Zoe Saldaña Eyes Directing A New Era Of Film

Zoe Saldaña, an actress with a remarkable career in blockbuster franchises like "Avatar" and "Guardians of the Galaxy," has revealed her aspirations to move into directing. Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival, Saldaña stated, "I have a feeling that I can only watch other people's direction for so long until I kind of say: 'Give me that camera!'" She expressed a desire to prove herself as a director. Saldaña also reflected on her upbringing, detailing the cultural challenges of moving between New York and the Dominican Republic, which she noted fostered a unique empathy for her sci-fi roles.

Her experiences in Hollywood have also led her to champion inclusivity. Saldaña observed that while directors like James Cameron and Steven Spielberg saw her as an artist, she often encounters situations where she is the only person of color or woman present, and is disproportionately asked political questions about diversity rather than her craft. She aims to develop a family drama focusing on a family of color, potentially a Chinese American or Latino American family, in a post-war San Francisco setting, drawing parallels to "Far from Heaven" but with an unseen perspective.

Saldaña's directorial ambitions stem from a desire to tell stories that resonate with underrepresented communities, particularly queer communities of color. Her early ballet training, though cut short due to physical limitations, instilled discipline. She credits her manager, Rick Yorn, for facilitating her return to television in series like "Lioness," reinforcing her belief that good storytelling transcends any medium or platform. Her husband, Marco Perego, with whom she made the film "Absence of Eden," has also inspired her, particularly their shared experience witnessing the human impact of immigration laws.