Today we’d like to introduce you to Max Lauren.
Hi Max, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up as a Jewish, brace-faced, Harry-Potter-glasses-wearing, self-identified “tomboy” *cringe* on Long Island, New York. Throughout my childhood, I lived as if I was an in-demand Hollywood writer/director. I spent hours writing additional episodes of my favorite TV sitcoms that ended. Then in my YouTube-induced teenage years, I began shooting, directing, and editing elaborate music videos with my best friends and cousins, amassing a (very) modest following.
In 2018, I graduated from Lehigh University with a BA in journalism and a double minor in psychology and creative writing since one discipline was not enough to satisfy my inquisitive nature (or my ADHD). After graduation, I immediately moved to Southern California to complete an MFA in Film Production, with an emphasis in directing, from Chapman University.
Since I received my master’s degree last spring, I’ve lived in Los Angeles and worked as a Writer’s Assistant. I’m currently developing my first feature, an “anxiety-thriller” about a college freshman attempting to fit into the sorority she pledges.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, obviously not. Both mentally and practically, breaking into the entertainment industry is difficult. For one, aspiring to be a writer/ director has no clear career trajectory. It can be hard watching my fiance and friends who work in more traditional, corporate jobs know (to an extent) how to get to where they want to be in their careers. It’s a blessing and a (mostly) curse to be in a “pay your dues” industry, but I cannot work for nothing or close to nothing like I was lucky enough to be able to do in high school and college. You need to have a lot of faith in yourself beyond an undying passion for the work, and that’s hard for someone who has struggled with insecurity throughout their life. So many nights, I lie awake, terrified that I have no idea what my future looks like in terms of my career. But I keep writing. I keep trying to be the best assistant I can. And (corny), most importantly, I keep working to make my life outside of my work as fulfilling as it can be. It’s been crucial for me to have the emotional support of many, many different people, while also making sure I’m taking care of myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I tend to write and direct films that are MAXimalist (ha ha ha) in style but earnest in content… Movies that are not bound by genre; instead, stories that focus on developing fully-fleshed characters relearning facets of life they staunchly thought to be true.
I’m still finding my voice and visual language to a certain extent, but I’ve discovered I tend to be drawn to making films that fluctuate between some “objective” reality and visualizations of a character’s psyche. The reason why I love directors like Edgar Wright so much is because he doesn’t hide from his audience that he’s making a movie. When you allow the audience to go beyond suspending their disbelief and experience the visual medium for what it can be, you get to go to some very exciting places. For me, this means taking a lot of weird swings with my writing and directing, that sometimes amount to wins and often get thrown away. I also suspect my style/ humor has a lot to do with growing up consuming copious amounts of Spongebob and MTV Hits music videos.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I try to read for at least 30 minutes a day because, after almost a year of horrible writer’s block, I found it to be the cure. I try to switch between non-fiction and fiction often. Some of the most influential/ favorites of mine lately are “All the Women in my Brain: and Other Concerns” by Betty Gilpin, “Disorientation” by Elanie Hsieh Chou, “The Will to Change” by bell hooks, and “Raw Dog” by Jamie Loftus.
I’ve also been hopelessly addicted to podcasts since right before the pandemic (which gave me a loooott of time to become obsessed). Some ones I highly recommend: You’re Wrong About, Sounds Like a Cult, The Big Picture, Behind the Bastards.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maxlauren.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxielauren/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-lauren-rosenbaum-410b28b7
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Maxielaurenbaum
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRE7gWWFUTfrPKrK1wcShnA
