Kristen Stewart moves behind the camera to direct first feature film, ‘The Chronology of Water’
HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES — Kristen Stewart began her acting career at the age of 9. Now, at 35, she is at the beginning of a new phase in her career — directing.
She is excited to have made her first feature film, “The Chronology of Water.”
“You know, I’ve just been living to get to this moment, and so, like, this is — when I say that this is gravy, like, I would have, I would have done it to have 10 people to watch my movie, let alone be a ‘director to watch’ at an event like this,” Stewart said.
“Variety” has named Stewart one of “10 Directors to Watch.”
With “The Chronology of Water,” she not only directed it, but she wrote the screenplay, and she’s one of the movie’s producers.
“I probably could have done this earlier,” said Stewart. “And how lucky I’ve been to be an actor for so long and help other people tell their stories and realize that we have a bunch of stories in us, sort of itching to get out.”
“The Chronology of Water” is based on the memoir of a woman who grew up in an abusive and alcoholic home. She leaves to accept a swimming scholarship, hoping to make it to the Olympics. When she loses her scholarship, she winds up at another university where her life takes other turns, including writing, hopefully leading her to a better place.
“It’s so universal and it’s so, at times, buoyant, even though it’s about tough stuff,” said Stewart. “She makes it through, and she becomes such an embodied and full-voiced human being that, for me, there’s such a sense of accomplishment in her life that it’s kind of worth the slog. So, I can’t wait for people to experience that.”
For Stewart, directing “The Chronology of Water” is just the beginning.
“I want to make a movie yesterday. I’m, like, this felt like it very much broke a seal. And, yeah, I mean, I love being an actor but, largely, I think, my whole acting career has kind of put me in a position to realize what I want to do is this,” said Stewart.
“The Chronology of Water” goes into wide theatrical release on Friday, Jan. 9.
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