In Conversation with... Aistė S. Gram
"Never underestimate the power of your community. Gather your team, educate yourself on the process, make a plan and follow it through"
Aistė S. Gram is a filmmaker (writer, director) and actor from Lithuania who bases herself in various locations around Europe. Her most recent short film, funded by the Lithuanian Film Fund and a successful crowdfunding campaign, is impressively gripping, has universal themes and demonstrates incredible promise for the future! In this interview, the conversation begins about Aistė and her creative journey so far, and then delves into the production of her short. Read on for a plethora of knowledge and wisdom from a filmmaker who lives by her advice to ‘Follow your joy’!
Clare - Miss En Scene: First of all, can you tell us about your route into the creative sector, and, more specifically, into filmmaking?
Aistė S. Gram: I started out as an actress, but always knew I wanted to write - I was just too afraid or busy to try! When Covid hit and everything stopped, I was forced to work through my fears and start writing and that’s when the idea for my first film came to me. Writing feels like a bug now - the more I do, the more I crave it. When we started applying for funding to make my first film, I knew I had to direct it, and so I took it on, as an experiment but also something brave to do. It was one of the most challenging, yet rewarding things I’ve done in my life, and I’m so happy I said yes. Having a background as an actress and experience of other roles behind the camera (I worked in casting, production offices and helped friends on set for years) was hugely beneficial to me both as a scriptwriter and as a director. I now see how it all ties into each other. I always say - there’s never just one road to it!
Clare: What is your approach to filmmaking, and does this differ depending on whether you are in front or behind the camera?
Aistė: When I’m in front of the camera, I am creative, but I am there to take someone else's lead and help make their vision the best it can be with the skills that I have. When I am directing - it’s all on me! It took me a while to be able to make brave decisions and to lead with a clear vision, I had to learn many lessons in communication, collaboration and in being adaptable. It was also super scary to show personal work to others, but I learned to just go with it. Filmmaking is a team sport, and that’s what makes it so exciting for me - I’m always surrounded by beautiful, talented and hard-working collaborators who are there to have my back and help me achieve my creative goals.
Clare: What are your favourite types of stories to tell, and why?
Aistė: Realistic, with a pinch of fantasy. I grew up reading fairy tales and I am fascinated by myth, symbolism and the beauty of an imaginative story. I try to explore real hard truths in my writing, but as I don’t believe in people ever being 2D, I add playfulness wherever I can, be it in form of humour, quirkiness, or elements of fantasy.
Clare: How has your experience of filmmaking in Lithuania compared to here in the UK (or the other countries you have worked in)?
Aistė: There are definitely some similarities and some differences. In short, smaller industries feel more special, because you get to work with the same people much more often, and so you feel a part of the community. Bigger countries have bigger industries and bigger budgets so you can go more adventurous with your ideas, they also have well-established professional practices and (positive) rules. But anywhere you go, you meet many talented, hard-working, kick-ass professionals ready to creatively work together to achieve a greater goal and turn a written idea into a visual story. It’s a magical world. I love film people.
Clare: For anyone - particularly women and girls - wanting to get into film, what advice would you give them?
Aistė: When I was growing up, I had no idea what a film director was - there were just no people like that around me! And somehow, I became one. I knew what acting was, yet I never imagined spending my birthday on a recreated Eurovision stage at Warner Bros. studios pretend-singing to a crowd of 500 with fire flares going off around me! The strangest things can happen in life. Follow your passion and see where it takes you. Follow your joy! We live in times where separation is losing importance, and many new things are being born. If you want something real bad, you’ll find your way. And if that way does not exist, you’ll create it, and gift that to yourself and others. I say go for it, at least try! Oh, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes - they will help you the most in life.
Clare: Congratulations on your fantastic short film, Mažoji. Can you give us an elevator pitch for it?
Aistė: Thank you so much! Sure! Told through the perspective of a toddler, this is a story of a family's first encounter with schizophrenia.
Clare: Like you’ve said, the film depicts a character with schizophrenia. What messages about mental health do you hope people take from the film as a result of watching it?
Aistė: It’s a very short film, and so, just a little glimpse into the theme of schizophrenia. For me this story was always about the family rather than the one who suffers from a mental health condition. It’s about relationships, the human fear of the unknown and about unconditional love (that is represented by the baby). It’s never just about the person who suffers, there are usually so many more people affected by it - parents, siblings, grandparents, partners, friends, etc. - and they all have their own feelings and perspectives around it. Many stories worth being told.
Clare: Mažoji was made as a result of the Lithuanian Film Fund and a successful crowdfunding campaign. For any new filmmakers reading this, what would be your advice on securing funding for a film?
Aistė: Believe in what you’re doing! When you’ve got something that has to be told, and when you can’t stop thinking about it - you’ll find a way of breaking those doors, one way or another! It’s asking oneself about all the niches you and your story represent, and looking for funding in those areas. Is there some local funding, is there a charity that digs your topic, are there people or businesses around who may be interested in helping you tell this specific story? When it comes to crowdfunding, it’s all about the time and the hard work, and thinking outside the box. It was an intense month of trying anything and everything, and it was a really testing time. But it was a success - lots of people believed in me, my story and my team (we had 133 Indiegogo backers and a few more who donated directly, including an Exec. Producer who came in at the last minute and added all the missing funds to make it a 100%). In short, go for it full force and don’t stop believing in your vision! And never underestimate the power of your community. Gather your team, educate yourself on the process, make a plan and follow it through.
Clare: Can you provide a summary of what you're developing or working on at the moment and how you balance multiple projects at once?
Aistė: I’m currently developing my next short film as a writer-director, writing three TV pilots/bibles, and I’m starting a novel! I’ve also recently launched a newsletter/blog that’s very different from anything else I’m writing, as it focuses on spirituality and the journey of an artist. How do I do it all at the same time? I plan my week, allocate specific time for each task/project, remove myself from anything that distracts, and set a timer while I work. I try to balance it all out rather than stress myself out, and if there’s a deadline for any of it, I adapt accordingly. Most importantly, I constantly remind myself to also live my life outside of my projects. I find that I am much more focused on anything that feels like “work” when I allow myself to “play” outside of the timer.
Clare: What does this year hold for you? What are you hoping to achieve in the second half of 2024?
Aistė: Funding, team building and community! Whatever happens for me in 2024, I hope I can leave this year with tangible results (finished scripts, an outline for my novel, a successful pitch or a funding application, core team secured, etc.). I’d love for my blog to grow too, it’s my favourite baby at the moment (don’t tell the others!).
Mažoji is now available to view online:
More info about Mažoji - the full story (idea, process and achievements to date): https://www.aistesgram.com/mažoji
Also check out Heron of Bath, Aistė’s blog about spirituality and creativity:
