"I had the pleasure of working with Joan before directing my first feature. It was a crash course in directing done quietly and lovingly with humor and meaning. I had been working on the film for ten years and in that time I became too close to it. I asked her to help me, 'know that I know what I know', and she did just that. Joan led me to the structure of the story. She led me to understand the logic of the film emotionally. Helped me find the tools that I needed to walk onto the set with confidence and joy. Consequently I always knew where I was and what I wanted. I was always able to let the Actors play and be free in the structure that I knew so well from the work I had done with Joan in preparation. I was able to communicate with my DP and crew what I wanted and why. Everything was funneled into the story. I highly recommend Joan for Directors and Actors alike. She really knows what the hell she is doing. She has spent years doing it. There are very few people out there that have such a clear handle on material and the trick of getting that material to a screen."