Interview: IN YOUR EYES' Director Brin Hill

IN YOUR EYES, written and executive produced by Joss Whedon, is a high-concept romantic sci-fi take on true love. With a supernatural patina. Director Brin Hill, below, describes the filming process as a fun journey through the eyes of veteran storyteller Whedon. The film recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.

"We all set out to make a great movie," Hill said. "The idea was to be light and fun."

Hill's mission was "to create intimacy with the camera, environment, music and performance that allows viewers to live each moment alongside the characters," he explained. "In an authentic way." When he first read the script, "I completely sparked to the underdog, romance tale of loner heroes."

The plot unfolds with Rebecca (Zoe Kazan) living in the frozen East Coast winter as the protected trophy wife of a wealthy doctor. At the same time, across the country in sun-soaked New Mexico, lives ex-con Dylan (Michael Stahl-David) who is trying desperately to stay out of trouble. Remarkably, despite distance, the two discover a shared perspective and begin an improbable romance.

"The best way to describe my experience on set is to talk about what drew me in," Hill said. Whedon's "ability to mash up genres-science fiction and a love story- got me. He's always been really great with loner heroes who overcome adversity and find their road. The theme that drew me in is about connection.

"It felt like it was very timely-people who were alone who find their path." A main conceit of the plot has the protagonists being able to communicate in unexpected ways. "Everyone's always talking to themselves down Sixth Avenue," he said with a laugh referring to Manhattan. "But in New Mexico, everyone would notice." A striking visual component of IN YOUR EYES is the two distinct landscapes that comprise each character's world. "The first time I read it I literally saw two color palettes," Hill said. "What manifested in the movie were vivid blues and oranges. It's subtle at times but it's always there.

"The viewer gets anchored and knows where they are at any time. I wanted to ground the look in reality and avoid the pitfalls of going too far in either direction.

"I wanted their feet to be on the ground, rooted to their space and to their world, and the craziness that was happening."

Challenges were many, but they were overcome through diligence and patience, he said.

"The hardest part was we were on a micro budget and we had to figure out how to shoot scenes that were 2,000 miles apart. But the experience was also liberating.

"I got to show two different faces and I wanted to keep it fresh and unique looking."

Movement plays a big role in the tale, he said. "It feels like you're moving a lot in the movie. How do you get trains, planes and automobiles to advance the story?" he asked. "We'd have one pre-production shot in New Hampshire, then in California," which stood in for New Mexico. "That's a little inside secret," he laughed.

"It's kind of amazing how many looks you can have," he said. "There was a magical quality about the film. To be honest, I look at this movie as being really infectious. I hope people can get lost in this fun, light-hearted ride."

The plot probes how communication is key to any successful relationship. "The story is about how our world affects us and our choices. It's a real movie movie."

The message is the notion that finding your true nature, calling, destiny and fate is essential to lasting happiness.

"Look, we all know love is nuts," Hill said. "So I hope seeing all that craziness play out for two people experiencing a deeper connection than average, while also battling blustery snow and blistering sun, will be an entertaining escape."

Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images North America