Three filmmakers reflect on early career struggles

In recent weeks, we’ve heard from filmmakers who have made it in a big way in Hollywood. But hitting those career highs, didn’t come without some serious lows. We didn’t have time to fit all their interesting stories into the show, but we bring them to you now.

"Little Women" director Greta Gerwig told us she was initially set on becoming an actress, but the universe seemed to be sending her a clear message to go in a different direction.

Documentary filmmaker Nanfu Wang had made her family very happy by landing a stable office job in Shanghai. But Wang looked around, saw that all her coworkers were miserable, and knew she had to get out.

And before Victoria Mahoney became the first woman and first person of color to direct on a “Star Wars” film, she spent years trying to break into TV directing by watching other directors work. She learned a lot, just not what she thought she would.

This week, some delicious leftovers from three filmmakers reflecting on the tough early days of their careers.