How do you approach the beginning of a project?

I kind of wade into it. The beginning always seems to involve a lot of time in the car. Driving around the country helps me to get my ideas together. I eventually settle somewhere to write - some place outside of New York where I live. I wrote the script for Old Joy in LA after a drive cross country. I wrote the Wendy and Lucy script in my friend's garage apt down in North Carolina, then drove out to Portland sort of scouting along the way. With both of these films I was working with my writer friend Jon Raymond - it's his stories that I'm working from so getting started also involves a lot of phone time or hanging out with Jon.

Is having a community of artists a beneficial component to your work?

Very much so. Making films in a community of filmmakers is incredibly helpful. I have friends that I've been talking about film with for 20 years. We go to see films together, we read each others scripts and watch cuts of works-in-progress. It's nice to get feedback from people who understand your process. I've been lucky enough to have some of these filmmakers act as producers on my films. It's also fun to get into the research friends are doing for their films.

Beyond other films, what sources inspire your work?

I'm inspired by the political climate - by what's happening around me. I don't know anything about cars but when I'm driving around I like to stop into local gas stations and have some small car conversation with whoever is the mechanic on duty. I can just be the bewildered woman and usually some car guy will go on and on. That kind of car talk worked it's way into Wendy and Lucy. Just small conversations with strangers in general. There are many music sources that inspire me. Doing Old Joy I was very inspired by a lot of old nature photography. Browsing through art books, books on architecture that's always inspiring. Currently I'm reading journals from the pioneers who were the first Americans in the Pacific Northwest.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the field?

When you go to shoot - find a DP with a lighting background. Your DP does not need a camera background - you have an AC for the loading of film and focus and you can set up your own shots. Lighting is the main thing you desire from a DP and someone to look after the exposures.