“I love what I do, it’s satisfying because I can involve all the arts while creating my ‘picture’. The shot is a rectangle, a box, tv, it’s the proscenium of your theater where you can involve as much as you want.”
It all started when…
SOULDEGA: Who are you, Where are you from and how did your journey with directing and filmmaking begin?
ZOE: Ciao! I'm Zoe a dorky weirdo from Italy, also award winning filmmaker, curator, dancer and advocate for womxn, through my project Womxn To The Front. I started directing my own projects once I moved to NY in 2008 but, in Italy I studied and built my experiences while working on short film productions, operating in several film departments. Here, I just found the motivation to push harder and slowly I created for myself, a stronger style and a solid artist identity.
SOULDEGA: We love how versatile your work is from Documentaries, Music Videos, Commercials, Experimental and Fashion Editorial Videos. How are you able to produce such a variety of work? Also, do you have a favorite category of work that you connect with most?
ZOE: I feel my versatility is my strength and it's nurtured by an extreme curiosity for almost anything related with art and not only. I like to investigate and get to know things better, which is also a motivation that is pushed by a passionate interest in politics, I had since young age. Politics etymologically as ethic of society and all related to it. I watched and keep watching tons of documentaries and, I like any format of it. A documentary is a tangible source of informations as a book, that can change history, moves people to take action and more. Music has always been so important to me; music is culture, tradition, rituality and one of my craft as dancing is definitely one thing with music. I heal through music, I create visually so naturally with this artistic component that Music Videos are my way to express creatively, visual rhythm, my true self and I definitely very connected to it but unfortunately it is underpaid so, it's a struggle. Fashion I think it's tremendously related to music and culture; I've always been passionate about it but nowadays it's just fun for me, more than an act of rebellion as it used to be. However, I prioritize style in my videos, especially if I want the audience to pay attention to what that color or that aesthetic can suggest.
SOULDEGA: In 2017, you created “Womxn to the Front”, a platform for women filmmakers and visual artists/musicians, producing over 20 exhibitions. What is the driving force for you to provide a space for artists like yourself? Also, what do you hope people walk away with after one of your events?
ZOE: In 2013 I had a Gallery for a couple of years where I produced tons of events and, I was tired to promote and work mostly for men who were also the ones often belittling me and showing ungratefulness. Womxn are powerfully united by the struggle to simply be a womxn in this patriarchal society. I grew up feminist but for a reason or another one I was always working with men and when a new wave of feminism went mainstream, I wanted to positively take advantage of it and help womxn to take space for real. Honestly I feel It's an urgency! I come from a very sexist Country and kept falling in similar experiencing here as well. While making this happen I noticed the response from womxn that was great and incredibly supportive. I felt blessed and motivated to keep doing it. After my events, womxn were literally hugging me, they were amused, inspired and were connecting each other; sharing words of appreciation to be linked to this community I was creating. It was extremely encouraging and I didn't realized right away the impact of what I was doing.
SOULDEGA: What are the rewards of directing for you? Any Challenges?
ZOE: Directing is very challenging because you are in charge with everything but if your vision is clear, you can make your dream true. Choosing a great team is also crucial as being obsessive with details. I love what I do, it's satisfying because I can involve all the arts while creating my 'picture'. The shot is a rectangle, a box, tv, it's the proscenium of your theater where you can involve as much as you want.
SOULDEGA: Your music video "Dumb Dumb" by Cipherella was awarded Official Selection at the SXSW 2019 Festival. Can you explain how that experience was for you?
ZOE: First of all, the video won 'Best Music Video' at Hip Hop Film Festival 2018 in Harlem, and that was a great honor at so many levels. Going to SXSW was unexpected and I felt blessed because I was bringing in Texas not only an independent, small budget video production but, the video featured 5 Black womxn, queer and the message is powerful so, I'm grateful to be the channel of this to happen.
SOULDEGA: Lastly, can you share how are you finding ways to keep creative in your craft at this time?
ZOE: It's tough! This is also a routine tho. Ups and downs are so normal while choosing to make a living with your art. I spent most of my time alone, creating and mostly entertaining myself somehow. The ways to keep being creative are many with internet, softwares of any kind etc. but often, motivation isn't there so, I just procrastinate often with no guilt. Also it's so important to check on me, move my body, cook and eat healthy, that sometime I just decide to stop producing but happily enjoying just the view outside.