IN CONVERSATION WITH DESTRY ALLYN SPIELBERG
interview by JANA LETONJA
Destry Allyn Spielberg is releasing her directorial debut ‘Please Don’t Feed the Children’, starring Michelle Dockery and Giancarlo Esposito, on Tubi on 27th June. Her previous acting credits include feature film ‘Licorice Pizza’ and series ‘I Know This Much Is True’. Her short film ‘Let Me Go (The Right Way)’ had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022, and won the Jury Prize for Best Thriller at the City of Angeles Film Festival the same year.
Congratulations on your feature directorial debut. What inspired the story behind ‘Please Don’t Feed the Children’?
After my short film, I was on the hunt for my first feature. I had a stack of ten scripts. ‘Please Don’t Feed the Children’ was the last one I read because I thought it might be more of a straight horror. I have to tell you it was an exciting page turner. I was looking to make a psychological thriller, and this had a horror element to it that I was drawn to but didn’t expect to be. I didn’t know if I wanted to make a horror film, but I was really intrigued by the story and once I read the script, I could see myself making this. It had all these interesting elements in there. It is a survival story. It asks “What is really behind fear? And what happens when the person who rescues you may be more dangerous than the world you escaped?” I dove right in.
The film stars powerhouse actors like Michelle Dockery and Giancarlo Esposito. What was it like directing such seasoned talent in your very first feature?
It was an honor to direct both of them. Because they are so seasoned, they allowed me to do my job really well. Michelle and I had spoken before production about her character and how she wanted to approach her. It is refreshing to work with such a collaborative and creative actress like Michelle. Both Giancarlo and Michelle were a joy to direct. And they crush it in this film.
Tubi acquiring the film is a major milestone. What about the platform felt like the right fit for your debut?
This was my first feature. Made on a tight budget and shot in just 18 days. When it was complete, Tubi was super passionate about the film, and I know thrillers and horror films do well on the service. We felt like it was a great fit and a great way for a larger audience to see the film.
The film drops on 27th June in the US and Canada. What are you most excited, or nervous, for audiences to experience?
I’m really excited. I am excited for them to experience a thriller and the feeling of being on the edge of their seat. We tried to subvert expectations and build in many surprises and scares. Michelle Dockery is fantastic in this as Clara, and I think she might scare the hell out of you. And I love that audiences are going to get to discover our young, up and coming actors. They are all so special and talented and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
As a thriller, how did you balance suspense with emotional storytelling? What tone or visual approach did you aim for?
The more real something is, the scarier it feels. And the more emotional it will be. You see the emotion in the kids as they are fighting for survival. You see the emotion in how they get along together. They are more accepting of each other than the adults are accepting of them. And Michelle’s Clara gives you all the scares of a horror villain, but her performance goes deeper. From her performance, you see she is a woman who is in pain from some loss and is processing it in a frightening way.
Your short film ‘Let Me Go (The Right Way)’ was well-received on the festival circuit. How did making that project shape your confidence going into a feature?
That is a piece I am really proud of. ‘Let Me Go (The Right Way)’ felt like a much more professional shoot than any of my other short films. It was a bigger crew. I had worked on some short films before that one, but it was the most professional. It gave me the confidence to know that I could do this for a living. And without that experience, I’m not sure I could’ve had the confidence to take this on. I’m at a stage where I’m growing from every project. That’s really exciting to me.
What stories or themes are you drawn to as a director?
I am drawn to a lot of different things. I am drawn to stories of nostalgia. I like how our past is always with us. And we’re always processing it and it’s always changing. Of course, I love a good revenge story. Who doesn’t? You want to see the bad guy get it in the end. I love themes around justice. I love films that unpack trauma, and themes of control and darkness. My next movie is a crime thriller “whodunnit” murder mystery.
How do you define your voice as a filmmaker, and how has it evolved since your short film days?
I am still finding my voice as a filmmaker. I am on a journey and hope to just keep telling really interesting stories that inspire me. I want to explore other genres that I haven’t explored yet. And I think within that, I will find my voice and maybe a more signature style. Until then, I’m just enjoying the ride.
You’ve acted in projects like ‘Licorice Pizza’ and ‘I Know This Much Is True’. What lessons did you take from those sets that helped you as a director?
It gave me a lot of respect for what actors do. Both Paul Thomas Anderson and Derek Cianfrance allow for a more natural, improvised set environment.
Cianfrance would say, “Action,” and you just go. There is a lot of freedom to play, which is fun, but also intimidating. On ‘Licorice Pizza’, I had direction, but I had an option to improvise. Paul Thomas Anderson gives “ammo” lines to play around with. It was humbling to realize that the other actors are in the same boat and you become human together, very quickly. Alana Haim and Mark Ruffalo were in the same boat as me. It humbles everyone on set and brings out a feeling that we are all equal.
You come from a legendary film family, but your creative path is clearly your own. What has it meant to carve out your own space in the industry?
Thank you for the question. Honestly, I haven’t carved space in this industry yet, but I am confident that I will. This is just a scratch. This is my first feature. I am of course very fortunate to come from the family I come from, and the greatest gift my parents gave us was the encouragement to chart our own course. Initially, I didn’t want to be part of the entertainment business. I was a competitive equestrian. Then I found my way back to movies very organically. But it’s important for me, and all my siblings, to do things on our own. Find your own way forward. And I am excited to keep doing that.
Now that your feature debut is complete, what’s next? Do you have future projects in development?
My next project is a murder mystery. That’s all I can say right now, but I can’t wait to share more soon. In the meantime, please check out ‘Please Don’t Feed The Children’ out on Tubi on June 27th.
TEAM CREDITS:
photography, hair and makeup CHELSEA GEHR
styling FAUSTI and ANISSA SILVAS
