Meet Sarah Steinhart

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Steinhart.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a filmmaker, writer & actor. I like to make music videos, narrative shorts, and video art. My work often explores themes of gray areas, sexuality, coming-of-age, shame, and queerness. I also really love the desert and exploring places in-depth that are not outwardly welcoming. I got into video editing when I was like 11, burning DVDs I made for my friends’ birthdays – usually really fast-paced music videos set to Hannah Montana songs.

Around that time, a psychic told me that I would work behind the camera one day, as a director and editor. I found it really upsetting because I wanted to be a star and working in production sounded so boring. I totally forgot about that psychic until I went to Sarah Lawrence College, where I started making video art. I would film myself in my most intimate, vulnerable moments and turn those into art pieces. I learned how to edit through making experimental videos on After Effects before delving into narrative screenwriting.

I’m grateful that I came to filmmaking through experimental video art because it gave me a sense of freedom within the structure. My senior year of college, I made my first narrative short, Blacklisted, a comedy that was essentially me poking fun at myself and my experiences at a liberal arts school. It premiered at the Portland Film Festival in October 2018.

I’m currently working freelance as a director, editor and art department assistant, as well as writing a feature & a short, taking acting classes, learning how to play drums, and driving out to the Mojave as often as I can.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Learning how to have confidence in my decisions, as someone who is not a straight cis white man, is a process. Being a director means putting a lot of work into making decisions and then working with a crew to execute those decisions. Telling people what to do does not come easily for me, as I have a fear instilled in me not to be too loud, bossy, or domineering.

When I’m directing, I have to remind myself that I have put in the work to plan for this moment as much as I could and that it is now my job to tell people what to do. Not to say that directing doesn’t also require listening and teamwork. It does, but internalized misogyny often leads people to question my decisions and authority, and I have to remain self-assured.

I have seen and experienced sexism so many times on sets; the film industry is, overall, a disgustingly macho business. It does feel like things are slowly changing as more POC, women, and trans people make content and are given funds by major studios. But it’s hard to remember that when you and your non-cis/male/white/straight friends are continuously shat on and hit on while trying to do our jobs.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I’m a director, writer, editor, and actor based in LA! I have worked in a wide variety of areas of production: as a script reader & coverage writer, a cinematographer, an experimental & narrative editor, and a set dresser, among other things.

I’m mostly interested in making stuff that makes people feel seen and/or encourages them to do something, whether that be going on a road trip or being nicer to people.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is an intangible concept. I think it’s really important to avoid defining your personal sense of fulfillment by others’ approval.

Meditating – literally sitting and doing nothing but experiencing life in my body – is probably the most fulfilling thing I spend my time doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://vimeo.com/sarahsteinhart
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/desertslut/

Image Credit:
Summer Allen (@deathvalleyboogie)

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