The Square Life

Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Ryan Little remembers watching his dad’s old Super 8 movies. “The movies my dad made as a kid intrigued me,” said Little. “It was what started my interest in film.”

I met the award-winning director at a film lot in Provo to talk about his career in the film industry. Little greets me with a warm smile. He is an energetic individual, passionate about his work.

Little, 36, has directed eight films, including the critically acclaimed, Saints and Soldiers. This small independent film has won 16 Best Picture awards at film festivals around the world, as well as two nominations for Spirit Independent awards. With this kind of positive response, Little is still impressed at how big the film feels for the size of its budget.

“In directing Saints and Soldiers, I had very clear direction and end goal. I was passionate about this story,” he said. “I had talented people to work with. And along with some unpredictable factors, all these things made this movie a success.”

With the achievement of his courageous World War II drama, Little is ready get back into the studio to direct his first full-length feature film. “I’m looking for a high concept story – something that I haven’t seen before,” he said.

“I want to make a film that everyone wants to own in their video collection,” he said.

However, with so many movies being made these days, Little said it can be difficult to find a unique script. “I’m on a journey to find a golden script,” he explains. “One that will capture my attention and the attention of studio executives. I’d like to make the move to commercial filmmaking.”

Little graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in film. Over the past 10 years, he’s been focused on developing his own distinct directing style.

“I had wanted to be a director of photography, so my directing style is very visual,” Little said. “I try to put in a lot of heart to every project.”

One of Little’s directing hallmarks is that he puts complete trust in his actors. He said he looks for talented actors who are committed to their characters. “Good actors study and do their homework,” Little said. “During their preparation, my actors will come up with ideas of their own – some good, some not as good. But, if I give them support when they try something new, it builds their confidence and can elevate the project.”

Little has been inspired by the movies of Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, and Richard Donner. “My goal is to be a filmmaker like they are,” he said.

Like these significant men, Little has taken on multiple roles for his projects, including directing, pre- and post-producing, and filming.

To develop his talent, Little said he is constantly trying new approaches, and isn’t afraid of taking risks. “When I try a new technique or risk, it’s never a completely drastic change from what I have done before. I have chosen to make gradual progressions in my films and style,” Little said.

He believes this tactic helps him get the experience and on-the-job training that allows him to continue to learn.

For Little, it’s about maintaining unity throughout his work. “My goal is to keep some type of element among all of my projects – something that identifies this as a ‘Ryan Little film.’”

To develop this unity, Little gives this advice to aspiring filmmakers and directors – “Decide what your goals are – what you want to be known as – and develop work to get you to that point.”

“Something important to me in my projects is to take the audience on a ride of emotion – humor, action, moments where the character learns something about themselves,” he said. “I want the audience to feel a part of the story.”