A Conversation with Lauren Hadaway, Director and Writer of 'The Novice'

One of my favorite movies of this year is a little gem called The Novice, directed and written by Lauren Hadaway -- one of the few films ever made about rowing. This fascinating film blew by mind at Film Fest 919. I got a chance to speak to Lauren during a virtual press day and am proud to share my interview with her. We talk about the director who inspires her, the techniques she used in telling The Novice, and why it was so important to her to show the toll of rowing on the body. The Novice is Lauren's full length directorial debut and comes to theaters on December 17, 2021.

About The Novice: A college freshman joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost. The film was inspired by Lauren's own obsessive journey as a collegiate rower. My review of The Novice. 

About Lauren Hadaway: Lauren Hadaway is film writer and director with a background in sound editing and mixing. After graduating with a double major in business and film from Southern Methodist University and moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in sound design, Lauren set her sights on working with one of her idols - Quentin Tarantino - and three years later she was in a recording studio with him, as the dialogue supervisor on The Hateful Eight. Born and raised in a town formerly known as Possum Trot, Texas, Lauren was deeply influenced to become a filmmaker by a chance viewing of Tarantino’s Kill Bill as a teenager. She now resides in Paris where she is working on future projects.

About Lindsey Dunn: Lindsey is a librarian and film critic known by the moniker 1ofMyStories. She thinks stories have the power to change lives and minds in a way that works better than arguing. You can find her on Letterboxd or Twitter @1ofmystories. Or check the website: 1ofmystories.com.