Today we’d like to introduce you to Savanna Crasto.
Hi Savanna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
In terms of filmmaking, I began in 2021 when I produced, directed, and starred alongside Hayden Maher in my first feature film, Tender Napalm. From then, I began The Colour Series and have made five feature films since, with my sixth going into production this year, 2024.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been both the smoothest road but also the most difficult. The ease of it has come from the process of making a film and being a part of it. I find creating a film and the work involved in being a part of it quite natural; I enjoy the discovery, the trial and error of it, and the research; however, the struggles that have presented themselves are different from the general struggles that I think everyone faces in life. I believe that film is personal; there isn’t a definitive line that separates business and personal because it’s the creative industry. All creative art is personal, so the struggles are all personal; everything else is manageable with a clear solution. Personally, the greatest struggles have all involved me connecting with people who aren’t aligned with my values and the direction that I’m taking my films. It’s trial and error and goes hand in hand with figuring out what your values are, to begin with, which is a process, and then also the struggle of being able to appreciate and accept people for who they are and be amicable in understanding that they are just going in a different direction to you. I think the biggest struggle for me has been staying open and vulnerable. When you give as much of yourself as you do when creating a film, you’re so much more susceptible to being hurt, but I believe that you must be open and vulnerable to create anything that speaks to the humanity of people. It’s just about affirming that your people are out there because when you find them, it’s a smooth road.
We’ve been impressed with The Colour Series, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Colour Series is the biggest breath of fresh air to me. It’s this beautiful world that is just exploratory and free. It’s a non-profit, and any proceeds from premieres go to the cast. It’s founded on fusing the principles of theatre and film together, drawing on colour psychology and European cinema. What I love about it is that is independent and values people and their stories, not their Instagram followers or past successes. I think one of the biggest detriments to the current arts industry is putting the creative decisions in the hands of the people who aren’t the creatives. There’s a connection that writers have to the worlds they create, that actors have to certain characters, and that can only truly be understood by and through them. It’s protective, respectful, and that is what I am most proud of; The Colour Series has always been for the artists and by the artists, whatever it takes, the creative control will always be with those that created the world and respect it as a part of themselves. It’s unmoving by fads and trends, it’s its own thing, taking inspiration from filmmakers from around the world, playwrites that have come before and isn’t conformed to a neatly wrapped box. The films look into the psychology of human beings, universal feelings that we think isolate us but are actually shared and understood. Every work within The Colour Series is a love letter to people, the human experience, the actors, crew, cinema, and art; the creative direction is an expression of immense love, and it has never faltered, no matter the challenges that have been presented.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned the importance of human connection. I began making films in 2021, in the midst of isolation and stagnation the need to create a platform that brings people together was realized. I think when you’re passionate about what you do, what you do becomes a need. I believe that love soothes you and passion drives you, and the Covid-19 crisis showed me what I’m passionate about and what I love. What was most interesting to me was that this extreme crisis, a darkness in many ways, highlighted what needed to be changed and what was important. I think that applies to more than just a medical-induced disease but also a humanitarian one, a spiritual one, and an injustice one. The COVID-19 crisis taught me that sometimes these horrible things happen to ignite change and, more than anything, the utmost importance of people. That people inherently deserve love and respect and I’ve been fortunate enough to have a close circle that always reminds me that I’m deserving of love and respect just as they are. For me, the people in my life, my family, are the most important aspect of my life. For them, I would do anything to help them achieve their dreams, make sure that they feel valued, and that they know that I will always be in their corner fighting for them. My agents are incredible; they’re warm and nurturing, my parents are supportive, my brother is my best friend, the people I met through Australians in Film over in Los Angeles fill my life with so much gratitude, and my friends are my family. The COVID-19 crisis taught me that it’s the people in your life that matter, to never use anyone to get ahead.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecolourseries.com.au
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecolourseriesofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecolourseries
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWUpNe7pg5FoppBSG1-Iolw
Image Credits
Tim Ross Photography
Savanna Crasto
Jarrod Gildea
Joel Drabble
Kristin Sparks
