Caroline Suh has made considerable contributions to informational entertainment. Her credits include producing numerous documentaries for PBS, the History Channel, A&E and the Sundance Channel. Among the critically acclaimed films she has produced are Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven’s Gate (2004) and Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America: Antietam (2006). Suh has likewise produced episodes of the Sundance series Iconoclasts (2007).

At this time, Suh is promoting her first directorial documentary, the highly praised FrontRunners. The film examines the campaign for student body president at the prestigious Stuyvesant High School in New York City.

Suh was kind enough to speak with me about FrontRunners. During our discussion, she elaborated on why and how she made the documentary. In addition, Suh shared some information regarding her past and future in filmmaking.

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Josh E Armstrong: Why did you decide to enter the film industry?

Caroline Suh: I started through the angle of journalism, because I thought I wanted to be a writer. (What I do still involves a lot of writing.)

Then I kind of fell into film and television. I actually preferred it and enjoyed it a lot more, obviously because of the visual element. Once I had my first experiences working in film, I decided that storytelling mixed with filming was what I really wanted to do.

JA: Why did you choose to start directing?

CS: I started working in this profession because I wanted to be a filmmaker, not necessarily a producer. Obviously, it was great being able to direct for the first time, as every project I’ve ever worked on has been with the idea of being a filmmaker in mind. Having more artistic control has been the difference in directing.

JA: What inspired you to make FrontRunners?

CS: I love campaign films and had always wanted to make one. That, combined with wanting to do something fun and about teenagers, came together with FrontRunners. I wanted to make a film that would be kind of funny and entertaining but would also have some serious substance at the same time. I also wanted to make a film where I knew I could really afford to shoot it over a month-and-a-half. That made it very manageable, in terms of a production schedule.

Then I found the school Stuyvesant. It’s such a great, amazing and unusual place. I fell in love with it once I discovered it. And they gave me permission to shoot, so I just sort of started.

JA: Was it difficult getting permission to film FrontRunners at Stuyvesant?

CS: It was actually very easy. I e-mailed the principal, and he gave us permission. Then we just had to pass it by the Board of Education in New York.

I think it was so easy because it’s such a great school and they kind of wanted to show it off. I don’t think they thought there was anything to hide - which there really wasn’t.

JA: Were any parents nervous that the film crew might distract their child?

CS: We were very concerned about making sure that everyone felt comfortable with our presence. We wanted all the parents to know that we were responsible and would take care of the students and their stories.

JA: How would you describe the candidates in FrontRunners?

CS: Each of them has a very strong, striking personality. They all have their charms and different challenges.

JA: How did the candidates react when you approached them about the film?

CS: They were all very open to it, which was great. If only one person had not wanted to be filmed, then this film would not have been possible.

JA: During an election, each of the candidates’ actions could be one that wins or loses votes. Hence, weren’t some of the candidates nervous about being followed by a film crew?

CS: Not really. I think they just kind of took it in stride and thought it was funny. [laughs]

I don’t think any of the candidates were that concerned about losing votes, because we were following each one of them pretty equally. It wouldn’t have hurt one person more than another person.

JA: What were some of the major issues surrounding the candidates and the school during that election?

CS: There were some of the same themes that are relevant in the national election today. There is change versus experience, as an outsider was running against an insider. There is also a female candidate, so there is the sex issue, as well as race and personality.

A lot of the same issues that Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton and John McCain are facing now, the candidates in FrontRunners had to face when they were running.

JA: How would you compare Stuyvesant’s election to the Presidential election?

CS: The issues at Stuyvesant are obviously much less serious than those being addressed in our national election now, especially since we’re at a very important turning point in this country. In terms of substance, you can’t really compare them.

But the film really shows how humans are political animals. Because of that, some of the same issues, themes and circumstances play themselves out in similar ways, in both the film and what’s going on today.

JA: Among the candidates, whom would you have voted for?

CS: No one’s asked me that before! I reserve judgment. That’s a great question, though. I’ve actually never, ever really thought of that before, strangely. So I’m going to think about that one.

JA: Do you see these candidates entering politics after they graduate?

CS: I actually don’t. I think they all have different things they want to do. Out of all of them, maybe Hannah expressed some interest. But I think all of them understand the difficulties of being a politician and the negative aspects to it. So I don’t think that any of them idealize politics as a potential profession.

JA: What were some of your own memorial experiences when making FrontRunners?

CS: It’s hard to sort them all out. We just had a great time filming. We’d arrive at Stuyvesant very early in the morning and stay all day. Being there is inspiring, because the students are really energetic and engaged. They’re smart, and it’s a place where it’s great to be smart. It’s really nice to be in that environment.

JA: What was the most challenging aspect of making the film?

CS: I’d say the distribution has been the most interesting and challenging part. That’s one aspect that I had not experienced before, in terms of the whole filmmaking experience. So it’s definitely interesting and challenging.

JA: Regarding the FrontRunners DVD, are you planning to have a lot of bonus features on it?

CS: Yes, there are a lot of extra scenes we want to include that we could not include in this film, so we’re really excited to include them.

JA: What is your next project?

CS: I’m developing a couple of projects. Right now, I’m actually waiting. I’m trying to get someone to agree to be involved in a project about the Gilded Age in New York, and philanthropy. I’m hoping to start filming that in the fall.

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FrontRunners is expected to have a national release this fall. For more information on the documentary, please visit its official website.

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