Interview: Vera Farmiga talks Higher Ground, faith, and directing on a budget

There's no easy way to jump into your first directorial film. No simple guidebook. No step by step instructions. It's mostly a matter of following your instincts and selecting material that speaks to you. That's exactly what Vera Farmiga has done with her directing debut, Higher Ground, a deeply personal film about a woman in the midst of a spiritual crisis.

Based on Carolyn S. Briggs' memoir, This Dark World, Farmiga also co-wrote the script(alongside Briggs) and stars in the film as Corrine, struggling to reconnect with God while watching the other stabilzing elements of her life crumble.

Along with our colleagues Nell Minow and Alan Zilberman, I had the chance to speak with her about the presentation of religion on the big screen, directing under a severe budget, and her future plans behind the camera....