all come to life. All of the hard work that everybody has put into it starts to pay off, and I get the beautiful shots that I’ve been visualizing in my head for six months, or something totally unexpected works out.” Despite months of planning, there are untold variables that Stafford can’t predict, like the weather or an athlete’s performance. She has to be nimble and flexible, willing to “crumple up my shot list and throw it over my shoulder.” To tell the story about flat-track racer Shayna Texter, Stafford and her crew filmed three of her races, always unsure of the outcome. Flat-track racing is also known as dirt-track racing on a motorcycle, and in one of the races, Texter lost by a slight margin, which became the opening of the film. “She’s standing on the podium reeling with anger,” Stafford says. “You can see it all over her face, that competitive spirit. You can’t script that. When you get the essence of someone like that when they’re in their element, it is just a beautiful thing.” Stafford says her directing style is still evolving, describing it as a “blend between a cinema verité, raw, fly-on-the-wall-style of filming and more dream-like, ethereal Ms. Piatelli’s “10 Behaviors” card, which Stafford still carries in her wallet. scenes that put [the viewer] in the flow state of mind of an athlete when they’re in their element.” As a director able to make her subjects comfortable or instill saying, ‘Good morning’ or ‘please and thank you.’ Having integrity, confidence in her team during a grueling shoot, she says she often being your authentic self—that’s the stuff Berkshire instilled in me draws on the traits that were instilled in her at Berkshire. To this that has had such a profound impact on my life and helps me day, she still carries in her wallet Ms. [Jane] Piatelli’s card listing connect with people.” “10 behaviors to live by,” which were introduced to the community The Berkshire network has also been invaluable. When by her husband, the late Larry Piatelli, who was appointed Stafford was looking for other female hockey players to interview for Berkshire’s head of school in 2003 before his untimely passing in her film about Hilary Knight, it was by coincidence that Stafford’s October of that year. producer suggested fellow Bear Jillian Saulnier ’11. “I’m looking at this piece of paper, and I’m like, ‘Jill Saulnier? No way.’” Of her trip to Canada to interview Saulnier, Stafford says, “It was a mini reunion. Before I even asked questions, we immediately started talking about Berkshire days. It was really wonderful to have it come full circle.”
“The projects I find most fulfilling are when I can figure out what makes an athlete tick ... that’s what makes a good story.”
“The behaviors and traits listed on that card make a good director,” Stafford says. “It’s all the soft skills and small things that make such a difference to somebody, like making eye contact or
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NEPSAC News | Fall 2020 | 17