Today we’d like to introduce you to Alice Barros.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I was growing up in upstate New York, I thought when I was older, I’d either work in music or fashion. Ironically, I never stopped to think about how much movies meant to me and were a part of my life. I was quite an introverted kid all the way through high school and on weekends and evenings I’d be watching as much independent cinema I could find back when Netflix mailed DVDs. After going to college in NYC for Fashion and then moving to Los Angeles, I started to realize how dissatisfied I was in my career and my desire to be a filmmaker started to become more apparent. It was during Covid when I was able to switch gears by taking film production classes at Santa Monica College while getting experience on various film sets. After writing a few unfinished scripts and meeting more people in the industry, I met a writer/director by chance who pushed me to make my first short film. From that support and belief, I made my first finished piece of film that I’m proud of and now chasing what comes next.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to becoming a filmmaker is never smooth but the bumps along the way are the important lessons that are essential in existing within this daunting industry. The first two years of working on set in various roles was eye-opening and definitely challenging at times from getting an understanding of how to simply exist on a set to not disrupt the flow of things to knowing how to communicate with the crew. But for my goal of being a writer/director and making my own film, it felt like an impossibility. The biggest challenge turned out first to be getting over my fears and learning to believe in myself. I learned to never be afraid to voice my dreams because you never know who might be listening. Then once I committed to making my first short film, funding became the biggest obstacle, and I learned there really isn’t a strategy or a secret. But I had to change my perspective and outlook on how movies get made.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a writer/director/producer who makes films about the strange, misunderstood, or magical parts of our world that have yet to be portrayed on the big screen. I recently finished a sci-fi/drama short film, A Forgotten Place, about a woman returning to her conservative hometown to confront the truth behind her disappearance as a teenager when she believed she was abducted by an alien. The film is centered around the desire for the unknown rather than a fear of the unknown, as is often seen in movies about beings not from our planet. It’s a visceral, poignant film shot on 16mm with my amazing DP Sean Dahlberg and it will most likely premiere at the end of the year. I also recently started a podcast where I share the latest news in film, movie recaps, and deep dives into the best in cinema. You can listen to Club Cinema Podcast on Spotify every Thursday. I’m excited to add to the few female voices in film out there and give a fresh perspective on cinema.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The advice I’d share for other people who are wanting to break into film is to not be afraid to share your biggest dreams and to voice what you want to make. I always felt embarrassed for saying I wanted to be a writer/director because I thought it seemed so farfetched and I had no reason to think I could do it. But now I realize if I hadn’t spoken about my dream, I wouldn’t be here with a film in the can, knowing this is all I want to do with my life. You can’t make a film alone, so I also would encourage finding ways to meet other people who are interested in film and share what you’re working on or what you want to make. Collaboration is key and finding those collaborators will be a massive first step in bringing your visions to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: aliceleighbarros.com
- Instagram: @a_forgotten_place_film
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CDRxEH0VOgr9s6b5eOITi?si=6e72533beb8241dc
Image Credits
Film stills from my film ‘A Forgotten Place’. DP is Sean Dahlberg.
