stargazing

by Alan McIntyre, director

How do you tell a story that makes people care? What do you do if someone steals your work? How far are you willing to compromise to attain success? Stargazer asks these and more questions of its characters and audience. A university library is a natural setting for such inquiries – and for occasional heavy petting.

As the grandson of an astrophysicist, the son of an architect who painted mythological frescos on the walls of our home, and a mentee of many fierce female filmmakers, I felt an immediate connection to the Stargazer script. On the page and in readings, characters were sharp, the dialogue crackled, and I could imagine the scenes playing out in the buildings where I teach. I took the fast-talking classics such as His Girl Friday as my pacing guide, and our team embarked on a non-stop stedicam flow, Covid-safe, of course.

We employed recent graduates and arranged for class credit for current students, all guided by some of my more experienced former students who now crew professionally. Learning on set has always been important to me, techniques and artistic sensibilities passed down from mentor to student, so it was a great experience to create a film in an open, encouraging, and yes, demanding environment.

My connection to the movie’s themes runs deep. Like our lead character Grace, I have long sought to bring attention to a forgotten genius, a Baroque composer. I have made films about the original science of mythology and dance, and have struggled with the blurred line between work and personal life. Exploring Stargazer with its writers, actors, and other collaborators has been an honor and a process of discovery.