In Conversation with Margaux Susi Director of The Sperm Bank

Margaux Susi is a Cuban-Jewish director and actor from Miami. Her most recent film, The Sperm Bank, tells the true story of a 23-year-old. Who after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, is told to masturbate to protect a future he isn’t sure exists. Sexy, right? With Academy Award-Winning Andrew Carlberg as EP, it recently World Premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. Her other films have played at Austin Film Fest, RiverRun, DeadCenter, among others. She is currently in post-production on her next film, UNT. MEAL SUPPORT FILM, which stars Kate Burton and Angela Giarratana.

indieactivity: How did you get into directing? How would you describe your style?
Margaux Susi (MS): I have spent the past twenty years telling people’s stories — first as a dancer, then as an actor, and now as a director. After graduating from NYU Tisch, I moved to LA and helped build the acclaimed Award-Winning IAMA Theatre Company with my best friends. Together, we work with playwrights, helping them create and develop new work. Now, as IAMA’s Associate Artistic Director, I help lead season planning, programming, new play development, and internal initiatives.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, IAMA pivoted to a virtual season. This led me to develop, workshop, and direct a one-woman-show called Anyone But Me starring Sheila Carrasco (NBC’s Ghosts) for the screen, which the LA Times raved had stellar direction. Once I got a taste for film, I couldn’t stop. Since then I’ve directed four short films: Birds, Bees, and Threes which played at Austin Film Festival among others; Unt. Meal Support Film starring Kate Burton and Angela Giarratana, Super Real Super Grounded which is currently in post-production, and The Sperm Bank which now World Premiered at Tribeca.

The Official Trailer for The Sperm Bank directed by Margaux Susi

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I’m an actor’s director. As an actor myself, I know how to talk to actors to get the best performance. We have a shorthand that allows us to be really direct and makes collaborating not only easy, but really fun. 

Do you hire a casting director, or cast by yourself? What criteria go into your casting?
Margaux Susi (MS): We didn’t use a casting director for this film though I have used them in the past and they are absolutely incredible. When choosing a cast, whether with a casting director or not, it’s important to me that the actor understands the story we are telling and why. I come from the theatre world too so I’m partial to actors who have classical training/stage experience as well.

What went into the casting process for The Sperm Bank? 
Margaux Susi (MS): We didn’t use a casting director for this film. We knew that Rob Scerbo was going to play the lead character as it is based on his real-life story. We also knew that his best friend and co-writer, Jeremy Culhane, was going to play one of his friends in the film as he was actually with Rob every step of the way during his cancer treatment.

As for the other characters, we knew we wanted a diverse cast who also had improv experience. As a team, we are all surrounded by the most incredible artists so we sat down and brainstormed and really put the pieces of the puzzle together and then went and asked the actors directly.

Without giving anything away, talk a bit about the script. How did you come up with the idea?
Margaux Susi (MS): The Sperm Bank is based on Rob Scerbo’s real-life cancer diagnosis and what happened immediately after. No, it wasn’t chemo or radiation. He had to go preserve his sperm. Can you imagine being in so much pain, trying to process the fact that you might very well die, and then being told to go jerk off without lube? Yikes. Our story follows Rob’s experience while he was at said sperm bank.

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One of our incredible producers, Angela Giarratana, first told me about Rob’s story and I knew I wanted to help tell it. We all met and discussed what that would look like. When I first met Rob, I immediately felt like we had been friends for years. He is open, vulnerable, loving, and wickedly talented. This was his real life story about cancer and life and mortality and he was trusting me to help tell it. His best friend, co-writer, and another one of our brilliant actors, Jeremy Culhane, was with Rob every step of the way during his cancer treatment. I was the outsider coming in and I was honored beyond belief. I couldn’t let them down.

Who is The Sperm Bank for? Who do you think would enjoy it the most?
Margaux Susi (MS): Life is messy and complicated and absurd. And that absurdity is sometimes funny! It’s okay to laugh at it! The film is for anyone who is going through a tough time and can’t see their way out of it yet. It’s not only for people who are or know someone on a cancer journey. We hope this film inspires hope.

How long did it take to shoot the entire film?
Margaux Susi (MS): Three days.

How long was the post-production process?
Margaux Susi (MS): We were lucky to have a long post-production process! We had about 9 months to finish it all. 

The film had lots of talent behind the scenes. Why is diversity important in front and behind the camera? 
Margaux Susi (MS): Every person comes with their own life experience and point of view. Having all of that help tell a story just makes it that much more dynamic and engaging.

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What are your goals with The Sperm Bank?
Margaux Susi (MS): We hope to sell it as a TV show! This short is just one of the steps along Rob’s journey of fighting cancer. His journey is just beginning. Cancer is just the framework. This is a coming of age story.

What’s next for you? What are you working on right now?
Margaux Susi (MS): I’m currently in post production on a film starring Kate Burton and Angela Giarratana. The film is inspired by the writer’s own experience in eating disorder recovery, and the kindness of strangers (IE guardian angels) who have helped them stay on the beam. Recovery is not linear and no two people have the exact same experience, but anyone who has time away from the cruel, frightening, and dangerous illness will tell you that their worst day in recovery is better than their best day when they were sick.

What do you recommend to a first time director? Any special courses, workshops, helpful books they can read?
Margaux Susi (MS): Watch everything you can. Even if it’s a genre you think you don’t like. If you think you don’t like it, be able to articulate why.

What advice would you give directors around the world?
Margaux Susi (MS): Hire the best people you can to do their job and let them do it.

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Tell us what you think of the interview with Margaux Susi. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook or join me on Twitter.

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