Angelina Jolie arrives on the red carpet at the world premiere of her film "Unbroken" at the State Theatre in Sydney
Angelina Jolie arrives on the red carpet at the world premiere of her film "Unbroken" at the State Theatre in Sydney November 17, 2014. The war drama, based on the life of World War Two American prisoner of war Louis Zamperini, was produced and directed by Jolie and filmed in Australia. Reuters/Jason Reed

Angelina Jolie is the cover girl for this week's Entertainment Weekly. The actress spoke about her upcoming war epic "Unbroken" and how she badly wanted to direct it. She said that she was nervous until the time the production house called her to confirm that she will be directing the movie.

"I started wrapping everything, even little things that went in the stocking. I couldn't just sit there and wait for the phone," she said to the magazine. Jolie had to really "pitch hard" to get the director's cap for the epic war drama. She said that when she went to meet the producers of the film, she couldn't stop sharing her excitement for the movie. She "was on fire" and "was completely insane" as she convinced the producers that she is the right person to direct the movie, People reports.

Speaking about her preparation for the film, Angelina said that the first thing she did was to meet 97-year-old Louis Zamperini whose life is what the film is based on. Louis reportedly impressed the actress.

"Unbroken" features Jack O' Connell in the lead role. The film tells the story of an Olympic athlete Louis who survives a plane crash. He spends 47 days drifting on a raft and more than two years in Japanese war camps.

The major part of the film has been shot in New South Wales and Queensland. Joel and Ethan Coen have written the script of the film. The movie has already been screened in Australia and is being considered as a major contender for Academy Awards. It is being pitched against Jolie's husband Brad Pitt's "Fury," which is also a war drama. The other cast members of the film are Miyavi, Garrett Hedlund, Jai Courtney, Domhnall Gleeson, Finn Wittrock and more.

Jolie is also directing another film, "By The Sea." She is also acting in the film opposite her husband Brad Pitt. The shooting of the film was done in Malta. It tells the story of a couple who is undergoing midlife crisis. Pitt plays an American writer in the film and Jolie a former dancer.