Sujata Day, a Pittsburgh native, is a performer and creator. She also writes and directs. She regularly performs in Upright Citizens Brigade’s hit “Asian AF” show. Day is known for her starring role as CeCe in Issa Rae’s “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.” She recurred for three seasons on HBO’s “Insecure.” Day is a Sundance Lab fellow, Sundance Film Festival influencer, and Sundance Collab advisor. Her short film “Cowboy and Indian” sold to a major studio for series development with Day writing, producing, and starring. She directs “This Is My Story,” a series in which LeVar Burton narrates real-life personal experiences of everyday racism. “Definition Please” marks Day’s feature debut.
“Definition Please” is now available to stream on Netflix.
W&H: Describe the film for us in your own words.
SD: “Definition Please” is about a young woman who achieved the pinnacle of greatness as a kid and now is lost and kind of skating through life as a young woman still living at home with her mom. Her erratic development is resuscitated when her estranged brother surprises her.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
SD: I wanted to make a sibling movie similar to so many indie films I loved like “The Skeleton Twins,” “The Savages,” and “You Can Count On Me.” My goal was to show that the trials and tribulations of a South Asian American family could be relatable to everyone.
W&H: What do you want people to think about after they watch the film?
SD: I want South Asian American stories to be normalized. As an actor, I’ve been on so many stereotypical auditions and audiences get used to seeing these same depictions over and over. I’d love to audiences to feel a sense of hope and also see themselves or people they know in some of our characters and journeys.
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
SD: We faced many small challenges along the way, including losing a location and not anticipating rain at an outdoor shoot. However, we made quick changes and quickly adjusted to all of those.
The greatest challenge was finding distribution during a pandemic. Fortunately, we persevered until we found the perfect home with Array.
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Let us know how you got the film produced.
SD: I funded a portion of the film using a television sale that I had just made. Once I was the initial investor, I told everyone that I was raising money to finance my film. If they themselves couldn’t invest, they could usually point me towards someone who was interested. Family and friends also contributed.
W&H: What inspired you to become a filmmaker?
SD: My biggest inspiration was being a part of Issa Rae’s web series “Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.” Experiencing our journey together gave me the push I needed to be more specific and hone my point-of-view in my writing. Issa put “Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” on her credit cards so I didn’t think twice about putting “Definition Please” on mine.
W&H: What’s the best and worst advice you’ve received?
SD: The best advice is from my mom: she’s always reminding me to take time to rest.
I was told to focus on one aspect only of the entertainment industry. This was the worst advice. I think it’s essential to be a multi-hyphenate and create your own career.
W&H: What advice do you have for other women directors?
SD: Don’t be afraid to tap into your strengths. My two favorite directors I’ve ever worked with were on “Insecure.” Debbie Allen and Tina Mabry were confident, communicative, and nurturing. When I direct, I try to channel their energy.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
SD: Mira Nair’s “Monsoon Wedding.” Not since Satyajit Ray had I seen an Indian film tap into such a grounded, real, and engaging character-driven story. “Monsoon Wedding” was so specific, yet so relatable to all kinds of audiences. It inspired me to tell my own stories.
W&H: How are you adjusting to life during the COVID-19 pandemic? Are you creative? If so, how?
SD: I wrote three or four scripts during the pandemic, all of which I’m out pitching right now.
I watched shows and films I’d never seen before but that everyone always talked about like “The Sopranos,” “The Wire,” “Larry Sanders,” “Twin Peaks,” and “Goodfellas.” Everything I watched was incredible and inspiring and shaped what I was working on.
W&H: The film industry has a long history of underrepresenting people of color onscreen and behind the scenes and reinforcing — and creating — negative stereotypes. What steps do you believe are necessary to make the industry more inclusive?
SD: Underrepresented groups need to be given their first or second chance at employment. I like all the fellowships, workshops and initiatives, but I see too much of my talented friends doing these programs instead of looking for real work. Once we see more inclusion behind the scenes, we’ll naturally see more representation onscreen.
Source: Women And Hollywood
