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A Conversation with Secret Life of Bees Writer/Director, Gina Prince-Bythewood
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Gina Prince-Bythewood on the set with Novelist
Sue Monk Kidd. Photo Credit: Sidney Baldwin
Writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood almost missed the opportunity to make “The Secret Life of Bees.” Coming off of back to back films Ms Prince-Bythewood was exhausted and tossed the manuscript into her closet without giving it a second look. Several years later when the opportunity presented itself again, she was fully prepared to grab the reins. It only took her 30 days to adapt the beloved novel into a screenplay.
Entertainment Examiner, Mike Parker, recently had the opportunity to chat with Ms. Prince-Bythewood about her career and her new film.
Mike Parker – You went to film school at UCLA. What prompted you in that direction?
Gina Prince Bythewood – My goal was to write soap operas. I was addicted to soaps when I was in high school and I read an article about how much the writers got paid and it thought that would be cool.
Parker – You had a successful student career, earnings some prestigious honors including the Gene Reynold's Scholarship for Directing and the Ray Stark Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Undergraduate. Did that give you a leg up in the industry once you completed college?
Gina – It’s funny; I did a student film that got a lot of attention, so I got a lot of interviews right out of college, but everyone wanted to see a screenplay and I didn’t have a screenplay written. I felt like I wasted a lot of opportunities. I ended up writing for television for five years, which was a great opportunity, both professionally and financially. That allowed me the time to take a year off and write my first screenplay which was “Love and Basketball.”
Parker – I understand you also ran track in college. Sounds like you were a competitive young lady.
Gina – I grew up playing sports. I lettered in eight sports in high school. I was recruited by a number of schools to play sports, but I wasn’t recruited by UCLA. I was so focused on being a filmmaker that I passed up a sports scholarship at other schools. I missed sports so bad that I went out for track on my own. That is where I met Bill Cosby and he is the one who really introduced me to the industry.
Parker – You spent quite a bit of your early career as a writer then transitioned into the role of writer/director. Would it be difficult for you to separate the two functions now?
Gina – Definitely. I’ve written so many things that others have directed and I don’t think I could do that again. You fall in love with your characters and stories and it is so hard to let go of that. It is even harder to see someone change it, particularly when you don’t agree with the changes they make. I’ve also directed things that others have written. There is just something so freeing about being able to bring your own vision to life.
Parker – Your new film, “The Secret Life of Bees,” was obviously based on the beloved best-selling novel. What are the challenges of adapting such a well known book for the big screen?
Gina – The greatest challenge it that it is such a beloved book and there is so much pressure to be true to the source material. People go into the theatre with arms crossed wondering how you have messed up their favorite book. You have to be faithful to the story and to keep the characters the same, but you have a responsibility to tell your story as well. Lily’s story mirrored what I went through as a young girl, so that part was easy. You have to stay true to the core of the story, but you are also trying to condense a 400-page book into a 100-page script, and that is hard.
Parker – There is a deep underlying spirituality to the film. How intentional was that?
Gina – When I read the book, the whole story of the Black Madonna was fascinating to me and it was exciting to bring that to the screen. The core of the book is the question of ‘Am I loved.’ The ultimate end of the film is about learning to love yourself. That is a beautiful, universal sentiment and it definitely pervades the film.
Parker – Last words?
Gina – I’m very proud of how the film is performing. It’s been out for three weeks and is still in the top ten at the box office. The fact that the film took seven years to make proves that there were a lot of people who didn’t believe in it. It is gratifying to see that it has such a broad appeal to audiences who are black, white, male, female, young and old.
The Seven Questions
1. What’s your favorite sound?
Gina – My sons laughing.
2. What makes you happy?
Gina – Success.
3. What makes you angry?
Gina – Injustice.
4. What is the secret of success?
Gina – Staying true to yourself.
5. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, living or dead, who would it be?
Gina – Nelson Mandela.
6. What is the epitaph that is written on your tombstone?
Gina – She loved her family. She loved her career. She was able to excel at both.
7. What is the first thing you want to hear God say to you?
Gina – Thank you.
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