An interview with Netti Hurley - Rare, Emerging and Impassioned Film Director

Oct 1

Oct 1 An interview with Netti Hurley - Rare, Emerging and Impassioned Film Director

Like most interviews, it’s always so difficult to step inside someone’s life and start sniffing about their past, present and future. One always wonders if the answers are carefully orchestrated or sincere. These were the things I was considering as I waited to be served by the slowest barista on the planet - running late as ever to meet director and photographer, Netti Hurley (Netti). After I finally got my two hot cups of coffee, I raced over to Netti and, of course, managed to spill them all over myself. However, her no-nonsense, chitchatty, effortless hip-look and heartfelt personality rapidly emerged, making me feel balmy and forget all about my burnt fingers.

We met in a quiet, tucked away courtyard and, with the warm autumnal sun rising, the vibe was airy and calm. We nestled down onto a woody bench, I pressed the rec button and, taking our first sips of coffee, we started.

How did you start working in this industry and what is your background?

My dads an actor so it’s always been there in some way. He had me reciting Shakespeare in his van since a very young age. During school holidays he would build us a stage - either in the house or in the garden and we would write plays and act. I actually wanted to be an actor. It was everything for me when I was younger but somewhere I really lost that - I think I became too self conscious. Happier behind the camera. I’ve always loved taking photos - experimenting with various cameras I find in boot fairs. Love the feeling with analogue, that kind of nostalgia, romance and surprise. After Uni I started working in the music industry. Music has always been a big inspiration to me but then I realised it was the visual narrative around music that I loved the most. The corporate world never really stuck with me. Even though it can be creative, it felt constraining and it just felt right to pursue photography full time. It’s a process I think, learning exactly how you want to express yourself and where you sit. I think that’s ongoing. I’ll have that feeling forever. Moving image was just another expression of this.

What did you study?

I studied English Literature and Classics at university.

When did you make the transition into moving image?

I was working on a personal stills project following a UK sex worker and porn star called Misha. I followed her everywhere for nearly 2 years. I wanted to learn about the sex industry, about what it’s like to be a woman in it, and to do that it felt right to fully immerse myself in it. To really live it. That’s what I have to do to understand it and really see it. It’s a shift of perspective. A kind of gonzo mentality. Photography, writing and anything else - it’s just an expression of this. Sometimes it feels good to write, sometimes take a photo and then sometimes, like with Misha, I needed to film this. There was an actual moment where I knew it. I remember waking up on this porn directors sofa in West Hollywood - he let me stay free there for a month in exchange for sorting out his extensive DVD collection - anyway I remember waking up one morning, surrounded by boxes of DVDs, sunlight streaming through the blinds. All these palms outside dappling the light. I was scrolling through my phone looking through all these little instavids and vignettes I had been making on my phone of Misha. And then just seeing how the light was moving through the blinds, knowing that the only way to capture that was filming it, I was just like fuck why am I not filming this? This needs to be a film. Like I’m here, I’m fully in it, everyone’s cool with me shooting filming and the world I’m seeing right now, it’s amazing. I need to share this exactly how I’m seeing it.

How did you become a Film Director?

I became a film director when I realised I was capable of being a film director. That was the beginning for me, as I realised there was a way for me to tell stories the way I saw them. And now it’s really an obsession - finding people, stories, escaping, learning, researching and creating. I directed my first short ‘Coping’ written by the young poet Laureate Caleb Femi, last November. I directed my first proper music promo in Sept for Ghetts called “Black Rose”. Working on this project really confirmed how important it was for me to work on subjects that inspire and empower people. It was naturalistic in its approach, while using moments to heighten and magnify reality in some way.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a short film entitled “Big Titty Kitty”. Set in Burlington Vermont, it’s about a plus size fetish model called Ashley.The project is currently in the pre-production phase.

What is it about?

Ashley is an aspiring cam girl and sex worker living in Burlington Vermont. It basically challenges all the conventional ideas of beauty, body type, sex and relationships and turns them on their head.

What is it that attracts you to this project?

I love to empower and elevate people. I’ve always loved the underdog. I’m drawn to stories like hers more than anything hype. It’s everything to me. Diversity is really important, I will always promote that through my work.

Do you shoot on film a lot?

Ye for everything really. ‘Black Rose’ was mixed format. I kinda hate mixing but it was b+w which it the only reason I was happy to do it. It was more of a budget thing to be honest - film isn’t cheap. It’s such a different feeling shooting on film. I don’t own a digital camera. For my stills, I shoot everything on my film camera.

Do you think being a woman has helped you, or has it been harder to progress with your work?

I love being a woman. I love the intuition and sensitivity that women have. I feel quite maternal with a lot of people I work with. There’s a lot we have to fight against, and I constantly feel like I’m battling against something. But I actually love it, as it gives me something to work and fight harder for. When I was younger we used to drive around with guys and they used think girls knew nothing about music. F*ck that. I’ve always wanted to prove myself and to be on the same level, and I love the energy it gives me. I’ve learnt that the more you do, and the more confidence you have, the more self assured, the more you become in control of your own life. I exercise my determination daily.

Can you name some women that have inspired you and you like?

All women inspire me. I’m often unintentionally attracted to the work of female directors. I would say Directors like Chloe’ Zhao, who just did “The Rider”, Lynne Ramsay and Alma Har’el. Alma Har’el’s feature documentaries are beautiful. I love naturalistic filmmaking, where you don’t know whether its fiction or reality. Andrea Arnold is another massive inspiration. I like the idea of fully immersing myself and working in a real environment. I’ve never been interested in creating stories from scratch. For me the best stories already exist. Once I started seeing filmmakers do that, I became inspired to do it myself.

Do you have any message you want to give to female filmmakers?

Don’t take any sh*t, maintain strong self-belief and don’t overthink too much. So many women don’t believe in themselves and we need to get over that. It’s a product of society that’s mentally instilled in us from birth, but there’s no room for self-doubt.