When she started work on The Runaways, Floria Sigismondi was just making a small biopic about a 70s punk girl group, early feminist icons in the male-dominated world of rock and roll. Then the day that they signed a lead actress to play Joan Jett, her movie Twilight opened wide-- and suddenly The Runaways was a shoot that was going to be plagued with paparazzi and cause a stir at Comic Con with a simple haircut.

Starring Kristen Stewart as Jett and Dakota Fanning as fellow founding member Cherie CUrrie, The Runaways is a rock and roll movie that's heavy on the music-- naturally, given that Sigismondi's background is in directing music videos like Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People." The Runaways has earned excellent reviews here at Sundance-- I haven't managed to see it yet-- and is hitting theaters in March. Watch my video interview below as Sigismondi explains her attachment to the group The Runaways, getting stars Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart into the time period, and how you avoid paparazzi when you're shooting outdoors.

For more of our Sundance 2010 coverage, click here.