Spotlight: Filmmaker

Viviane Winthrop

Viviane Winthrop was born in Montreal. Her parents moved to Sedona, Arizona, when she was a teenager. Although her father was a professional actor and her mother a piano teacher, Viviane chose a career in dentistry. After 25 years as a dentist, she has recently retired to pursue her dream as a film director. The Last of the Winthrops is her directorial debut. The film recently was named Best Documentary at the Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival in Los Angeles.

NM: What’s your origin story?

VW: I was born in Montreal Canada. My mom is French Canadian, and my dad was born in Switzerland and is from the storied Winthrop family of Boston and New York. I’m an only child and grew up in a little town called Baie Comeau on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. It was truly beautiful but very, very far away from Hollywood.

The cold was too much for my dad who grew up in the south of France. We moved to Sedona, Arizona, when I was 14½. My dad wasn’t well, so my mom drove the 2,000 miles to Arizona. It was a wild and intense trip to the unknown. I missed my friends and, unfortunately, our dog and cat were too old to make the trip so that was a huge loss. But the trip was exciting and scary, and we were hopeful my dad would feel better in the warmth of Arizona. It was a chance to start new.

Spring forward a few years and I became a dentist. I need to thank my dentist, actually.

He was the one who made dentistry not scary. He helped me overcome my fear, so I wanted to do the same. Most of my career was dedicated to helping underserved populations, so that part was satisfying. So then, I made a feature documentary….

NM: How did you get into the film industry?

VW: I received a text message from this woman who at first said we’re closely related, then emailed me again and said she’s my sister. And she was. I was sitting on my bed and thought this is a crazy story, something I would only see in a movie. So, I reached out to my new third cousin, and he said his cousin would be able to help me write a screenplay.

I had no intention of making a film when I called Adam. He said your life is happening right now. You really should film it now. So, I jumped into the complete unknown and learned by the seat of my pants and Adam K. Singer became my producer. And he’s the one that brought everyone together to make my film happen. I want to send a shout-out to the wives of our editor, April, and our producer, Breanna, who were instrumental in giving their advice and observations!

NM: What was the most surprising thing you faced when you transitioned from working in dentistry to becoming a filmmaker?

VW: Even though I happened onto filmmaking and it wasn’t my original career choice, I loved the whole experience so much so I want to continue filmmaking. The camaraderie, everyone really believing in my story and working to make it great. The process with all its details. The sheer talent and professionalism that everyone brought to this project was humbling.

If I had understood the process from the beginning and knew how much to budget for both time and money, then I could have relaxed so much more into the process of it. In addition to the creativity, it surprised me how much I like the business of filmmaking and look forward to understanding it more.

The other surprising thing I faced is that I’m quite literally hands on in dentistry and at first with the film I didn’t get involved in some of the editing process. I realize as the director that I like collaborating with the editor. I found that our editor, Sergio Miranda, could reach into my incompletely processed thoughts and feelings, use the extraordinary footage our cinematographer filmed and translate my vision to what you see on our film. I am in awe of Sergio’s emotional intelligence and his ability to use this medium of film to turn this complex story into a touching film. Ultimately it was a healing experience for me.

NM: What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?

VW: Surviving my mom passing away recently. I miss her. She was involved in making our documentary but didn’t get to see the finished film. My biggest achievements are also finishing my film, having it accepted into film festivals, self-distributing it and learning so many new things. And, facing and walking towards my new life, finding that there is a giant blessing on the other side of fear.

NM: What motivates you in your work?

VW: Once I see the vision of what I’m trying to accomplish, then I want to finish it and make it happen. Starting is always my toughest part because I know when I start, then I have to finish.

NM: What is the biggest challenge to women in your industry?

VW: I worked in the prison system and there were few women in leadership positions there. I imagine it’s the same in the film industry, although that has to be changing. I hope. Being taken seriously without having to become masculine is one of the things I had to learn. Being strong in our femininity and yet allowing kindness to be a strength.

People value confidence but I feel better being authentic. Sometimes I’m not confident but I do get things done. I have value in my experience. Being heard, being seen and being understood as our authentic selves are all important factors for anyone.

I do hope that my company We Unite As One can provide stepping stones for empowering women of all ages to share their story. There are fascinating women everywhere whose voices need to be heard.

NM: If being a woman is your superpower, what is your kryptonite?

VW: My mom: she’s both my superpower and my kryptonite. Even now that she’s passed away, I wish she were here so I could ask for her advice and guidance. She had a wisdom I miss. Also, my self-doubt is a real hindrance. The struggle is real. And I’m sure I’m not the only one that goes through that. But when I sit quietly - hard to do but sometimes I can do it and open the door from within, the answers are there. I just have to listen.

NM: What does the future hold for you?

VW: I have inner peace more often throughout the day. Travel with my Andre. Touch people’s hearts with my film and give workshops about it. I finish my Tante Vicky’s WWII journals and share her life with the world. She’s the one who made me realize that “Family is who you love and who loves you.”

I’ve made the sequel to The Last of the Winthrops, written the book that goes with the films, organized my life so it fits in my laptop and somehow I keep on dreaming because age is a state of mind. And if I can see it, We Unite As One is blossoming and uniting people through kindness, respect, love and our stories. I might as well dream big.