We recently had the chance to connect with Maris Lidaka and have shared our conversation below.
Maris, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
My days right now are anything but normal. I am currently bringing on new clients, producing a short film and prepping to direct my debut feature film Concrete River. So my days are spent working with my clients and my nights pushing the ball forwards for Concrete River. It’s the kind of work where you go to bed tired, but the good kind of tired.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. I’ve worked as a producer, director and editor in both Chicago and Los Angeles. Back in 2018, I decided to start writing about my experiences being a multiracial filmmaker in America. The writings took off and eventually I formed what came to be known as The Blended Future Project. This blog eventually became a production company in 2022, when I was tasked with producing a short film sponsored by Netflix called Gabriela for the LA Latino Film Festival Fellowship.
Since then, I’ve gone on to produce several other films under the banner of the company. We specialize in creating mission based media. Creating both our own original concepts and also collaborating with brands and organizations to showcase the great work they do. We are currently producing another short film called Chicken Scratch that highlights the issues of poverty and addiction. And in a few months, we will be creating our first feature film Concrete River. It tells the story of an unhoused music producer trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter by finishing the song they were working on together.
This will also be my feature film debut.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was watching the TV show He-Man. Growing up in Oak Park, Illinois there were no images on television where I could see someone who looked like myself. My father a blonde Latvian and my mother a beautiful dark-skinned Black woman. But when I saw He-Man, a strong hero with tan skin and blonde hair I instantly assumed that he was mixed like me. So I held onto this character and I realized that I could be strong, brave and powerful. Just like the hero on television.
Growing up, I realized that he wasn’t mixed (and honestly my parents knew and just let me use it). But it showed the power of media and storytelling. Something that I am intentional about in my work.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a time early in my years in Los Angeles when I thought about doing something else. Even though I had years of experience working as a camera assistant and camera operator in Chicago. I could not find a job in Los Angeles on a consistent basis. I was recently married and took the only job I could find – cleaning houses via an online app. I was making very little money and even though I had just completed my second short film. But I had never felt so low.
One day, I accidentally inhaled some chemicals while cleaning the bathroom. I had to go home, lay down and wait for my breathing to return to normal. It was in this moment when I wondered if I had made a colossal mistake by trying to become a filmmaker and work in this industry. But a few days later, a longtime friend who had seen my film gave me a call and gave me the opportunity to interview for a production company called INE.
I was brought on as a producer and have never stopped working since.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to the idea of filmmakers and artists taking back our power from larger companies. For decades we have been taught that we need to impress large institutions in order to have a successful career. That if we create the right kind of work, we will receive the stamp of approval which will allow us to call ourselves filmmakers. Because unless you were written up in a large publication or directing a film for a large studio. You are not a “real filmmaker.”
But I believe that we have everything all around us in order to have successful careers and create great work. Film is a collaborative effort and it’s about forming the right relationships. I believe that we independents can create self-sustaining careers by working with the right people and learning the right skills. We can greenlight ourselves once we realize our own power. And my goal is actually show how community is the ultimate power for filmmakers today.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I am building structures that will form a complete ecosystem for the future of the industry. One where we can bring in the right talent, refine their work and have the right partnerships and audience ready to go. Where the artists and the investors will have an equal share. Where the work we make can have both financial and social impact on a repeated basis. We operate now in a system where the doors are few and the process is kept in secret. I am creating something that will be open, transparent and help us return to what filmmaking really is. The ability to use moving images to have an impact on people and help them see the world differently.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blendedfutureproject.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marislidaka/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marislidaka/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC1ySoLH5VPnkx2OlYAMNvQ/?themeRefresh=1
- Other: personal website – marislidaka.com
Image Credits
Helenna Santos
Kristen Bell
