Darisha Beresford is a director who was born in Trinidad and Tobago. Now the founder of a company called Blue Basin Films, Darisha is also a director at Zaftik Studios which is located in South Florida. Darisha has been lauded for her creative skills, and she has received numerous awards for both her Caribbean and American films as well as commercials and television series.
She is presently working on writing and directing films which explore the regions of the Caribbean.
One of her latest projects is an action-thriller Movie titled “The Cutlass” which is about a young female tourist who gets abducted by a dangerous sociopath in the wilds of Trinidad. The young woman must rely on her physical and mental abilities to safely escape from her captor. The film will be released on VOD in December of 2017.
Recently, Darisha Beresford granted an exclusive Interview where she discussed her career and more.
Films, scripts, and thrillers
Meagan Meehan (MM): What initially sparked your interest in becoming a filmmaker?
Darisha Beresford (DB): I’ve always wanted to work on set! My mom was a reporter, and I grew up visiting her at the news station, and my dad was a recording artist. I was always dazzled by the camera’s and lights, and I knew I wanted to become a filmmaker since I was very young. I’m hoping that my big break will be “The Cutlass” since it is my directorial debut.
MM: How did you think up the plot of “The Cutlass” and what was the process of writing the script like?
DB: The screenwriter (Teneille) worked on the first couple of drafts of “The Cutlass,” shaping the story to be as accurate as possible to the true events, then we worked together to rewrite the screenplay to fit a movie/genre format.
It was important to me that we tell both sides to the story, from the victim and villain’s perspectives. In my opinion, it is what makes the movie intriguing unique and intense. I’m a huge fan of classic thrillers, and I looked at tons of movies in this genre in the 1980’s but what I think helps me a lot is that I read a bunch of novels. I really like Stephen King, Dean Koontz and they inspire me.
Movies, casts, and advice
MM: Who are the cast members in “The Cutlass” and can you tell us a little bit about them?
DB: The villain, Al, is played by Trinidadian actor Arnold Goindhan who we playfully dub as the “Caribbean Steve Buscemi” because he is a brilliant actor and amazing to work with. The hero in the story is Joanna, played by Lisa Bel Hirschmann who is a German/Trinidadian actress.
This is actually her first feature-length film. The father is played by Kirk Baltz who is an American actor known for acting in super famous films like “Reservoir Dogs,” “Dances With the Wolves” and “Natural Born Killers” just to name a few!
MM: Where do you want to go from here and what advice can you offer to aspiring movie makers?
DB: Hopefully I will still be doing what I love and making movies in ten years! I would love to also explore other genres. My advice would be to stay focused on your dreams and goals! It may take time, but nothing comes easy. Making movies is hard work, but with the right attitude, anything is possible. Also, collaboration is key, so surround yourself with people who inspire you and push you to be your best.