Loverboy adores a Classic Gay Film and for queer women Loving Annabelle is right up there. When we found out that the director, Katherine Brooks, was doing a documentary about loving Barbra Streisand we were beside ourselves. Add to this the fact that Brooks has directed some of the best reality TV and made an extraordinary documentary about social media, dis/connectedness and mental health, well, we couldn’t be more smitten, kittens. Fallon Gold spoke with Kat about her extraordinary career.

Is it safe to say that you made a film like Loving Annabelle to make the film you wanted to see?I made it for many reasons. But, yes, I would say the lack of LGBT films would be a driving force. I made it mainly because in every situation that society deems not right, I feel there is always an “exception” to the rule.

Was there any controversy over a non-judgmental teacher/student love story?
The most controversy I faced was an adult having sex with a minor, even though I always said to these people – how do you know Annabelle wasn’t 18?

It’s a film that means a great deal to a lot of women. Did you feel that responsibility when you were making it or is it just something that organically grows out of a great lesbian love story?
While I was making it, I was grossly consumed in the story and making sure I was telling it in a truthful and respectful way. I didn’t know it would have such an impact on people until I started traveling around to different screenings.

What are some of the films that meant something to you growing up?
When I was growing up, I never saw a queer movie. I was obsessed with movies and the fact they had the power to help me escape from my own life. So, adventure movies were always fun for me and inspired me. I love The Goonies. Raiders of the Lost Ark. When I got older, I found myself more drawn to foreign films because I felt they told stories in a more organic less popcorn kind of way. Some of my favorite lesbian films are: Aimee and Jaguar, Show Me Love, Boys Don’t Cry, Desert Hearts.

You’ve worked a lot in reality TV. Do you think there’s an unfair snobbery about the genre?
It’s funny because I got into reality TV because I love documentaries. Back in the time when I was directing reality, the shows were not yet scripted. So I was very fortunate to work on some great shows like The Real World and The Osbournes. Then networks wanted us to get shows shot faster, so we had to start manipulating story lines. For me, that’s when reality went downhill. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some fantastic shows being produced, but I really miss the days of capturing organic stories without manipulation.

Paris and Nicole: playing characters or really like that?
Really like that.

NewlyWeds is something of a classic of the reality genre and really holds up. Did it feel like you were making throwaway TV at the time or did you know it was special?
I personally was very entertained by Jessica Simpson and Nick. There personalities together and the dynamic of her family were really interesting and very, very funny to me. On any show or movie I have ever done I don’t know if I’ve ever really thought about if it would be popular or not because I’m just so consumed with capturing the moments.

You directed the infamous Chicken Of The Sea episode. Did that seem like TV gold when it happened?
It was funny as hell. That’s all I know. It made us all laugh.

Do you think Jessica unfairly came across as stupid in the show?
Jessica is a smart woman. I’ll leave it at that.

People who know you from Loving Annabelle and Face 2 Face may be surprised that you have directed reality TV from Real World to The Osbornes. How do you reflect back on that part of your career now? How has it informed the rest of your oeuvre?
I am so thankful to have had 10 years in reality because it gave me the opportunity to work with real people in front of a camera. It helped me in my skills of capturing moments and I did work in scripted reality for five years, which is a film school in itself. Getting the moments you need from real people ACTING is really hard and I feel it’s helped me a lot in working with actors that are green (inexperienced). Also, in my films now –  like my new one, Lost In Time – half of the film is all improv and unscripted and I believe reality helped me in the ability to tell a story that way.

Face 2 Face is an extraordinary documentary. You explore the idea that although social media means we connect with people across the globe we’d otherwise never know, we’re still separate from face to face and physical contact with people. How would you describe your experience of meeting some of those facebook friends? Is face to face more valid than online connections?
Face 2 Face changed my life. Nothing will ever replace giving someone a hug. Laughing with someone. Crying with someone. An emoji and face time can only take you so far, but the organic human connection is what matters and what we really need more of. We need to be touched. We need eye contact. Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to connect with new people and share connection through technology, but it’s gotten out of hand. You go out to dinner and everyone is sitting across from each other, but they’re on their phones. In my opinion, it’s rude. People taking text messages while they’re spending time with someone else. We need time away from the phone. Time in nature, time with our family, kids – I think the world would be a lot better if we just had more face to face time with each other.

Face 2 Face totally changed my life. It is profound. Not just for the aforementioned human connectivity in the age of social media but because you very honestly and explicitly reveal what it is like to live with mental illness. Was this a topic that you wanted to discuss as part of F2F from the beginning or did it just come out through the process of the documentary?
I believe it just came out through the process. Depression and anxiety are so universal now. I’m so blessed that I am no longer on medication and it’s been a year and I feel so much better. And honestly, I was able to get off the medication because I spend less time on social media now and more time in nature, with my family and friends and animals. Everyone struggles in this life. If people were more honest about it and not so ashamed a lot of people would feel less alone and a lot better. We need to come out of the closet of mental illness. KEEP TALKING. But, most of all LISTEN.

Tell us about your new fiction film project! Another great lesbian love story in the making?
The movie is called Lost In Time and it’s a movie about the connection of a female psychiatrist played by Jill Hennessy and her patient who comes to her seeking help with PTSD from a major event that happened in her life. I’m so excited about this movie because it’s been 13 years in the making and it’s finally coming out!

You’re making a documentary about Barbra Streisand, our goddess! Tell us about it! You’re going to MEET her??!!!!! How does that even happen?
I’ve been working on Searching For Streisand for 2 years and yes, one day, at the right time, I plan to meet her. I traveled the country talking to and interviewing people who had been impacted by Ms. Streisand and exploring how her work has changed their life in some way.

 How did Babs enter your world and why do you love her?
She has been an inspiration to me as a director and woman because of her eye for detail and her relentless approach to getting things right. I was very sick a few years ago and couldn’t get out of bed for a while. My friend played Funny Girl for me and that was it.

Are there questions that you want to ask her but know that she’d never answer?
I try to never think ahead about what I ask people so I can truly be in the moment. And if the moment is right, I have a feeling we will be able to talk about anything and everything. That is the dream.