In Part 2 of this exclusive interview for FilmSchool.org Supporting Members, Alexa Pellegrini speaks with award-winning filmmaker Liz Hinlein about her current projects, including a prequel and an immersive VR documentary. Hinlein discusses her work as a film coach, sharing how she helps aspiring film school students develop essential skills for success, along with insights on mastering film language, attending film festivals, and recommended reading to enhance creativity.
Read Part 1 of the interview here:
LH: I'm working on two different things now. I'm doing a prequel short film for a feature film called “Getting Tommy Laid”. I wrote it with a creative partner, genius writer/director Kate Kirtz, and hopefully, this summer, we’ll film if it can raise the cash. So, that’ll be great.
And I’m creating an immersive, documentary-based VR experience that we’re also raising money for and I’m excited about.
LH: It's super-interesting. It's very impactful. And I like combining technology with classic storytelling. But it's not like making a film, and it’s important to emphasize that.
LH: For me, because I love learning, if I'm in New York or any other interesting place and go to museums, or walk down the street, I’ll see stuff that makes me feel inspired. I’ll want to go out and make things or create something because I get a spark of an idea, so then I have to teach myself something like immersive storytelling to get across the idea and the feeling that I want the audience to feel. And when I make things, I get excited about learning more about the subject matter, so it is a cyclical experience of inspiration.
LH: Well, it's funny — I realized that there are a lot of companies that help...
Read Part 1 of the interview here:
Director Liz Hinlein Talks VR in Filmmaking and the No. 1 Skill Filmmakers Need (Part 1)
Liz Hinlein’s filmmaking career showcases an artist who embraces emerging mediums like virtual reality to connect the past with the present. Before graduating with an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute Conservatory, Hinlein grew up in Haverford, Pennsylvania, alongside her...
- Alexa P.
- Category: Professor Interviews
What projects are you working on right now?
LH: I'm working on two different things now. I'm doing a prequel short film for a feature film called “Getting Tommy Laid”. I wrote it with a creative partner, genius writer/director Kate Kirtz, and hopefully, this summer, we’ll film if it can raise the cash. So, that’ll be great.
And I’m creating an immersive, documentary-based VR experience that we’re also raising money for and I’m excited about.
Why do you continue returning to VR as a creative medium?
LH: It's super-interesting. It's very impactful. And I like combining technology with classic storytelling. But it's not like making a film, and it’s important to emphasize that.
Where do you take creative inspiration for your work?
LH: For me, because I love learning, if I'm in New York or any other interesting place and go to museums, or walk down the street, I’ll see stuff that makes me feel inspired. I’ll want to go out and make things or create something because I get a spark of an idea, so then I have to teach myself something like immersive storytelling to get across the idea and the feeling that I want the audience to feel. And when I make things, I get excited about learning more about the subject matter, so it is a cyclical experience of inspiration.
Let’s discuss your next chapter as an educator. How does your role as a film coach help applicants increase their chances of getting into film school and crafting outstanding work?
LH: Well, it's funny — I realized that there are a lot of companies that help...
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