Ana Marie Ramos, Writer/Director/General Rophy Hero

Fresh off the announcement of two of the stars of her upcoming film Triptych, we decided it was time to interview our dear and brilliant friend, writer-director Ana Marie Ramos.

Rophy says: Let’s start with the important stuff. What’s your favourite colour? You can’t say orange. Okay, you can can say orange.

Ana says: Orange. Purple is my second favorite.

Rophy says:Your cartoon self appears to concur!

Who is the best superman of all time?

Ana says: Haha, awesome question. I still like Christopher Reeve, but I’ve a soft spot for Dean Cain, because I’ve met him and he obligingly carried me, Superman style. The incriminating photo is ensconced in some storage facility at an undisclosed location (but I’m sure some friends of mine have this photo to use for blackmail in the future). Henry Cavill should be good. He certainly has the right look for it. I’m looking forward to seeing his contribution to this venerable canon. Supes over Spidey, any day of the week.

Rophy says: CARRYING. THERE WAS CARRYING, YOU GUYS.

Um.

Rophy’s Dean Cain fixation aside…

We know at least one of your characters is pretty passionate about her food. What’s the best thing you’ve ever cooked? The best thing you’ve ever eaten?

Ana says: Spaghetti aglio e olio (in fact, I’m about to make it for dinner once I finish this) and chocolate souffle. The best thing I’ve ever eaten…gosh, that’s tough. I’ll have to split this one up. Homemade: my mom’s lasagna. Restaurant: Spaghetti alla carbonara from Capricciosa (a Japan-based Italian restaurant) with lots o’ shredded cheese

Rophy says: Define salad…

Ana says: A waste of menu space. Unless it’s potato salad. Potatoes are always exempt from scorn and debasement.

Sophy notes: I asked Ana whether pork was similarly immune to scorn and debasement. All she would say is that she doesn’t eat pork. Make of it what you will.

Rophy says: Make Bella do something cute. Describe it to us.

(Bella is Ana’s Pomeranian.)

Ana says: Perch on her hind legs like a bear while I taunt her with a piece of Greenie. Have you ever fed your dogs Greenies? I swear, it’s like crack for dogs. Bella will do anything for one.

Rophy says: All our dogs perch for greenies. Meant to be. Meanwhile, how annoyed are you that that bitch Stephenie Meyer stole your puppy’s name?

Ana says: Extremely. If I got a dollar for every time someone asked me if I named my dog after that character, I’d have enough to send my future children to college.

Rophy says: On that note, what’s the worst book you’ve ever read? The worst book you’ve ever not read because it was so bad you couldn’t go on?

Ana says: The Alchemist (I know I’m going to get pelted by a lot of people for saying that, because it is uber-popular). But I did like Coelho’s Eleven Minutes, so I hope that will assuage the malice I’m probably getting from fans of The Alchemist right now. At the risk of sounding like an elitist, if the book is on Oprah’s Book Club, chances are, I probably won’t read it. The Secret. Just couldn’t finish it.

Rin says: But… Oprah.

Rin cries into her soup.

Rophy says: Who is your favourite contemporary author? Your favourite, uh, dead author?

Ana says: Haruki Murakami and Christopher Hitchens. Henry James and Edith Wharton.

Rophy says: Ana/Henry James forever. We know you love your tattoos. If you had to have one quote written by somebody else tattooed on your body what would it be? What about one quote written by you?

Ana says: I have so many favorite quotes. Probably something sagacious and incisive that a friend may have said to me. There are several candidates already from e-mails that I’ve received from friends. I think that would be more special than anything I’d pick from a favorite writer or philosopher. As for a quote written by me, maybe a line from one of my scripts. I’ll let you guess which one

Rophy says: Does it involve a new moisturizer? No? The best burger ever? Scholastic cock-sucking? Are we warm?

Ana says:

Rophy says: When did you know you were born to write?

Ana says: Seventeen.

Rophy says: So there are no early drafts in crayon then? Perhaps you were too busy with your tennis. Are you ever sad that you gave that up?

Ana says: Not really. I believe that my tennis “career” had run its course. I had a lovely time playing competitive tennis for seven years. Much of what I learned from the sport is still applicable to other areas of my life. The discipline and dedication demanded by tennis have certainly helped me in my present career.

Rophy says: Yeah. Also we like watching people throw balls around as much as the next person, but Triptych is better.

Rophy says: Out of all of your scripts which are you most proud of, and why?

Ana says: That’s like picking a favorite child. I’ve written 28 feature-length screenplays. Of those, there are about a dozen that I’m really proud of, but I’d say that my most recent one (Triptych) is my favorite.

Rophy says: Who are your biggest influences in terms of film-making?

Ana says: Filmmakers from the Nouvelle Vague (Truffaut, Godard), French Impressionist (Jean Renoir), and Francis Ford Coppola (the only true American auteur). Frankly, I prefer films from directors who have actually written their own scripts; I’ve little respect for directors who don’t write their own work.

Rophy says: Can you tell us a bit about some scripts you have in the pipeline?

Ana says: I have an adventure epic called The Expedition that I’ve begun writing. It’s like an Indiana Jones-type movie with a bunch of disparate characters thrown into the mix. I also have begun outlining what will be my third period film, The Roaring Twenties, set in 1920s New York. I’ve always found that era to be the terminus of America’s adolescence and innocence. It was before The Great Depression, and the country was brimming with unadulterated optimism and opulence, which ultimately led to its demise at the end of that decade. Also, flapper dresses, speakeasies, and silver flasks–I’ll probably end up keeping all the props on that film.

Rophy says: Out of all your amazing scripts, what made you decide to choose Triptych to be your first feature film?

Ana says: Thank you for saying they’re amazing Some overarching themes in Triptych in terms of character relationships are highly personal, but I’d say the primary reason is that it deals with an important topical subject matter that hasn’t really been treated properly in a feature film, at least not in a way that is palatable to a mainstream audience. It’s a film that requires concentration, but I hope it’s not too arduous to watch. I’ve tried to temper the gravity with some levity.

Rophy says: You have the balance right, we assure you. In fact, you have the balance perfect.

So, which script would you like to film next?

Ana says: Probably The Grand Tour.

Rophy says: Yes, yes, yes. We’re dying to see Sandrine come to life.

You often say that all your characters are, to varying extents, drawn from yourself. Which, out of the characters in Triptych, is most like you?

Ana says: Ana and Kate. By far.

Rophy says: And who has been the greatest inspiration in your life?

Ana says: My mom. No one even comes close.

Rophy says: Exactly how grateful are you that we sent you those Skins DVDs?

Ana says: Haha. Um, I’m contemplating naming my future children after you? Or at least my future pets

Rophy says: Wise choice. We doubt Stephenie Meyer will ever name a revolting protagonist ‘Rophy’.

So… favourite Skins character?

Ana says: I’m so screwed with this question. Thanks a lot. Um, Doug.

Rophy says: Favourite Skins ship?

Ana says: Freddie and Effy.

Sophy gazes adoringly, clutches at Ana’s skirts.

Rophy says: Favourite Skins moment?

Ana says: The opening scene of the very first episode, which is what hooked me in the first place. Seeing all those cool film posters in Tony’s room made me realize that this wasn’t going to be another standard-issue teenybopper show. As it turned out, it had a lot more substance than most American teen shows.

Rophy says: What other shows do you watch? What are your favourite shows that no longer air?

Ana says: Present: Dexter, True Blood (although lately, it’s been disappointing and has devolved into campy schlock), 30 Rock, Portlandia, Real Time with Bill Maher, Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones. Past: Arrested Development (can’t wait for the feature), Carnivale, Deadwood, Daria, Lost, Sex and the City, Prison Break (the early seasons), Friends, I Love Lucy.

Rophy says: What is the single most romantic thing you have ever seen in a movie or TV show or read in a book? The funniest? The most tear-jerking?

Ana says: Romantic: The ending of Atonement.

Funniest: Tie between Ross and his leather pants incident, and Ross and his blindingly white teeth on Friends.

Tearjerker: The whole montage in Up where the old man loses his wife. The ending of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Rophy says: What’s your favourite city in the whole world and why?

Ana says: Paris. Every moment I’ve spent in that city is pristine and perfect. I’ve been there a total of 10 times.

Rophy says: What was it about Lily that made you want to cast her as Ana? And Kat as Kate?

Ana says: Lookswise, Lily can convincingly portray a character from ages 17 to 38. That was a big technical issue for me, because I considered 14 other actresses for the role of Ana, two of them Oscar nominees, but there wasn’t any single actor who had everything it took to incarnate Ana. Indeed, Lily beat out a couple of Oscar contenders for the role and deservedly so. Lily was a bit of a revelation because frankly, I had zero expectations when I met her. I had only seen her on Skins, and her character didn’t exactly stand out. Yes, I know you will respectfully disagree with me on that score

Rophy says: Respectfully? There are pitchforks, Ana. Pitchforks and a bonfire.

Ana says: Having said that, she did commendable work on Skins, and her final monologue is something to behold. When I met her, she seemed a bit shy, but I soon discovered that she has this underlying confidence and an understated intelligence that made her perfect for Ana. She has the capacity to be open and closed at the same time, which is a quality that I needed for Ana. I can’t say more about her without divulging key plot points and spoiling a couple of twists, so I’ll just leave it at that. She gave really compelling readings and evinced a keen understanding of Ana, which is what ultimately put her over the top.

Admittedly, I had reservations about casting Kat, not because she isn’t good, but I had already cast Lily, and I didn’t want my film to be associated with Skins (much as I appreciate the show) because Triptych is about as far removed from Skins as you can get. Also, Kat looked really, really young on Skins (she looked 14 or 15), and the character of Kate is 21, so it was refreshing to see how much older she looked when I first met her. As with Lily, Kat exceeded my expectations. Far exceeded them, in fact. She came fully prepared with extensive character notes and delivered a convincing American accent (she plays a character who was born in Prague but grew up in New York City). The scenes that she auditioned for were varied and challenging, and she rose to the occasion. I was telling Kat the other week that certain actors have that inherent charm and a je ne sais quoi quality about them that you’re either born with or not, it’s not really something you can cultivate, and she has it in spades. And that was important because Kate is an effusively and effortlessly charming character. I think that if I do my job right, audiences will really fall for her.

They’re both lovely human beings who possess the talent and aplomb to forge an enduring career in this industry, and I really look forward to working with them on Triptych. After evaluating the hours of footage from their readings, I can tell you they have what it takes to make it. They can be the next Winslet and Weisz, and I’m not just saying that because they’re in my movie. I make that praise and qualification as objectively as possible, and I don’t dole out lofty comparisons lightly. I think they’ll amaze everyone and truly garner the attention of Hollywood once this film is released. In fact, I actually wish for their success in this film more than I do my own.

Rophy says: Well… what other response could we possibly have to that than…

And finally, Ana, we must ask you: do you have any idea what you’ve done to fandom by putting these two in a movie together?

Ana says: I’ve an inkling. I might buy a talisman for protection.

Rophy says: Are you afraid? Fandom is a scary place…

Ana says: You’ll be my buffer

Rophy says: We suuuuuuure will…