One of the most artistic entertainment professionals to come out of England is Charlotte Sally Potter. She is a screenwriter, a dancer, and a director. Among her most famous works are Orlando (based on a novel by Virginia Woolf), The Man Who Cried, The Tango Lesson, and Ginger & Rosa. In recent news, Sally Potter (as she prefers to be known) has released a film called The Party. This political movie was inspired by the 2015 British election — one that Potter noticed was comprised mostly of vote-grabbing spin in the headlines instead of any discussion of the actual issues. This film is mostly in black-and-white and focuses on engaging dialogue rather than action. Sally Potter is a great director with a unique creative direction. She also has had an incredible life. Before you watch The Party, you would do well to learn a little more about this talented woman. So, check out this article about Five Things You Didn’t Know about Sally Potter.
She Is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry that mainly rewards artistic and scientific contributions to society. Sally Potter was honored with an appointment to the order in 2012, highlighting her services to film. This director is quite deserving of this honor — her unusual yet perceptive style helps broaden the understanding of the human condition.
Her Younger Brother Was a Musician
Sally Potter had a younger brother who you may have heard of if you follow English progressive rock. Known as Nic Potter, he was the bassist for Van der Graaf Generator. He was a fantastic self-taught musician who had some of the most creative and innovative harmonies and rhythms in the prog rock scene. Unfortunately, he succumbed to Pick’s disease in 2013.
She Started Making Films at 14
This excellent director started at a very young age. She borrowed an 8mm camera from a relative at the age of 14 and began making a few small films. She decided that filmmaking was what she wanted to do for her career and dropped out of school at 16 to pursue it fulltime. She supported herself with jobs at restaurants and similar locations — and eventually found incredible success.
She Comes from a Family of Outsiders
Atheists and anarchists make up Sally Potter’s family. It made her feel exiled, even in her own home land, to come from such stock. Despite this, she was definitively formed by this hard upbringing. It helped her shape her creative direction and gave her a distinct sympathy for the underdog that not many people can experience.
She Co-Founded a Dance Company
After training as a dancer at the London School of Contemporary Dance, Sally Potter decided to pursue performance arts for a while. She even ended up co-founding the Limited Dance Company alongside Jacky Lansley. For a while, she focused exclusively on performance art, and achieved some recognition in this field. However, she eventually returned to directing — and brought us some of the best films of this century.
