Meet Artima Sakulkoo

We were lucky to catch up with Artima Sakulkoo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Artima, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

When I decided to move to the States for college, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. As a minority immigrant, the work was ten times more challenging, and I had to adapt to the new environment. I worked so hard while in school to pay off my student debt.

I majored in Digital Cinema Arts, and most assignments were hands-on. There are multiple roles in the filmmaking industry, and I have found myself very good at assisting directing (AD). As an AD, having good leadership skills is a must. I lead the set and am in control of the production schedule. I have mastered this for the past eight years now. After all these experiences, adding to the fact that the filmmaking industry is so competitive, and as an artist living in New York City, I have to stand out. And these reasons drive my work ethic to this day.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At the beginning of my film career, I spent time finding my brand. What makes me stand out from the others? It turns out the answer is my authentic self that makes the difference.

I started to focus on bringing Thai or minority stories onto the table. I want to make more real queer representations on the big screen. I share my journey as an international artist in the US, hoping any young people who want to get out of their comfort zone can relate. These are my brand and my target audience.
My latest film, It Happened In August (2024), is about Aim, a Thai immigrant who moved back to New York City after her mother passed away. She is surprised when her ex-girlfriend, Sandra, shows up, hoping to rekindle their lovely old days in a late evening in August. This film is a personal story of mine, and I am so proud to have found my heart for making films. The film is on the festival run and will be in selected theaters and film festivals this coming year.

My other projects on the shelves will include more queer-centered and immigrant stories. I hope people like me can also see themselves represented on screen.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Throughout my filmmaking journey, I’ve learned to master leadership, problem-solving/adaptability, and communication.

My true passion for film is to become a director. A film director is a team leader on the field. To become a well-respected director, you must understand and know all aspects of film, from visualizing your story from scratch to having it written down on paper to production design, camera angles and techniques that bring your story forward, and sound design. Leadership skills lead to good teamwork. It wouldn’t have been possible for me to have done my projects without the help of my cast and crew. But because they believe in me, I trust my team to help me bring the vision on screen.

Being communicative plays a significant role. Speak your truth. Say what you want respectfully. Even when I got stuck in my head and didn’t know what I wanted, I would talk openly with my assistant director or cinematographer. They would break down and share ideas with me.

Filmmakers often work from one set to another, so they must be adaptable and able to solve problems as they go. I found it fun and challenging to work in a different setting now and then. There were multiple times when some people didn’t show up on set, and I had to work with what I had. But by the end of the day, we got what we needed, and that’s the most important thing.

For the past eight years, I have directed three major short films and small projects and worked on sets. These skills have grown in me. However, every day is a new day to learn new tasks, and I will keep learning.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I’m grateful for everything my parents did for me, especially allowing me to take my education overseas. It seems like they had been seeding my future even before I came into the picture. My parents met in New York City back in the 80s. So, when I decided to move to the States, I had elderly people that my parents respected and loved who would give me advice and guidance.

Following an artsy dream is not common in an Asian household. When I decided to focus entirely on my film and acting career, my parents respectfully cheered and uplifted my choice—adding that I have always been an art kid, and they have seen it coming from me.

I openly accepted myself as a queer woman a little after my mother passed away. It was a rough time for my father to deal with it. He has nothing against the community; he just doesn’t know how to handle it when it comes to his daughter. Four years later, I made a film about my queer experience. My dad watched me in a big theater proudly.

To any reader who might be facing issues to come out as queer within your family. Brighter days are waiting ahead for us. You are not alone. We are in this together.

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