We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Grace Wriggles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Grace below.
Grace, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Writing, Directing and starring in my film ‘Podcasters’ was a massive learning curve for me. I wrote Podcasters in 2020 during the Covid Lockdowns when we all had a lot of time on our hands. My creative passion has always leaned towards comedy – in both performance and writing. In 2022 I crowd-funded over $6000 to get the project produced, thanks to so many generous donations from friends, family and people in the industry. We worked with the amazing Short Stack productions, who helped bring my vision to life. Our insanely talented crew, Brittany Grey and Christian McCarty, really made the whole project come together in a way I didn’t expect. After a successful family/friends preview at HOTA, we are hoping to throw Podcasters into the 2024 festival run.
Since Podcasters I was lucky enough to direct ‘Blueheaven’ (2023) for The Colour Series with the wonderful Savanna Crasto and the team at Blue Tale Film Studios, as well as co-star in their film ‘It’s Called Hiatus'(2023) directed by Savanna Crasto. I am currently working on pre-production for ‘Waterpark’ which I wrote and will direct, set for production 2024. I am also co-writing a series with producer and actor Christian McCarty which is very hush-hush (more to be revealed eventually). My baby, pride and joy that I am working on currently as well is ’10 Months’ (script) set for pre-production 2024 as well.
Grace, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I have always had a love for the Film and TV industry. If I had to boil it down, it would definitely originate from watching Steven Spielberg movies as a kid. Indiana Jones just really blew my mind, they are perfect films to me. I distinctly remember longing to make something (anything) as great as Steven Spielberg one day, something with as much magic and essence as he creates on screen. Nowadays, I see women like Greta Gerwig and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who not only act but write/direct their own content too, and just feel so inspired to keep writing and creating films.
I did a lot of acting workshops and classes when I was a kid, all the way through to school. My sister and I used to film short films on our old Macbook Laptop and edit it together -mainly consisting of Zombie films with our friends in our street. It wasn’t until 2018 that I re-entered the industry more professionally minded and haven’t looked back.
We are so lucky to be in this industry. Where else do we get to create things that truly move people and make people feel seen?
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I want to tell stories that move people. Whether that makes them feel seen or understood, makes them laugh or even makes them cry or scared. Creating something that moves even one person is the goal. I really love people and I really love film, film making is just a match made in heaven for me.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I had a massive break from the film industry before 2018. I think I just didn’t have the confidence to put myself out there, especially in the acting world. Then in March 2018 I had a car accident where I was hit by a drunk driver. My car was written off, and after a trip to the hospital I somehow walked out that night with just a few scars and bruises. I remember thinking: what would I have just absolutely kicked myself for not trying if something worse had happened to me? The answer: acting and making films. I signed up to classes that night and haven’t taken my foot off the pedal.
Not everyone is going to have such a dramatic pivot in life, but it does beg the question – are you doing what you truly love? Are you doing what you’ve always wanted to do? What is stopping you? There is room for you and your dreams in the industry you want to be in, it is never too late. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12527380/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_1_q_grace%2520wriggles
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracewriggles/
Image Credits
Sally Fleg Photography Stills from ‘PODCASTERS’ (2024) Still from ‘RITA’ (2023)