We were able to interview producer extraordinaire Lisa Hirata on Friday, January 9th via text message while riding Orange County public transportation. Lisa kindly answered our many questions over the course of that day, and by the time we were done with work and back on a crowded northward bus heading to Los Angeles’s Union Station, her answers had all appeared. Lisa is the heart and soul of FEAR ANONYMOUS. We are happy to bring you this conversation with her. – LFDG
LA FEMME DE GERARD: Hello, Lisa, good morning! We’re here to talk about Fear Anonymous. 🙂 How are you doing today?
LISA HIRATA: I’m doing great! 🙂
LFDG: Awesome, me too! 🙂 To dive right in… as the producer, what was it like working on Fear Anonymous as a project? Could you share with us one of the high points or fun moments, and maybe also one of the challenges? Just trying to get a sense of the process.
LH: As a producer the “fear” ( no pun intended) is: will everything work out? From scheduling to finding locations and casting, among a myriad of other things. But one of the greatest things about working on this project in particular is that I was able to work with my husband and to really wholeheartedly engulf myself in the completion of this project.
There’s a couple of high moments for me when working on film sets. One is during the shoot, seeing actors bring the magic. Bringing the script to life is always an amazing thing to witness.
For example, in the diner scene Miles who played the chef did a lot of improvisation that amplified that scene to another level! He was chopping at carrots like a maniac in the kitchen! 🙂
And of course the biggest highlight is at the end of it all when people are seeing themselves on the big screen and seeing their reactions. We almost forget all the obstacles that we faced.
LFDG: Miles is one of my favorite performers! I love that detail abt the carrots. And Gerard loves how open Bron is to improv. It’s such an actor-friendly process on all his sets always.
LH: Challenges (thoughtful emoji)…where to start lol! I’m trying to think of one without talking s*** about anyone in particular (tears of laughter emoji 2 times) just kidding
LFDG: I hear that! I’ve produced myself and there is always drama LOLLL! What about maybe advice that u wd give to a first time producer on their first big shoot…?
LH: The challenges always revolve around scheduling. A lot of times we cast people and at the last minute they will say “Hey, I got a better opportunity and I’m going to take that one instead,” which is totally understandable, but from a producer’s perspective it really gets stressful.
LFDG. Whoa, I can imagine…That is hard cause the shoot is contingent on everyone being there. and bron does so much ensemble work.
LH: For example, we did have a different actor cast to play the chef in the diner scene, however the week before shoot he declined the role with very vague excuses (facepalm emoji). But lucky for us, we got Miles. And it was all meant to be!
My advice for a first-time producer on a film shoot is to be open-minded. Be ready to adapt to changes and always have a backup plan. Have a backup for the backup plan!
LFDG: OMG so much stress!! For our readers who have not seen the movie. I will add here that the role of the chef is very physically demanding and specific… super hard to recast at short notice! But Miles is the best 🙂
LH: You almost have to be a chess player thinking one step ahead.
Lisa , who, like Bron, is also a visual artist, created this iconic bowl of soup image for the Culver City Film Festival posters.
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LFDG: I love that! Chess player…
Lisa can we step back to the big picture a bit here and ask how many films you have produced with Bron? One of the first things I noticed on my husband [Gerard]’s first project with Bron which was called REAL ACTING, several years ago was how incredibly well the production was run and how happy everyone was, and I give you the credit for that. To this day Gerard will work with Bron no matter what the circumstances…because working with Bron basically means working with the team and that means working with Lisa!
LH: This was officially my first “producer” job and then I briefly helped him on a second project, but that was more like an assistant director role.
LH: For the most part in all the projects, on filming days I was always in charge of craft service/ catering, feeding the cast and crew and transportation / PA work ( running around helping take out flames!) But because I live with Bron, I always helped with pre-production things such as gathering props, helping with set design, and listening to scenes he has written.
LFDG: So design, script, and production…
LH: The way I met Bron was actually being on set, working as extras or background on TV shows and movies. So I always had a sense of how productions and film sets ran. I’ve always had an interest in the film world–how things ran “behind the scenes.” The amount of teamwork needed to go into a single project is amazing!
LFDG: I have to go teach my 11am now. I love this tho! if u can say anything abt yr self as an individual artist that helps too…like what are some of the overlaps between working individually and working collaboratively 🙂 and do you think you will continue to do both?
thank you Lisa this is amazing! I will follow up l8r when I’m done teaching!!!
LH: Have a good class!
LH: Answer: Being an artist and an independent movie producer definitely have more in common than people might think—both demand attention to detail, resourcefulness and (most importantly) working within a budget!
You have to get creative and cook at home when having $200 per day to spend on feeding 15+ people! *emoji*
Lastly, I am an artist at heart and Bron’s teammate. Though producing movies isn’t my favorite thing to do. I will always help HIM because he f* ing needs it. LOL!
Somebody needs to keep him organized *emoji*
Let me know if you have any more questions!
LFDG:Thank you so much Lisa!!! Amazing!!!! This was such a beautiful interview. Appreciate your time!
FEAR ANONYMOUS 
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