Profile Series:
Anu Valia
"Be grateful, and don't take no for an answer."
Anu Valia
Role: Writer & Director
Holy Motors (2012)
Directed by Leos Carax
Amour (2012)
Directed by Michael Haneke
Mystery Train (1989)
Directed by Jim Jarmusch
How did you first get into filmmaking?
My dad is a forever cinephile, he's an appreciator of all art. Almost every evening he would bring home a movie for us all to watch while eating dinner, and those are some of my favorite childhood memories. It's how I was introduced to Fellini, Berman, Satyajit Ray, Peter Weird, Deepha Metha
"It's so important for a set to be functioning with a sense of respect and gratitude so everyone can do their best work."
The heart of the Film Pin Society is community and camaraderie. Can you talk a little about that?
It requires an incredibly talented group of people to come together to create a film or a show. Filmmaking is all about community and camaraderie and it's so important for a set to be functioning with a sense of respect and gratitude so everyone can do their best work. When there are budget and time constraints, it's necessary for people to be treated well and to feel they are part of a team that cares about them, otherwise no one's going to show up when it gets hard.
What is the best advice you would give to an LGBTQ+ person looking to get into your field?
It’s nothing that hasn’t been said before: Internally, learn who you are, sit and reflect on what you’ve experienced, observe who you surround yourself with and why, and what makes you tick because from there you get to know what stories you want to tell and be attached to. And above all, lean into your intuition. Externally, be persistent and be scrappy. Find the community that resonates with your identities, for me that has meant finding Facebook groups and Slack communities online, as well as going to meetups to get to know fellow creatives. Keep connections, be visible in these spaces, and check job boards pretty consistently. If you’re always checking in with yourself, you’ll learn what parts of filmmaking you enjoy - it may not be just one thing which makes for more opportunities for you.
What’s the best piece of advice you can give to someone looking into going into your field?
Be kind, be grateful, and don't take no for an answer.
What pin from our collection speaks to you and why?
The timecode slate pin is cute!
