ‘backstory’ of how you grew up?
I have had a global upbringing, living in Canada, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the USA, UAE, and the UK, with travels to many more countries. I was a shy and sporty kid who found solace in nature. I grew up reading my dad’s espionage thrillers, comic books (fav X-Men was Storm), and kid-detective series. My most memorable early films are ET, Wizard of Oz, and Grease.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
Growing up I didn’t know filmmaking was an option. I thought I would be a furniture designer or a human rights lawyer. When I was 15, I lived in Germany, where I was shown films like Les Nuit Fauves (in French class), which exposed me to an experience of intimacy that felt more honest than most parts of everyday life. I spent a lot of time reading from the English-section of the library — mostly Jungian psychology, art, and philosophy, which led me to Foucault and Marshall McLuhan’s writings about human-technology relations. Years later, I watched Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire and was captivated by the imaginative use of story. The narrative wasn’t linear. It was innovative and for me, represented an evolution in watching and creating. It seemed to me the opportunities for screen storytelling were ever-expansive, important, and exciting. I was 19 when I realized making films might be an option and started to experiment.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your filmmaking career?
On Polaris I worked with Agee, a fabulous performer and polar bear, who has been in show biz for 28 years. Agee’s trainer gets paid in dollars, but Agee works for treats throughout the day. When she is full, she is done. The strategy is to start with “low-value” treats and build towards “high-value” treats by way of incentive. Salmon is an example of a high value treat. But, as per a Parisian shoot, Agee’s highest value treat = croissants! She is a bougiest bear!
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
Sarah Jerome Charlie is a Gwich’in elder who lives in Inuvik (Canada). She is a residential school survivor, advocate for Indigenous language revitalization and all-star human. I cast her in my first film The Sun At Midnight. Sarah has an enormity of varied life experience and is kind, fun and wise. I took a photo of graffiti in Berlin that says, “Rich Grandmas For Everyone”. I think the world would be a better place if everyone had Sarah to grandmother them.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My two brothers. I shot my short film Fish Out of Water in the subarctic at -40, which means it’s cold enough to be -40 Celsius or -40 Fahrenheit. My brothers volunteered to drive with me in the pitch dark, well before sunrise, to pitch a winterized tent on a frozen lake, so cast and crew would have a warming station and place to store gear. There’s cold and then there’s -40. That film would not have happened without their support — and it’s just one example.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
It can’t always be bad times and it can’t always be good times. Take comfort in that and when you’re going through hell, keep going. I’ll add that when my enthusiasm wanes it helps me to reframe my thinking from this is what I have to do… to this is what I get to do.
I am very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
As humans we can survive on water and simple foods, but it’s biodiversity that makes us thrive. In the same way I believe cultural diversity is essential for a progressive evolutionary identity. Every individual ultimately benefits from diversity. Without it we flatline.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I am working on two thrillers that are big on world creation:
1) a series about escaped criminal and political offenders who trek across an Arctic Island to overthrow a deadly dictator.
2) a feature about a freediving champion who gets caught between the most terrifying thing underwater and the most destructive force on land.
Which aspect of your work makes you most proud? Can you explain or give a story?
I love the epic quality of the story worlds on display. Both of my features were challenging to make with the resources we had (e.g., freezing weather, animals, VFX, stunts, etc.), but we did, and the reception has been great. So, I am proud to have stayed the course and I have become a stronger director as a result.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.
- Eat well. Sleep well. Exercise.
- Send shorter emails.
- Improve your financial literacy. Recognize whether your relationship with money needs attention.
- Know your boundaries. Perseverance can lead to desperation. Avoid saying “yes” to projects/people because of a “now or never” attitude.
- It’s not too late to begin (again). Whether you are 21 or 61.
When you create a film, which stakeholders have the greatest impact on the artistic and cinematic choices you make? Is it the viewers, the critics, the financiers, or your own personal artistic vision? Can you share a story with us or give an example about what you mean?
On the surface the artistic vision may appear to steer the ship, but underneath there is an undercurrent of negotiation that is often about money. Financial decisions are creative ones and vice-versa. Know what you do and do not bring to the table and get clear on each stakeholder’s reason for being there.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
So many great movements already exist, so my contribution would be to more heavily champion environmental actions — increasing bee pollination; reducing greenhouse gases through net-zero architecture; and reducing waste e.g., using bioplastics and other smart technologies and systems.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Breakfast. Bob Iger. Because Disney’s extraordinary.
How can our readers further follow you online?
Platforms #KirstenCarthew –
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.
KC Carthew: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.