Q5 with Gravity Movie Cast: Sandra Bullock & Alfonso Cuaron

Written by Kelli Gillespie

Academy Award Winner Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone in this 3D modern-day science fiction thriller and space drama written and directed by Alfonso Cuaron.  Gravity is the story of Stone, a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) who tumble through space as survivors of a mid-orbit destruction of a space shuttle and their attempt to return to Earth.

Interviewed for Risen Magazine in Los Angeles, California

Risen Magazine: Most people have a hard time when they feel like they aren’t able to control certain aspects of their life. How do you feel when it comes to managing things out of your control?
Sandra Bullock: Everything is out of my control. I schedule, I plan, I’m A-type. Nothing ever goes to plan, usually. But as long as I did my part in scheduling, I know I’m good. Everything I worried about; never happened. Things I didn’t plan; all happened. That’s kind of this movie, adversity and life debris is going to hit you all the time, you can’t control it; how do you react to it? And how do people react when they just keep getting hit, and they just don’t want to get up anymore.

Gravity Movie’s Sandra Bullock. Photo courtesy Of Warner Bros. Pictures

Risen Magazine: Everyone has experienced some level or pain or hurt and therefore developed some type of protection, but you can’t stop living, you need to look forward and step into and enjoy the next season. What are some ways people can work through adversity?
Sandra Bullock: I don’t know because everyone’s situation is different. The beauty of this story that Alfonso wrote and directed, [is that] the end result always has to be that you have got to let go. You can’t try to control it. It’s going to happen or it’s happening. You let go and you go through it. If you constantly fight it, and you constantly resist it, you are going to spend your whole life fighting. And you are going to be at the end of your life thinking, “I don’t remember the times of calm and peace,” because you have created a fight. Everyone is going to be hit with something. And just when think it’s over, you are going to get hit again. You just hope that you have people in your life that are going to show you the light at the end of the tunnel if you can’t see it.

Risen Magazine: When it comes to persevering, a big part is a strong mentality where you say to yourself, “I am going to make it. I am going to accomplish this.” When have you seen that played out most in your life?
Sandra Bullock: My whole life. You say, “I’m going to try.” And then a lot of times the, “I’m going to make it. I’m going to try,” doesn’t make it. But, you tried. Then something else appears where you say, “Wow. Who would’ve thought that the collapse of this actually was a blessing and opened up this [other thing]?” You know they say when one door closes, another door opens and you think, “Yea whatever.” But truly, as long as you try, come to terms with the past, and let it go.

Risen Magazine: In those defining moments, many turn to their faith. In the film I found it interesting when your character says something to the effect of, “No one has ever taught me how to pray.” What are you thoughts when it comes to prayer?
Sandra Bullock: Faith is so specific for whom you are. There is no right or wrong way to have gratitude, or to pray, or ask for help, or to talk to someone who might not be there; if it brings you calm and it brings you strength, it’s the right thing to do. It doesn’t have to be in the house of God, it could be sitting on your couch, or outside under a tree.

Risen Magazine: As the writer/director, what are you hoping regarding the thoughts and feelings that audiences will have throughout your film?
Alfonso Cuaron: The film in many ways is about adversities and how they shape our life, as well as the possible outcome as a rebirth. Through adversity we gain knowledge. And when I’m talking about rebirth, I’m talking about a new knowledge about ourself. It’s also connected with the awareness of our mortality. And when you become more aware of your mortality, you become more aware of your life.

Interview originally published in Risen Magazine, Winter 2013