–Who is Liesel Galletly?
I’m a Canadian mum who discovered a love for writing when I was pretty young. I wrote my first feature screenplay at 14 (looking back it was very flawed but I just knew I wanted to write more). It was during Covid that I finally decided to follow my dreams, went to film school and learned how to put my ideas onto a page. I enjoy writing strong female protagonists and exploring each character’s behaviour in detail. My ultimate goal is to direct my own films and watch my visions come to life.
-Do you remember the exact moment you fell in love with cinema?
I think my passion for writing scripts came first. I have always enjoyed watching movies and television, however, I think my true appreciation for cinema developed after film school. I decided to start taking notes on the films I watched and share my opinions by posting my reviews on social media. The first film that really spoke to me, was Past Lives. It truly made me appreciate the entire composition of a film. The artistry of it is something I hope I can achieve in my own work.
-Tell us about your project “AILENE”.
AILENE is a super short script I developed for a 24 hr script competition held by Filmmakers Connect.
“Iris’s only friend is her AI program, Ailene. However, Iris didn’t take into consideration how protective a best friend can be.”
It’s a brief look into the risk that comes with AI if we aren’t careful.
-Which Director inspires you the most?
The director who inspires me… would be Celine Song. There are so many poetic little moments in Past Lives that make all the difference. Things that a lot of people wouldn’t care about but Celine clearly does; The flickers of pure human response that tend to be easily overlooked. Those things can be the difference between a scene being sad or it being heartbreaking.
-What do you dislike about the world and what would you change?
What do I dislike most about the world? It might sound controversial but humanity. I think people have such profound potential for good and kindness yet so often they choose to live in selfishness and a gross devaluing of others. Luckily, I think art has an innate ability to bring people together, to expose truth and find common ground. So, there is hope.
If I could change anything about the world, it would be getting back to our roots as a species, caring less about the value of a dollar and more about the value of people. Bringing back community and a culture of caring and cooperation. Taking care of the planet we live on, natural foods, focusing on health instead of managing the aftermath. May be a bit naive but maybe someday it will happen.
-How do you imagine cinema in 100 years?
In 100 years I think 3D physical experiences could exist. A world you can walk around in, interact with, potentially touch, smell, feel. I mean look at how far we’ve come already? But I also think that speaks to how important film and the arts is to people. It’s a lifeline.
-What is your impression of WILD FILMMAKER?
I think having a community like this one is so incredibly important for filmmakers to network but also just to come together and share an appreciation of art and stories. It’s exciting and something I look forward to seeing continue to flourish.
