We recently connected with Sathya Miele and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sathya, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
I swear, being unemployed just sparks something creative in me. Most of the time, even working on film sets, I feel burnt out and I have no desire to work on any personal projects when I get home. The time that passes in between gigs is, while unnerving, when ideas start to flow and I find myself writing or working on a creative project nearly every day. Even if it sucks, at least something is being written, and I’m getting practice and experience as a storyteller.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m an aspiring film director, and it’s pretty much all I’ve wanted to do for about fifteen years now. Like anybody, I get asked the big “why” question and honestly I’m still kinda trying to figure it out. I think it may have set in so early in life (I was nine when I decided that I wanted to be a film director) that I never gave it much thought. I will say, however, that there is something so exciting about being able to tell a story through the screen. I don’t know exactly what it is but it’s magical for the lack of a better word (I know, I sound like a tool but it’s the truth).
I’m still in the process of finding my particular style and voice, and I hope that one day it will be clear to me and clear to an audience.
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 grew up in a visual arts family (my parents were actors) and I spent time painting, sculpting, and playing dress-up. I think the combination of acting out scenes and painting were what married together into wanting to basically do the same thing but just film it. Additionally, I’ve always loved collaborating with people to put on shows and performances. I used to love doing the school plays back in elementary, and I have a perpetual attraction to teamwork. On top of that, I have loved movies for as long as I can remember, and that love is the strongest fuel that has impacted this whole thing for me (cliche, I know).
I’m too goddamn young to give any real advice to anyone. If there’s one thing that has helped me, it is keeping an open mind and always observing life, which sounds grandiose, but that’s what filmmaking is – just life through the perspective of the creatives behind the project. Even something as crazy as “Mad Mad: Fury Road” has something to say about life and humanity (once I figure it out, I’ll let you know).
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I always had my mother’s support. Not only that, but her extensive knowledge. She spent her young life traveling the world and studying several different styles of acting in different countries and schools, and she has passed a lot of that on to me as a storyteller. On top of that, she’s not from the US and raised me and my younger brother as a single parent, so she taught us about perseverance and independence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sathyamiele.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sathyamiele/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sathya-miele-790b07132/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJmHOzTsWxC6M8dEOdqS8g
- Other: https://vimeo.com/sathyamiele
Image Credits
Images by Kashmir McDaniels, Fabiana Medici, Jordie Morris, & Leonidas Jaramillo
