Today we’d like to introduce you to Levi Alexander
Hi Levi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been a huge fan of movies, but I never knew that I loved movies more than the average person until I was in college. I was talking to a friend who told me that he watched maybe 4-5 movies a year and I realized… I watch at least one movie a day. I thought everyone ended their day by watching a movie, or spent their Saturday mornings watching movies.
At the time, I was studying business and snowboarding full time in Colorado. Once I decided to retire from snowboarding, I had to figure out what was next and I knew it wasn’t going to be more business school. So, knowing that the only thing I loved more than snowboarding was movies, I made the decision to start over and go to film school.
I went to Champlain College in Burlington, VT and for the first time, really felt like I was in the right place doing the right thing. I loved every aspect of filmmaking – but I focused on directing and writing.
From there I went to USC School of Cinematic Arts for my MFA and pivoted to a focus in writing. And that’s what I’ve been doing since. Writing and working my way through the industry so that, eventually, writing can be my absolute sole focus.
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?
I feel like I had a late start, moving on from business and snowboarding – but once I figured out what I wanted and where my passions truly lie, I feel like it actually has been a fairly smooth road.
Obviously there have been struggles – covid was a huge road bump right in the middle of my MFA program, but it also allowed me to really focus on writing and discover that I much prefer it to directing. If we hadn’t have been moved to a zoom program for a year, it likely would have taken me longer to hone in on writing and get through my first few scripts.
Like any creative endeavor, the road always feels longer than you want it to, but I’m enjoying every second of the journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think what sets me apart is not just the sheer (admittedly insane) volume of movies I watch- I average between 400-500 a year- but how my film literacy allows me to see both the beauty of the filmmaking that came before me, but also the gaps in the stories not being told. I’m constantly inspired by the movies I watch, but I’m also acutely aware of what’s missing – especially when it comes to authentic representation.
For example: growing up, I’d never seen a trans person represented in media. Like… at all. I didn’t even know what the concept of transgenderism was. The first time I encountered a trans person was in the film Boys Don’t Cry, where the character is brutally raped and murdered simply for existing. I can draw a direct correlation between seeing that movie in high school and not allowing myself to come to terms with my own identity until I was 25 years old.
This really fuels my work today. I want to tell stories that don’t just reflect the human condition, but also offer positive, nuanced representations of underrepresented communities. Watching so many movies really helps me navigate the fine line between homage and innovation – I know what’s worked in the past and what hasn’t and I can use that knowledge to craft stories that, hopefully, resonate on a deeper level.
I’ve discovered that sometimes the wrong representation can be more harmful than no representation at all, which is why I want to create art that speaks truthfully and positively about the human condition – all of the human condition – through as many lenses as possible.
My brand and my story are about bridging the gap between inspiration and representation to write movies that not only entertain but also empower. At the end of the day, I’m just a guy who really, really, really loves movies.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Based on what I’ve learned to this point, the best advice I can give is watch everything and say yes to everything. You need to watch everything, everything, everything so you can know what has worked and what hasn’t and why those things worked or didn’t. Plus, having seen everything means you can have conversations no matter what show/movie people are talking about. And then when you’re starting out in this industry – just say yes to everything and figure it out as you go. Someone wants help on set? Say yes and figure it out. You get asked to a networking coffee? Say yes and make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/levialexander
- Instagram: @levitariff
Image Credits
Nick Powell
