Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Salinger.
Hi Maria, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Germany as the youngest of three children, and from an early age, I occasionally loved being the center of attention. I would mimic people, tell stories, and was the happiest when I could make others laugh. That passion for storytelling led me to the National Theatre in Mannheim, where I began performing at the age of 13.
After high school, I became an international flight attendant. That experience not only broadened my worldview but also gave me the chance to explore and train acting in cities like New York, London, Vienna, Berlin, and Los Angeles. It was actually at an acting school in LA where I finally decided to turn my passion into my profession.
Back in Berlin and like many young actresses starting out, I faced my share of disheartening experiences, what led me to take control of my path. So, I immersed myself in learning every aspect of filmmaking and moved back to Los Angeles to study Cinema Production. I co-founded Craft Films LA with Surzo, a close friend of mine who has a Heart of Gold. It‘s working with friends which has always been a dream of mine.
I also wrote, directed, and acted in the medium-length feature film called BUBBLES, which is now available on YouTube. Every day, I work on and towards films that I truly believe have something meaningful to say.
Currently, I’m developing Call from the 80s — a romantic comedy set in former East and West Germany during the late 1980s. The story uses the backdrop of the Berlin Wall’s fall to explore themes of love, boundaries, and emotional freedom — showing that while it’s important to tear down walls, it’s equally important to set boundaries in relationships.
You can find out more about the project and my work in Europe at salingerproductions.com, since I equally split my time between LA and Munich nowadays.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all! I was very good in school, so my parents couldn’t understand at all why I’d choose a career in the arts. To help them see what it meant to me, I made BUBBLES, a film inspired by their own love story. My mother has an identical twin sister, and their journey is full of emotional twists — it’s a beautiful and complex story. When they saw the final film, from script to screen, they finally understood how much organized work and heart goes into filmmaking. They laughed and cried at the exclusive premiere with 120 guests, and ever since, they’ve become my biggest supporters and anchors in life again.
On a more difficult note, I have to admit that I ended up in some sketchy and unsafe situations as a young actress. That was a major turning point for me — it’s what pushed me to evolve from acting into filmmaking and eventually directing. I wanted to have more agency and create safer, more empowering environments both on and off screen.
And the list of challenges honestly goes on and on. But looking back, every obstacle either made me stronger or led to something unexpectedly beautiful. That’s how I’ve learned to approach both life and storytelling — with resilience, honesty, and hope.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I run my own production company in Germany and also work with Surzo at Craft Films LA. Depending on what best serves the project — whether it’s the funding landscape, audience, or distribution — I choose between the European and American networks.
When it comes to the projects I take on, they all share one core mission: to inspire growth, empathy, and reflection — to tell stories that encourage people to become better versions of themselves. I’m deeply passionate about creating meaningful, emotionally resonant films that leave a lasting impact.
I just developed a 10-year business plan, with a slate of upcoming films I’m incredibly excited about. These include Call from the 80s, Back to the Nature, and Angels’ Academy. So, stay tuned and watch out for these ones.
If you’d like to get a sense of my taste in cinema, I gravitate toward films like A Beautiful Mind, My Sister’s Keeper, Greenbook, and My Blind Date with Life — stories that move you, challenge you, and ultimately give you hope.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m always grateful for the feedback I receive from audiences — whether it’s in person at screenings, through emails, or in the YouTube comments. It’s from that dialogue that I continue to learn and grow, both as a filmmaker and as a human being. So thank you to everyone who has supported my journey so far. And to anyone new to my work: please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts, impressions, or even criticism — it‘s all appreciated.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.salingerproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariasalinger?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/CraftFilmsGlobal/
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/maria-salinger-968a00203
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SalingerProductions
