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Mikaela Bruce | Film Director
Mikaela Bruce | Film Director
Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do, and how you got involved with Epiphany Space.
Hey there! My name is Mikaela. I’m originally from Arizona and have lived all over. I’m now LA-based and work on independent film projects as a narrative writer-director. I’m also a new mom and that is actually the most challenging and most rewarding job I’ve ever had!
I originally got involved at Epiphany in 2019. It was my first year in LA and I was looking to build my creative community as a newbie in the city. And I'm glad I did! I ended up meeting some great friends that I am still in touch with today.
What first drew you to filmmaking? How did you first start making films?
I was first drawn to filmmaking through my time acting. I had done theater and acting throughout childhood and into high school and also did some more professional courses in college. When it came time to choose a degree path I opted for film which included my passion for acting and would also allow me to learn what was happening behind the camera, which was very intriguing to me. I also began taking film studies courses that really opened me up to the incredible cinema of the world and broadened my idea of what a film could be. I loved the exposure I gained especially to auteur film directors like Win Wenders, Krzysztof Kieślowski, and Pedro Almodovar. This sparked a dream of moving to Europe and making films there - more on that later.
I understand you did an internship on the set of LOST. What was that experience like? What did the internship entail, and what kind of impact would you say it’s had on your career since?
Another highlight from my time studying film was the opportunity to intern on LOST for a semester during the 4th season of the show. It was great to get a big picture overview of the whole (enormous) process involved in making a show of that scale. I also really loved getting to observe some of the incredible artists working in the art department to create many of the items that ended up in front of the camera and all of the artistry in general that comes together to make a show stand out. Despite the great experience I had on LOST, I didn’t feel it was time for me to jump straight into the “big industry” and move to LA. I wanted more time to grow as a person, learn a different language, and develop my voice as a filmmaker. All that led me to move to Spain where I got the chance to do all of those things. I don’t regret this decision even though it did make it more challenging to come to LA a bit later in life. However, when I made the move here just 4.5 years ago I had a clearer sense of what I wanted to make and what my unique vision is as a storyteller.
What gets you excited about a film project? How do you decide, “This is the project I’m going to take on next”?
When I’m deciding to work on a new project, what's most important to me is a sense of deep connection to the material, especially if I didn’t write it myself. When I am writing an original script I usually lean towards something that feels vital - that it doesn’t currently exist and absolutely must. I also need to sense that the timing is right for that particular film. The further I go along in this work the more I realize how important timing is for the films that we are putting out into the world. I look around and think about what questions the world is asking, what questions am I asking? I try to decipher what are the stories that I want to see that aren’t being made and also something that is new and challenging for me, that will allow me to grow and learn in my craft. Without a doubt, I am very interested in seeing female protagonists on screen and looking at their unique and beautiful lives in more nuanced ways than we’ve necessarily seen before.
What are you working on right now? And what are your plans for the future?
I’ve recently wrapped post-production on a new short called Not Afraid which will premiere this November at LA SKINS fest. The film tells the story of a young Native American girl in Montana struggling to cope after her family was touched by an epidemic known as MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women). I’m really thankful for the wonderful team I got to create this film with and the opportunity we had to tell a story with a very urgent message. My plans for the future definitely involve making a feature film. Those of us who have made enough shorts understand how difficult it can be to make it sustainable, though it’s probably the best place for learning the craft, building your team, and figuring out where you want to go with storytelling.
Last but not least, do you have any advice or words of wisdom for aspiring filmmakers or people looking to get started in the film industry?
My advice for those wanting to get into filmmaking - this one is tough because everyone is so different in how they operate and make decisions. I will say for me I realized eventually that it is more beneficial for me to lean into my strengths as a director and the more I do that the more confident I become when it comes to pitching myself which is a part of the job many of us (me included) would rather skip! However, the more you get comfortable with it the easier it becomes and it’s a good thing because the world needs more authentic storytellers and we’d be missing out without your stories in the world!
There can be a lot of disappointment connected with a life pursuing the arts. I think it’s really important to stay connected to your source of inspiration and what motivates you to create. When you lose touch of that source things can get really discouraging and confusing. I think having a creative community and mentors can play a big role to help remind you why you started out in the first place and cheer you on when you find yourself in a challenging time.
I think one of my biggest pieces of advice is similar to the last - it’s about people and community. Your ability to make anything or get anything done in film - indie or otherwise- is completely contingent on others. Filmmaking is collaborative and it behooves you to build genuine friendships with others pursuing the same thing. This is mutually beneficial because you can learn from your friends and they can learn from you, you will grow together and look out for one another. It’s not always about networking events because many times you never see some of those people again. I recommend connecting with people based on interests and being able to support one another’s work in a real way. By doing this not only will you have support for your work you’ll have good friends who will understand the strange and amazing world of being a filmmaker.
Connect with Mikaela Bruce
Instagram: @mikaelabruce
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Epiphany Space is a global artist community. We bring together artists and creative entrepreneurs to engage in community and peer support so that we can cultivate meaningful connections, overcome challenges, and achieve our creative goals.
We are a 501c3, Non-profit Organization.