Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Kirby
Hi Sara, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in Sandpoint, Idaho, a very small town almost bordering Canada. The winters were cold and long, and my family did not ski, so we played music and watched movies. I always had a fascination with movies and would talk about them all the time. Musicals, Steve McQueen, classics and romcoms. As a kid we only watched movies on the weekends and it was always something I looked forward to. I knew someday I would get involved in making some of my own. At 11 years old I was diagnosed with cancer (I’m okay now), and ended up being on a billboard in time square for the American Childhood Cancer Organization that said “I want to be an actress”. That dream stayed with me through that difficult time and after High School I decided not to go to film school (my family could not afford tuition) so I moved to Los Angeles in hopes to create my own dream. I took a couple film classes in HS but it wasn’t till I started working as a Production Assistant in LA that I fell in love with the craft of filmmaking. So flash forward a few years later, I am now in pre-production to make a short film about my experience with cancer. I think it’s a story that needs telling as we too often see cancer stories focused on death.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Moving to Los Angeles not knowing anyone is never a “smooth road”. I did my fair share of 16 hour night shoots on firewatch or getting coffees. I was also a personal assistant for a couple different producers in town. Lots of driving and errand running, however it showed me how much of a grind it takes to make a film. I have been lucky with the jobs I have experienced over the years. In 2020 I was the “right hand man” to the Director/Writer/Star of a Sundance feature. We shot in Texas, mid pandemic on a quarantined set and I learned a ton from that shoot. I was also the stand-in for the Director which allowed me to observe a film set mid action without having the responsibility of being the Director or a “key position”. I most recently was Script Supervisor on an Indie Feature, which again propelled me into realizing how much I would like to Direct. So much to learn and I love being near the monitor looking at every detail on frame.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Along with being a Writer / Director, I am also a musician. I play the violin and sing. My Dad is a pianist so music has always been a big part of my life. He was also a street performer for 12 years in New Orleans, Louisiana (where I was born). Before working on sets, and during, I took after him and would street perform as much as possible. I took my fiddle (same thing as violin just a different style) out on the sidewalk and play for tips. I started in Boulder, Colorado and also performed in New Orleans and Los Angeles. I love street performing. It has taught me to be confident, meet people and learn how to jam with other musicians. I think my music ties into filmmaking because film is a medium that incorporates everything I love, writing, music and storytelling.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I give a big credit to my parents who are both artists for the person I am today. My Dad shared his music and love of movies and my Mother didn’t let me quit violin even when my teenage self was being a brat about it. My Mother is also a photographer so I have learned to appreciate her eye and visual composition.
There have also been teachers and mentors I have had throughout the years to help me on this path. My High School Film and Theater teacher, and one of my bosses when I was a personal assistant was an indie film producer. They both just expanded my knowledge and love for the craft. I think having mentors and people who are older that you can learn from is so important. I do best with experiencing and learning from hands on work. Having someone who believes in you and allows you to mess up is the best way to find what works for you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraakirbyy/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sarakirby8341
Image Credits
Marie-Dominique Verdier
Alyssa Danae Stocker-Keefe
