Get to Know Alyix, and Her Journey in This Exclusive Interview
How Did You Into Filmmaking?
I actually started out writing, with writing my first short story in middle school. It wasn’t until I was seventeen that I truly discovered film making and was like oh I can put all of my creative juices into one. I also remember someone once told me, you write a lot of dialogue you should make a movie. One of the most notable memories I have though is watching Jaws with my grandparents when I was a kid. They didn’t want me to, thinking I would get scared, but it did the opposite. It enticed me of how they did that and wanting to do that. I watched a lot of behind the scenes, and once I got my hands on a camera, there was no going back.
How Do You Get Inspiration For Your Stories?
I get inspiration from a lot of things around me. I grew up hearing a lot of stories about my family, which has gone into my scripts. I also have a variety of interests that I pull from. Even a song lyric or movie quote could spark a whole idea for a story. My short film Would You Even Know was inspired by numerous things, one being a song quote. I also always carry a notepad and a pen, or my notes app on my phone to jot down anything that comes to mind.
Who Are Some of Your Director Inspirations?
Spielberg for sure. He is the original director I was introduced to and looked up to. I also love Nolan. His films are visually stunning and he has this gift of storytelling. I also very much appreciate his use of practicals on his films. I also love Kenny Ortega. I’m a big Disney fan and his work and directing style is one I look up to.
Share a Little of Your Process
The process is always different, but once I get the idea for the story and I have a rough plot outlined, I love the index card method. Write every beat on an index card, and when you have a stack, you’re ready to write. Writing is a journey of many drafts as I truly want to shape the story and the characters. I like handwriting a lot and then going to a computer as well. There’s something classic about having all these hand written notes around. On set it’s meetings, planning, and trusting my actors and crew. I try not to do a lot of takes, but I always do one for safety after I think we got the one.
Do You Have a Signature Film Style?
I don’t think I have a signature film style. I am very big on practical effects, which comes from my special effects makeup background, and love for classic films.
What is Your Favorite Project You Directed?
You can't ask that. I love them all for very different reasons.
What is One Thing About Your Films That Viewers May Not Know?
My character’s names often have meaning to them of why I gave those names. For example, Rose in Roan Creek is named after my Grandma Rose.
How Do You Get The Best Performance Out Of Your Actors?
Trust. Trust that you know your characters, and your actors. I enjoy also working with actors on how they see the character and what they think they’d do. We don’t always agree, but it helps grow. On Roan Creek, I had an amazing cast, as well as on our current project. They truly brought the characters to life, and had the freedom to do as such.
Do You Ever Step In Front of The Camera?
I don’t very often. I do have a theatre background, and on our current project I did a cameo. I do love the craft, but I get nervous in front of the camera. For the film school I work for though, I was on camera for two student projects.
How Do You Prepare For Set?
In technical terms, a lot of paperwork. That is across the board on my own sets, or preparing for gigs. It’s a sea of paper and emails. On a personal term, usually I’m pretty nervous so it’s pump up jams and coffee.
What Are Some of The Biggest Challenges You Faced On Set?
That is a loaded question. No set ever goes smooth. On Roan Creek, we faced a lot of challenges through all stages. One of which being the extreme heat due to an unexpected heat wave. I learned a lot from that set though that I take with me to future sets. On our current project, I faced an injury and another crew member as well. We can talk about it now, but at the time the wheels were coming off.
Where Would You Like to be in The Future?
Ultimately, I would love to have a home base, if not two, and travel for work. I’d like to be able to support independent filmmakers and filmmakers starting out. I would also personally love to work for Disney, Universal Studios or Warner Bros project.
Lastly, What Advice Do You Have For Other Filmmakers?
Never stop learning. Always learn from what’s around you. That can be school, hands on experience, family, friends. Don’t stop learning. Be open to feedback, it could make your project even better. Don’t let setbacks knock you down. Stay true to who you are. Everyone has a story to tell, or a way to tell it. Most importantly, believe in yourself. At the end of the day, you are all that you have. You will run into numerous people who will tell you you can’t do something, but if you believe in yourself, you can go so far.