windspeaker confidential Zoe Leigh Hopkins

Page 24

Zoe Hopkins, actor, producer, writer and director, was at the Sundance Film Festival in January where her short film A Prayer for a Good Day was screened. She is now wrapping up work on a documentary her home community Bella Bella asked her to produce about the residential school system and its effect on the Heiltsuk people.

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?

Zoe Hopkins: Honesty.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?

Z.H.: Ignorance makes me really mad.

W: When are you at your happiest?

Z.H.: I'm at my happiest when I'm contributing to something that I believe in.

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?

Z.H.: Selfish.

W: What one person do you most admire and why?

Z.H.: I don't think I can say just one. My parents, I guess, because of their commitment to the things that they do. I think that's why I believe so strongly in the things that I believe in.

W: What is the most difficult thing you've ever had to do?

Z.H.: It was really hard for me to move away from Ontario where I grew up. But I moved to B.C., which is where I'm from, so it was a mixed feeling.

W: What is your greatest accomplishment?

Z.H.: My greatest accomplishment is arriving at a place where I believe in myself.

W: What one goal remains out of reach?

Z.H.: I don't think anything is out of reach. I have goals, but that doesn't mean they're out of reach. It just means I'm working towards them.

W: If you couldn't do what you're doing today, what would you be doing?

Z.H.: You mean like on a specific day? Every day is different. Today I'm teaching at the [Gulf Island] film school, and I love being here. I guess if I couldn't be here on this specific day, maybe I would be making a film, or maybe I would be with my family. What I've discovered through working at the film school here is that I really love working with young people. Maybe I would be doing something else in that capacity, dealing with young people somehow.

W: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

Z.H.: To have faith.

W: Did you take it?

Z.H.: Yes. I have to remember that every time I have doubts, because when there are a lot of obstacles in your path or when things just seem impossible, it's hard to have faith. But it's better to do it because things always work out for the best.

W: How do you hope to be remembered?

Z.H.: I hope to be remembered as somebody who was a good friend, and somebody who believed in what she did. And who worked hard to believe in herself.