Ypulse Interview: Hannah Bailey, 'American Teen'
Posted by anastasia on 07-02-2008
We have partnered with Paramount Vantage to offer a special sneak peek screening of the Sundance hit "American Teen" after Monday's Ypulse Mashup event in San Francisco. We are offering free tickets to all Ypulse Mashup attendees and readers. The screening is Monday, July 14, at the Sony Metreon and will be followed by a panel discussion with the teens featured in the documentary. To RSVP, just email us at mashup@ypulse.com and specify how many tickets you are requesting for the screening.
I had a chance to do a short email interview with Hannah Bailey, who in my mind was the breakout "star," if there can even be stars of documentaries. Check it out and RSVP today!
Ypulse: How conscious were you of being filmed for "American Teen"? How did that impact (or not) what we see of you senior year?
Hannah Bailey: Here's how the movie production went down: Nanette starts filmin', for a month, and yes, I noticed the cameras. I was little, let's say, reserved for that month. Fortunately, they didn't use any footage from the very beginning. I think all of us were staring into the cameras. After a while, all of it became very natural. Needless to say, after that first month, I did not notice them. The cameras basically became part of the setting of my everyday life.
YP: In the film, we see you experience very real depression - something that impacts lots of teens but is still taboo to discuss. What would you say to other teens who might be experiencing similar feelings? What finally pulled you out of it?
HB: I just know from personal experience that a major problem with depression is that it's hard to find something to be positive about in the present, so it becomes really easy to dwell on the past, mistakes, things you would have done differently. But that's a useless thing to hang on to and the only real way to rise above the self-pity is to find something productive to focus on.
YP: Paramount Vantage is using "The Breakfast Club" imagery to promote the film - how real were those types of cliques and stereotypes at your high school?
HB: Yes, there are easily recognizable demographics in high school, like the ones we see in "The Breakfast Club." The simple truth is that there are so many people that don't fit into those cliques, so many kids that are friends with everyone, that it would be untrue to say that all high school kids can be stereotyped. It is true that teenagers tend to judge, tend to be a little crueler at that specific time in their lives. When it comes do it though, it's all about insecurity and self-consciousness. The key is to have an open mind.
YP: What have you learned from your experience of being in the film?
HB: I've learned that I never ever want to make a documentary about high school kids after watching the director, Nanette, deal with a bunch of teenagers!
YP: Tell us a little bit about life after high school and where you are now.
HB: I just finished up my freshman year at the Film Conservatory over at SUNY Purchase. It was great. Looking forward to sophomore year. Right now I'm living in LA, promoting the movie, hanging out with my dog Julie, and trying to get a cool internship. Life's alright.
