Sarah Hawkins of OR DIE TRYING, interviewed film friend, Premstar Santana about her journey as a filmmaker in Los Angeles.
Name: Premstar Santana
Field of Industry/Company/Job Title: Actor // Filmmaker // Moonfaze Films // Moonfaze Feminist Film Festival
Favorite Film: This is always so hard to answer! Because the list of films I love is extremely long, I always choose my current favorite film when asked this question. So my favorite film at the moment is 'The Invitation' directed by Karyn Kusama. I love a good thriller and she knocked it out of the park.
ODT: Are you from Los Angeles originally?
PS: Yes, I was born here, but I grew up in Santa Barbara.
ODT: Tell us about the moment you decided to move to L.A., how did it make you feel?
PS: Fantastic. I was living in San Francisco at the time where I had been acting since 2006 on stage and in indie projects. I knew it was time for a big change, so I decided to move south again to pursue the love of my life (acting) and to be closer to my Mom & Grandmother. I remember this specific moment of a deep knowing I HAD to move. I was walking down Valencia street in SF's Mission district and I just didn't have that feeling anymore, that love for SF, it wasn't the same city to me. Then Madonna's song 'Jump' came on my iPod... The lyrics say it all:
"I haven't got much time to waste
It's time to make my way
I'm not afraid of what I'll face
But I'm afraid to stay
I'm going down my road and I can make it alone
I'll work and I'll fight till I find a place of my own
[Chorus]
Are you ready to jump
Get ready to jump!..."
That's all I needed. I was off to LA within a few months. Thanks Madonna :)
Side note: Madonna's lucky star video changed my life. I remember seeing it on MTV (Yes, they used to play music videos. And yes, I'm totally dating myself) and knowing I wanted to be a performer. She was just so darn cool and ahead of her time.
ODT: Why have you pursued a career in the film industry?
PS: It's an obsession really. An obsession with films, but also a sort of cosmic connection. Like every cell in my body wants to do this, needs to do this. Even when I try to convince myself I should do something else and it's not worth it (you know those days) something deep inside me keeps going and going and going. I love telling stories and I love make believe. I love being able to tell those stories that need to be told, and to be able to give a voice to people/characters that don't normally get to be heard is the truest honor.
ODT: How did you get into the film industry?
PS: It's simple really, my husband (director Ben Gilbert) and I just couldn't sit around waiting for permission to make art. So we started to make our own films. Giving us both the opportunity to do what we love most.
ODT: Any memorable moments in your journey?
PS: Our move to LA. I wish we had video of us driving for the first time on the freeway. It was like those photos they take of people on roller coasters. Mouths wide open, sheer terror, and absolutely hilarious. But most recently the response to the Moonfaze Feminist Film Festival. It was a truly magical moment for me. Seeing all of our hard work pay off in such a magnificent way was a true gift.
ODT: What do you love most about the film industry?
PS: The camaraderie. There's nothing like being on a film set.
ODT: What have been some of the more challenging moments about being a woman in the film industry?
PS: For me the lack of strong roles for women has been the most challenging. I can't count the number of casting breakdowns I've read for roles that are based solely on appearance. My frustration with the lack of roles for women is what inspired my series Her Changing Faces & the Moonfaze Feminist Film Festival.
ODT: What motivates you?
PS: My love for film and for performing motivates me, but I'm also deeply motivated by the work of my peers. Seeing other filmmakers and actors make amazing films inspires me to do the same.
ODT: What dream(s) are you most fighting for?
PS: I would say my biggest dream right now, that I know is worth fighting for, is getting the feature length version of our short film 'Seer' produced. I have yet to play the lead in a feature film and this would make that dream come true. I guess my dream right now is to play the lead in amazing feature film. Yeah, that's my dream worth fighting for.
