From his earliest memories, Sean Baker always has had his eyes on making movies. With acclaimed indies including Starlet, Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket, he has become a leading voice in the independent film scene. But now his wildly praised comedy Anora — which follows the unorthodox relationship and quickie marriage between an exotic dancer and a Russian oligarch’s out-of-control and very free-spirited son — he has graduated to a new level of success that resulted in winning the much-desired Palme d’Or at May’s Cannes Film Festival. Now the movie, which already has grossed more than $10 million from its initial limited release, is poised to bring Baker to the forefront of the industry’s most exciting filmmakers.
Baker joins me in conversation today for my Deadline video series Behind the Lens, where we talk about all of triumphs in an increasingly difficult environment just to get movies even made, much less distributed. Nevertheless, nothing has stopped Baker from pursuing his dreams since age 5, when he saw some clips of the original Frankenstein, woke up the next morning and knew he had a career waiting for him. He still is getting over the shock of winning the Palme d’Or — imagine what happens when he gets that Oscar?
RELATED: The Oscar Best Picture Race: Deadline’s Critics Compare Notes On The Season So Far
To watch our conversation and go “behind the lens” with Sean Baker just click on the link above.
Join me every Monday this awards season for another edition of Behind The Lens.
RELATED: ‘Anora’ Director Sean Baker On The Roots Of His Cannes-Winning Screwball Romcom – Toronto Studio