We got the chance to interview filmmaker Michaela Zannou. She told us about “Couples Therapy”, living in NYC, and what life has been like during quarantine.
upfrontNY: When did you find your passion for writing and filmmaking?
Michaela Zannou: Growing up I always knew that I wanted to be an actor and I had been working toward that since I finished highschool. But, believe it or not, writing and filmmaking didn’t come into my life up until two years ago. Looking back at it now the signs were always there; As a kid I would make up stories and play them out in my head on repeat and my teachers started praising my writing skills since I was six years old. But for whatever reason, in my young mind, it was one or the other. I could be whether an actor or a writer, which is so silly to think about it now. Two years ago, I finally gave myself permission to go for it. I signed up for a screenwriting class with Jason Grieff (NYU) and it was like the spell was broken. In less than a year I had written an award nominated feature, two pilots and a short film. It was as if I was making up for lost time. When I wrote “Couples Therapy” I knew I wanted to produce it and felt drawn to the filmmaking process but I knew nothing about it. I turned to my friends Angela Petruzziello, Randy Ramos Jr and Rob Alicea who are seasoned filmmakers and they guided me through the stressful process of being a first time filmmaker. Filming “Couples Therapy” was the most incredible, soul-igniting experience of my life and after that, there was no turning back. I could never go back to just acting, filmmaking is now a part of me.
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about “Couples Therapy”?
Michaela Zannou: “Couples Therapy” is a provocative dramedy about a couples therapist, Natalia, who treats neurotic New York couples while her own marriage is falling apart and she seems unable to follow her own advice. The idea came to me at a time when I was trying to escape a toxic relationship and, like Natalia, I was angry at myself for not being able to protect myself better and letting my feelings overpower my common sense. Writing this story started as a way for me to deal with my heartbreak but the more I worked on it the more it got a life of its own and got much bigger than I could have ever imagined. “Couples Therapy” sheds a new light on modern relationships and the modern woman. My goal is to give a voice to the many types of relationships and issues (polyamorous couples, power struggles in ambitious couples, homosexual couples’ issues, open relationships etc) that have been underrepresented in TV and, of course, portray a genuine female character with all her layers and complexities.
upfrontNY: You wrote, produced, and starred in “Couples Therapy”. What is it like to see something you have worked so hard on being recognized?
Michaela Zannou: It really is the best feeling to see that your work is appreciated by your peers and the industry. Getting into the highly prestigious SeriesFest is our biggest win so far. The idea that executives from amazing production companies and networks such as Shondaland and HBO (to name a few) will get their eyes on my project fills me with incredible joy and gratitude. I am also very excited that the show resonated with people. I have been receiving so many encouraging messages from people asking to see more and wanting to know when we’ll release more episodes. I truly poured my heart and soul into this project and it warms my heart to see it finding an audience and receiving such love from the industry.
upfrontNY: Do you have a favorite moment from filming?
Michaela Zannou: I really loved filming the bar scene. It’s towards the end of the episode and my character, Natalia, is at her lowest point. She is a ball of anger, heartbreak and frustration and she is desperate to find a way to sooth her pain. The scene starts in a comedic tone and then transitions to drama, sprinkled with some breathtaking sexual tension. As an actor, it was my favorite scene to delve into. Meanwhile, it was the second day of filming so I had already gotten through the baptism of fire as a filmmaker and I was able to relax and enjoy the process more. I remember goofing around in between takes with my amazing scene partner Ryan Metcalf and making jokes with the director and crew about the fog machine. We were racing against the clock, of course, but it was definitely a fun day
upfrontNY: How will others relate to “Couples Therapy”?
Michaela Zannou: “Couples Therapy” is a show for anyone who is in a relationship, has been in a relationship or is curious about other people’s relationships. I find there’s something very titillating about watching other people’s relationship issues in a comedic setting. That “Oh my god! That’s so us!” or “That’s so me and my ex!” moment is too delicious to resist. In addition to that, the show has a strong, complicated leading lady that I believe women will be able to identify with. While unfolding Natalia’s many layers, women can see themselves in her inner strength and grace as well as her flaws and imperfections. It’s very important to me to portray women truthfully, with all their complexities and contradictions, so that my female audience feels seen and accurately represented.
upfrontNY: What has been your favorite relationship advice you have gotten or given?
Michaela Zannou: “Know yourself and love yourself.” It’s the advice I give to others and try to remind myself. I think it’s crucial to be in touch with your feelings and acknowledge your needs without judgement. Our feelings are always there for a reason but many times people refuse to acknowledge them because it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable to do so. Which brings me to self-love. If you love yourself you won’t allow anyone to treat you less than you deserve or stay in a relationship that simply doesn’t work for you anymore no matter how uncomfortable it gets to confront the other party about it. You wouldn’t hesitate to fight for the happiness of your child, sibling or friend, so why not do the same for you? By working towards knowing and loving yourself deeply you’ll be able to see right away if you really are a good match with someone and, if you are, build a strong foundation.
upfrontNY: You are from Athens, Greece. What did you enjoy most about growing up in Greece?
Michaela Zannou: The food. The nature. Being able to play outside as a kid. Spending three months at the beach every year. Fresh fruit in the summer. And later on, as I grew up, I started appreciating the culture. I love Greek music, literature, poetry and (my biggest obsession) Ancient Greek tragedy. Everything always feels deeper and more substantial in Greek art, it’s very evocative. Which is a word people have used to describe my work, so I can assume that growing up surrounded by this culture left its mark on me.
upfrontNY: How has moving to New York City inspired you and your work?
Michaela Zannou: New York has this amazing energy that inspires and ignites me. When I moved to New York I soon realized that being surrounded by people with such drive and passion motivated me and made me want to up my game. Not to mention that my survival job, being a server at a Manhattan restaurant, provided me with endless material for my work. You see all types of characters coming in and out of a busy midtown Manhattan restaurant and hear all sorts of stories about people’s lives- it’s a real goldmine for storytellers. Also, people may say that living in New York toughens you up but I feel that it actually made me kinder, more accepting and patient. It boosted my positive attitude and helped me view the world with empathy and the intention to understand instead of judge.
upfrontNY: What do you love most about NYC?
Michaela Zannou: Where do I begin? I love NYC! I feel energized just by walking down the street. I love the brownstones, the restaurants, how every neighborhood is different and how the city is so ever-changing. Even though I’ve been living here for six years, I always discover something new and fall in love with it all over again. I love walking around the Upper West side, Central park, Soho and the West Village. I always take out-of-towners to my favorite restaurant, “Freemans”, which so happens to be next to my favorite ice-cream place “Morgenstern’s.” A burger from “Freemans” and an ice-cream cone from “Morgenstern’s” followed by a long walk around the city is the perfect New York day for me.
upfrontNY: How have you been spending your time during quarantine and social distancing?
Michaela Zannou: I’ve been trying to stay productive and catch up with things I didn’t have time for before. Right now I am working on a new pilot, a love triangle drama centered around an unconventional female character. I’m also spending a lot of time strategizing and promoting “Couples Therapy” as we gain traction in the festival circuit. I’ve caught up on a lot of TV shows and movies, some for pleasure and some as part of staying up to date with the industry, and I have polished off old scripts and writing samples. But that being said, it took me over a month to be able to get to a place mentally where I could write and be creative. And still every day is different, there are good days and there are bad days. This situation that we are all living in is very stressful and we shouldn’t put any pressure on ourselves to do something extraordinary with all this free time – it’s not exactly a vacation.
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