Meet Linda Marian

We were lucky to catch up with Linda Marian recently and have shared our conversation below.

Linda, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I was simply following my heart.

After nearly 20 years in the film industry, working as an Assistant Director, the path I was on always felt—if I may say—inevitable. I spent countless weeks and months alongside some of the most iconic directors of our time—Ridley Scott, Ron Howard, Paul Feig, to name just a few. And every time I stood beside them in the video village, something inside me shifted.

I would enter a state of absolute focus, as if the world faded away. No sound, no people, no distractions—just the monitor and me. It felt completely natural, as though I belonged in that stillness, where story and vision meet. It wasn’t just work—it was something sacred. In those moments, I knew deep within me: this is something rare. Something real.

The very air on set became my heartbeat. This rhythm, this world—it was no longer just a job; it became my oxygen. Like a silent orchestra awaiting a conductor, it called to me. And I listened—with all of me.

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?

I’ve spent half of my life on set, working on top-tier productions as an AD. Over the years, I’ve been trusted to manage scale, lead teams, and execute with precision — but then something shifted. I heard just 15 seconds of a song—and I knew instantly: I couldn’t walk away from this. The director in me woke up.

I told the artist, “You’re holding gold—but it needs to be reimagined. It needs to be orchestrated, rebuilt from the inside out.” That fragment of music moved through me like lightning. I could feel it. I could see it. In a flash, the entire vision came alive—sound, picture, tone, everything. It was complete in my mind before a single frame was shot.

That was the moment I knew: it was time to step forward— fully, as a director.

I re-envisioned the song, brought on an extraordinary composer, and together we brought the music to life exactly as I had imagined. Then, I directed the music video—every shot, every moment shaped by a very personal, cinematic vision.

The result? A music video that went on to win 15 international awards. At the moment.:)

This wasn’t just a project. It was a declaration. A return to what I was always meant to do: direct.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I truly believe we often underestimate that quiet beating inside our chest—that inner voice that speaks to us throughout our lives. For me, that voice has been my compass. It’s what first led me to become an exceptional Assistant Director, and eventually, an internationally award-winning Director.

Yes, it took relentless work—the long days, the sleepless nights on set, the years spent alongside some of the greatest filmmakers in the industry. But even more than the hours, it was the listening. I watched. I observed in silence. I soaked in the knowledge, the discipline, the unwavering dedication. That was my classroom.

I’ve always wanted to learn—and I still do. That hunger is part of who I am. I think that’s the second ingredient: a willingness to stay curious.

And I never gave up.

To be a Director—to live in that creative space, telling stories that move people—is pure magic. It’s an inner flame that never dims. It gives me purpose. It lifts me higher with every project, every frame, every challenge.

To the next generation, if I could leave you with just one truth, it would be this:

Where there is passion, there is success.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

For me, it’s clear now—it’s always been about being a Director.

This past year, I’ve grown tremendously—not just professionally, but personally. I’ve come to understand myself on a deeper level, and with that came the realization that all those previous years in the industry weren’t just time spent—they were preparation.

Every set I worked on, every moment I spent learning, watching, solving problems—it all built the foundation for the director I am today. I couldn’t be this focused, this detailed, this confident in my creative choices without having gone through the full process of understanding how a film is truly made—from the very first step to the final frame.

It’s a path filled with long hours, pressure, doubts, questions, deadlines, dreams… but at the heart of it all, there’s one thing guiding you: your vision.

And then comes the moment. The moment when that vision finally lights up the big screen.

Not long ago, I had the honor of screening my work at the New York Independent Film Festival. Sitting there in the audience, watching my vision come to life—it was a feeling that erased all the stress, all the noise. Everything made sense.

That’s when I knew, without question: this is who I am. This is what I was meant to do.

And a Director never sleeps.

Because when I sleep, I dream.

I visualize.

And then—I create.

Contact Info:

• Website: Coming soon
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linda.marian82/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.marian.7
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lindamarian4315