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LAB RESULTS Front Range filmmaker finds her footing with ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ BY GREGORY WAKEMAN
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“My education in Colorado didn’t arah Adina Smith is the first to squash my spirit. I was supported; that admit that a career as a filmwas really nice,” she says. “It was a maker wasn’t the most obvious place where I was allowed to be path for her life. [myself]. It wasn’t really until college “It took me a hot minute to realize that I put it together that I wanted to that I wanted to be a director,” says the Fort Collins native. “I didn’t really under- write and direct films.” The college in question was stand what went on behind the camColumbia University. The video store era.” Lessons in Chemistry, featuring episodes directed by Colorado-raised filmmaker Sarah Adina Kim’s Video, where Smith worked durBut Smith clearly knows what she’s Smith, stars Brie Larson as a fired lab tech chemist who becomes the host of a 1960s TV cooking ing her studies, helped equip her with a doing now. Over the last decade she’s show. Courtesy: Apple TV+ crash course in film studies. “They let written and directed four feature films you take home three VHS tapes a night ogy known as abiogenesis, Smith was — The Midnight Swim, Buster’s Mal That’s something Smith has continin addition to your pay. That’s really able to explore the origins of life and Heart, Birds of Paradise, and The Drop ued to strive for throughout her career. where I got my cinema education.” the “ever-evolving and changing mani— and has overseen episodes of But as she’s achieved success and fold of existence,” she explains. “It’s Wrecked, Room 104, Legion, begun to work with major very odd and inspiring. I think the show Hanna and Looking for Alaska. Hollywood studios, balancreally celebrates awe and wonder in October marked the release of ing her creative efforts with the context of a modern scientific worldLessons in Chemistry, the latest financial stability has view.” television show featuring epibecome a bit of a chalWhile Smith is in the process of writsodes directed by Smith. With an lenge. ing a psychological thriller, an adaptaupcoming finale set for Nov. 24, “I have to admit it’s not the Apple TV+ adaptation of easy. The films I’m perhaps tion of Jonathan Lethem’s novel Girl In Landscape, and another TV series, Bonnie Garmus’ best-selling most proud of are the two novel stars Oscar-winning Best independent movies I made she’s making sure to take lessons from working on Lessons in Chemistry. “I Actress Brie Larson as Elizabeth outside of the Hollywood Zott, a fired lab tech chemist who system, The Midnight Swim want to stay really open to what life brings me next,” she says. becomes the host of a 1960s TV and Buster’s Mal Heart. Once that opportunity arises, you can cooking show. She uses this as They allowed me to be my bet Smith will be the first to send it an opportunity to teach housetruest self and explore phildown the proverbial mountain — a skill wives about science. osophical questions the she picked up during her time in the Smith’s journey beginning in way I wanted to,” she says. “People from Colorado are addicted to an adrenaline rush. That Centennial State. Fort Collins is all the more sur“To be honest, I’m still tryis still very much in my bones,” says director Sarah Adina Smith. “Me and my brother used to race prising considering that her ing to navigate how to have Credit: Jennifer Lafleur father is originally from Queens, a career in Hollywood while each other down [the slopes of] Steamboat Springs. That feeling of letNew York, and her mother is from Iowa. SENDING IT pursuing the art and more challenging ting go and flying, even in the face of “I’m not exactly sure what brought them As she first began to write scripts and questions that are the reason I got into your fears, is actually something I bring out to Colorado,” Smith says. “I think it this in the first place.” make experimental short films, includto my work every day. Particularly when was just the natural beauty and them Working with major production coming a shoot at the Silver Grill in Fort I’m on set directing,” she says. “People feeling like it was a wonderful place to panies has thrown a few curveballs, Collins, Smith wondered what she realfrom Colorado are addicted to an raise kids — which it was. It was an though. When Smith was first ly wanted to say with her projects. adrenaline rush. That is still very much amazing place to grow up.” approached about directing Lessons in “I studied philosophy at Columbia. in my bones and is something I use all A self-described “weirdo art kid” who Chemistry, she was hesitant. My first film scripts were terrible the time.” often showed up to her Poudre High “My first impulse was to roll my eyes because they were just these philosoSchool wearing “surgical scrubs, a and write it off because it was a fictional phy essays,” she says. “I got into filmfedora, and rainbow suspenders.” story about scientists in the 1950s making because I felt like it was a way Smith might not have yet been aware experiencing sexism,” she says. “But to think deeply about life’s big quesON SCREEN: Lessons in of her filmmaking skills, but she says it’s about so much more than that.” tions, while also making art and openChemistry is streaming now her Front Range community was Through the character of Elizabeth, ing up the conversation to a much on Apple TV+. essential to finding her voice. who studies a field of evolutionary biolbroader audience.” BOULDER WEEKLY
NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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