Rachel Morrison Steps into the Director’s Chair with The Fire Inside
Rachel Morrison, a 46-year-old cinematographer, is making her feature film directorial debut with The Fire Inside, a biographical drama about the life of Claressa Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan who rose to Olympic Gold Medalist status. Morrison has been working in Hollywood for over two decades, making a name for herself as a cinematographer on high-profile projects like Fruitvale Station and Black Panther.
The film chronicles Claressa’s struggles both inside and outside of the squared circle, as her in-ring victories did not easily correspond to wins of equal measure in the real world. Claressa is portrayed by Ryan Destiny (Grown-ish) in the film.
Morrison didn’t know Claressa’s story before being approached to direct the film, but she was drawn to it because of Claressa’s inspirational and heroic achievements. She felt compelled to tell Claressa’s story, which she believes deserves to be shared with the world.
The film’s production was lengthy and was directly impacted by the pandemic. Morrison spoke about the challenges of persevering throughout the production schedule, saying, “You owe it to them to be incredibly careful with it… You have to be willing to adapt and be flexible.”
The Fire Inside is now in theaters, and Morrison is celebrating its release with a series of interviews. She spoke with ScreenRant about why this was the right story for her to make her feature film debut, what helped her persevere throughout the production schedule, and where she could next collaborate with director Ryan Coogler.
The Fire Inside is an inspirational true story about Claressa Shields, a high school junior from Flint, Michigan who became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. The film highlights Claressa’s determination and athletic achievements, as well as her struggles outside of the ring.
