Janet Pierson,
director of "Split Screen" (IFC)
March 4, 2016
How did you find out about Joanie 4 Jackie and how old were you at the time?
Miranda sent a note about it, to our Split Screen office. Split Screen was a magazine format cable tv series. She wondered if we might be interested in it. My husband handed it to me saying, “This sounds like your kind of thing.” I also heard about it from the curator Ralph McKay.
What interested you about the project?
I loved the concept of giving voice to the voiceless and building a community around creative work.
At the time you participated in Joanie 4 Jackie did you consider yourself a filmmaker? What was your relationship to making movies?
It’s funny, I didn’t consider myself a filmmaker – still don’t, but my interest in Joanie 4 Jackie led me to direct a digital video segment about it and Miranda for Split Screen. So in effect, my interest in Joanie 4 Jackie led to me creating a short documentary piece.
Do you have any specific anecdotes or memories associated with your movie?
Loved the weekend in Portland interviewing Miranda. Remember working w/ index cards on the floor to make a paper cut of the piece before my time w/ the actual editor.
What did you think/feel about the Joanie 4 Jackie at the time? And now, in retrospect?
I loved Miranda’s poster project that was related, if you were going to make a movie, what would that be? I don’t recall the exact words but remember them in her voice. I love being a tiny link in the chain of Miranda July’s creative evolution.
If you attended a screening, can you tell us where and when it was and anything else you remember about it?
I didn’t attend a screening of Joanie 4 Jackie but did attend a screening of the Best of Split Screen at Lincoln Center in NY, which included my piece on Joanie 4 Jackie. I was the Executive Producer of the show, which was about and by filmmakers. I was hands on creatively but having directed that piece that I was proud of, I felt like I’d finally earned my place at the table in a different way.
What institutions, groups, people, publications and movements were inspiring you at the time of your participation in J4J?
Split Screen. The whole independent film movement. Sundance Film Festival. SXSW FIlm Festival and Conference.
What do you do now – professionally and otherwise? Are you still involved in filmmaking?
I’m the Head of SXSW Film Festival and Conference. So yes, I am still involved in filmmaking, specifically, in helping to curate other filmmakers. I give them a platform the same way Joanie 4 Jackie did, kinda.
Anything you would like to see on the J4J site?
I’d love to see reference to my Split Screen piece. I can’t remember if I supplied Miranda w/ a master tape or not. I might be able to help more with that again soon. Or least it would be nice to link to a reference to it. It might be finally available publicly soon.