Multi-hyphenate director, writer, and filmmaker Chris Robert is certainly one to watch… As the director of development at Rainmaker Films he’s been involved in a plethora of high-profile projects with the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Anna Kendrick, Robert DeNiro and Diane Keaton, just to rattle off a few. His latest project, EXPECTATIONS, which he also wrote and directed, is a modern-day retelling of the Charles Dickens classic—with a twist. We had the opportunity to speak to Chris about his exciting new indie film, his inspiring story, and why cultivating a sense of family on set is so important to him.
1. What inspired you to want to get into filmmaking?
Because I didn’t go to school for filmmaking, I’ve sort of had to find my way a bit when it comes to delving into the creative. And it’s been quite an exciting journey!
I traveled quite a bit as a child, which was something that I really enjoyed. I liked making new friends everywhere I went. It was always such a pleasure to get to know different people who lived very different lives, with different sets of beliefs and values, all across the country and abroad as well. Many are still in my life today! But it was always films that helped me understand them better, even when they were in different languages. The stories, characters, and beliefs expressed in them could reflect worlds I never encountered before, and helped me connect with my newfound friendships in a way I probably wouldn’t have been able to as a tween or a teenager.
I’m a big believer in the filmmaking medium serving as a great communicator, and so when I was a child, I guess you could say that I was inspired by them even before I knew that I wanted to work in a business today where I get to make them today!
2. You’re known for creating a sense of family on every one of your film shoots. Do you find that this aids in the performances that you get from your cast and crew?
Whenever I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with all of the talented artists, I’ve been fortunate enough to get the opportunity to work with, both behind the camera and in front, I’ve always been made better by the experience. Believe it or not, there hasn’t been a single time in my entire career that I haven’t acquired positive experiences, and just as importantly, derived valuable lessons and growth. It’s always been my hope that everyone feels the same. Most relationships in my experience are built on honesty and trust, so doing my best to contribute to that kind of atmosphere is important. Nevertheless, because we are all artists, there’s going to be some vulnerabilities when we all come together and express our art to make a film. Navigating those sentiments and building a foundation is so important. One of the most fun aspects of the job, for my part, is having the opportunity to help coordinate everyone together into a cohesive unit where we can all follow our passions. By forging together as a team, we’re all always stronger and more free together as that unit, and it’s always incredibly fun to support one another while we bring the characters and scenes to life.
3. Your newest film ‘Expectations’ has a uniquely diverse cast from around the world. As someone who grew up all around the world, do you take pride in casting such diversity for your films?
There’s been many people who have said that we create from what we know, right? Most of my characters and my casts reflect the world that I’ve gotten to experience. Traveling as much as I have has given me a unique window into the many cultures that are out there, and it’s certainly lending to many of the comedic quips and moments in Expectations! But it’s just me reflecting the world that I’ve gotten to know.
4. How has your love for literature helped you in your career as a filmmaker?
I was a voracious reader when I was a kid, and oddly enough, I was always drawn to the classics first. Although I have to say, the tween version of me that had to extensively review Dickens and Great Expectations would be stupefied by the adult version of me making a companion film! There’s so much from our adolescent experiences that helps shape our lives, even in ways that we cannot fathom until reflecting back. I think this is such a fun part about life! There’s just such little ability to be hyper aware at all times, and fully appreciate the little things we are doing in the moment and the effects they could have on us years down the road. But I certainly do appreciate them! Reading some of the greats, like the Brontës, or Austen, or Tolstoy, Shakespeare, or Bulgakov, in addition to an author like Dickens formed some basic tenants in how I tell my stories. They inspired me in ways that I’m now still just coming to understand. And in the case of Expectations, perhaps revisit and change the narrative in some ways, as well. I’m so thankful for all of the writers who have come before me, because it’s on the genius of their shoulders that my work gets to continue to build.
5. You are known for your infectious enthusiasm and optimism, what do you attribute these qualities to?
I guess I’m just always pretty excited! I learned a long time ago that none of us can choose or really change how our stories begin. Sometimes things happen to us that we can’t control or even understand. There are even times that we have to spend much of our lives trying to understand why things are the way they are, because we weren’t responsible for them, or we didn’t ask for it either. Those moments can be tough and demoralizing. But what’s always occurred to me is the propensity for people to keep moving forward. That’s something that not only causes me to feel a great sense of optimism in the world, but also general excitement. No matter how tough today is, there’s another one tomorrow. And tomorrow can bring such awesome opportunities, or even little things that let us turn it all around or make tiny differences that add up to larger ones. So I guess you could say, the prospect of tomorrow for my part, is always worth enthusiasm.
6. Moviemaking has its stresses… how do you stay on top of your mental health in those stressful situations?
You’re right, filmmaking can be indeed stressful! There’s a ticking clock that always serves as a concern when making a movie. Sometimes it’s because you need a specific shot at a specific time, or because you’ll lose a cast member or crew member to another project or timeline. It’s always important to have those outlets to relieve that stress, because no matter how prepared anyone is, or how talented they might be, in my experience it’s a tall order to get everything right all the time.
Don’t laugh, but on Expectations, we had a lot of outdoor sequences that involved wintry, snowed in holiday weekend-like family gathering-gone-wrong vibes. As you can imagine, to achieve these sequences, we shot in the beautiful winter-scape of Canada, which meant icy temperatures and a ton of layers to wear when we were outdoors. So in order for me to stay pumped up like a warm marshmallow, I was wearing a lot of clothes. So to unplug, I did a lot of laundry! By doing this menial everyday task, I had the time to reflect and think about my days, what went well, and what I could do better the next day. Sometimes, I find, it’s the simplest of tasks that I’m doing that seem mind-numbing but, in the end, let me take the time to gather myself.
On most projects, I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such a wonderful team of people. My production partner, Clay Pecorin, is just the best. Both he and my wife, Annie, are always there for me, and it is a tremendous help for my mental health to rely on people in my life like them. It’s always good to talk to the people in your life who make you feel safe, and most importantly, not alone. I’m quite fortunate to have individuals like them around me to help carry those burdens.
7. You are a regular supporter of the Rashad Jennings Foundation, what inspired you to get involved with this organization?
Rashad is an old friend, and he was actually in my wedding! He and I have had so many amazing adventures, from going to Oregon to visit the Nike campus when he played for the New York Giants (naturally his athletic needs are much more significant than mine!), to our shared love of Van Leeuwen’s ice cream (hard to beat their vegan flavors), to our Friday night chess games (last I remember, I’m on a five-game winning streak, however he might remember otherwise). I’ve known him for a long time, and just like all great friends, it’s always a joy for all of us to support one another. The Rashad Jennings foundation champions literacy, especially in underprivileged communities, which is such an important mission for me, as you already know how influenced I am by reading. It also helps bring awareness to families suffering from diabetes, something that many of us are touched by in our communities, even indirectly.
8. Having been an orphan yourself, do you feel a special connection to the characters of Pip and Estella, who are orphans in the film?
I always did feel a unique connection to them, but not in the most obvious ways. I remember reading Great Expectations when I was a tween, and oddly enough, not really identifying with Pip. It’s funny, because he is the main character, and so much of the narrative that Dickens crafted was built around his feelings and his mind. Nevertheless, I was riveted by Estella. Here she was, a quasi-guest, in this woman’s house, who did all of the things that were asked of her without developing significant interests or ambitions of her own. One could say, she might have been one of the first creations of a “manic-pixie dream-girl.” For most of the novel, she rarely expressed her true thoughts or feelings, but she certainly brought out a lot in Pip.
I was taken aback by how imperative it was for Estella to “perform” her role in Miss Havisham’s house, or how she followed suit with her relationship with Pip. I couldn’t help wondering if that’s how I was supposed to act to acquire affections. Did I need to be a perfect curation of those around me to maximize my potential? It was so confusing for me to read and try to understand, let alone for what I’d imagine the character is going through.
Years later with Expectations, I was really fortunate to work with the immensely talented Blu Hunt to bring Estella to life. With the events of Expectations taking place years after the events of the novel, and not directly connected, we got to collaborate on the journey this young woman undertook and give her some true feelings to relieve the fact that there was so much unsaid between the characters in the source material. Blu is a dynamic performer, but she’s also a student of cinema. Watching her scenes as Estella, I could be awestruck, sympathetic, and intimidated all in the same scene with the dedication and commitment she lent to the emotional state of this character who is trying to find her place in the world. Finding might be too light of a word, perhaps fighting for her place in the world is more apropos.
Regardless, it’s sometimes the smallest things that influence those around us, things that other people fail to even register. For me, that’s why it’s fun to revisit Pip and Estella now as an adult. I’ve had my own experiences in life, and it’s really exciting to imagine what experiences those characters might have in our contemporary society today. Because there’s so much of a continuance in this particular story, trust me when I say, one need not be familiar with the source material to watch Expectations, just have some popcorn ready to watch a uniquely found family compete with one another for the love of a matriarch who uses inheritance as a way to connect with her pseudo-children.
9. What inspired you to create a film based on the Charles Dickens’ literary classic “Great Expectations”?
I’d normally say it was to bring Dickens and Great Expectations to a new generation, a new era. Because of our diverse cast, contemporary setting, and the addition of some all new, cheeky characters, we had a saying when we made this film. It was, “this is not your grandparents’ Great Expectations.” The fact that it takes a series of tragic events from the source material and has evolved into some rollicking hilarity probably further proves that.
But the truth is, that might only be the considerations on the surface. Beneath it all, I think what motivated me to make Expectations the way we made it was because, oddly enough, there seems to be so much similarity between certain aspects of society, from Dickens Victorian-era England, to our world today. The pressure of forming identity, and whether to fit in or stand out, remains similar. Issues of what constitutes a family and how we should treat one another within that familial unit might be more topical today than ever before. Do we compete with our siblings? Do we help them? What’s the distinction of being “first born,” if anything? The question of inheritance is more relevant today than any time since the Victorian-era. Let’s face it, one of the top shows of recent memory was called “Succession” (and is also a comedic take). Gender-politics is ever-evolving. So, making this film is sort of a dissertation that allows our audience to compare and contrast just how far our society has come since the Victorian era, where we have improved, and where we are lacking, while hopefully having some laughs along the way.
10. Lastly, if you could go back in time and give advice to a younger version of you, what would that advice be?
The most important thing that I’d like to communicate to my younger self, the kid reading Great Expectations for the third time in class as he wonders why this will be useful in the future, is simply that hard work truly always does pay off. Most of the time, it won’t be in the way we imagine or intend it to be. But it will always lead to something exciting on the horizon. The experiences gained and the knowledge attained will never be senseless, because it’s all the things that help make us who we become. By making peace with that, that tweenaged version of me will eventually be pretty happy with how things turn out, just by embracing his moments.
Photo Credit: Chris Knight
