We were lucky to catch up with Aly Sikora recently and have shared our conversation below.
Aly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
It’s honestly quite difficult for me to decide which project has been the most meaningful to me. It’s important to me to be intentional about utilizing my creative projects for something greater than myself, so my projects tend to be meaningful in some way because that is ultimately the goal. One project that stands out is my recent short film, Fountain. It’s dedicated to the memory of my grandmother and all proceeds go directly to a freshwater well I’m funding in Eswatini through Thirst Project. While the plot and characters are fictional, I am grateful to acknowledge my Grandma through the dedication and share how special she was to me and so many people. I am thankful how the opening scene captures the tenderness of the bond between a granddaughter and grandmother. A significant portion of the film takes place on a train ride to Rome that is loosely inspired by a true event. When writing the script, it was important to me to develop the story more deeply, so I immediately thought about incorporating my Grandma into the process. It wasn’t until after the script was finalized and we were heading into production that I noticed my Grandma had created a digital heart-effect on a photo of me at the Trevi Fountain before she passed away. She was very supportive and followed many of my posts throughout the years, so it’s ironic that of all photos, she chose the one of me at the fountain, before she or I could have ever known I would be dedicating a film called Fountain in her honor. The last time I saw her was right before I left for Italy and had the experience that led to the inspiration for the film. At the time, my brother had been visiting home from teaching English in China for the first time in eight years, so he got to see her one last time that day too, which was special for all of us. At the premiere, I had the chance to meet extended cousins for the first time who knew her. The making of this film and hosting my first premiere was truly a joy to me in so many ways. The best part is that all of it is in her honor for the mission of clean water!
Aly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am an actress and writer, and I’ve dived into producing, directing, casting, and marketing my own projects. I’ve enjoyed trying on different hats in the film industry and getting a sense of every department on set. Recently, I had the opportunity to work as a DP on a project I was also cast in. My heart and passions are in creative storytelling and my background in human development has helped me create a unique perspective on my craft. Acting and psychology are essentially the same thing. They both offer their own expressions of diving deeper into what it means to be human. I have a deep love for humanity and the perspectives we all bring. I believe everyone’s story holds value and film fulfills a need in society for these stories to be shared. I spent a lot of time in my twenties traveling and volunteering and/or working for various organizations. From Habitat For Humanity, Make A Wish Fountain, St. Jude’s, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, Americorps, Mental Health America, Crisis Text Line, etc., I’ve gained insight on how almost every major non-profit fulfills their mission. I feel my experiences have shaped me as a person, a writer, and has helped me develop the characters I’ve been blessed to play.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Absolutely. I’ve always had a deep desire to make a difference. It stems from as far back as I can remember. There are many ways to get involved and be of service. I’ve realized that, at least for me, if I’m going to reach the largest impact possible, I might as well utilize the skills I have developed and merge it with what I’m passionate about and have that be the focus of what drives my mission. I’ve heard it said that our purpose is where our greatest joy and the world’s deepest need meet. For me, storytelling and creating is where my passions and skills merge, so it makes the most sense for me to follow this path in the entertainment industry and utilize it to reach my goals and missions.
I released Fountain at Fountain Premiere Festival, an event I organized and hosted to continue raising money for the freshwater well in Eswatini that I’ve been funding for over two years. I was blown away by the support and that over 40% of guest also made an additional donation with their ticket. At the event, I gave a brief presentation about the impact of Thirst Project for the global water crisis. Guests participated in Carry The Jerry (carrying and/or lifting a jerry can filled with water to get a sense of how heavy it is for the women and children who walk it 3.75 miles a day). I had a mini short film festival of projects I’ve released in the past, and after the film premiered, the cast and crew participated in a memorable Q&A with the audience. I’m grateful that Fountain has played a role in moving the funding for the well farther along. I’m looking forward to the day the well is finally fully funded, and construction begins! I want to express my appreciation for everyone who has contributed and/or supported the efforts for this well. It means more to me than words could ever express, and it means more to the community in Eswatini than I’,ll ever fully know.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I’m always learning and discovering new opportunities in the industry. There have definitely been moments that I’ve felt I learned about something later than I would have liked. I’ve discovered that things truly come to us at the right times, though. I tend to take every opportunity that comes my way, but more often, I’m creating the opportunities by adapting a self-starter mindset. The only difference between a dream and a goal is an action plan with a reasonable timeframe, I think it’s beneficial to be open about being flexible and surprised about how life might unfold, as long as we’re consistently taking steps to move forward.
This past year, I released Picky, a short film that I wrote in minutes. The intention was to shoot it professionally and use it for reel footage, but the concept was always meant to be really silly and not taken seriously. A recruiter in LA for the One-Reeler Film Competition ended up scouting it and requesting I enter it into the competition. I didn’t expect anything to come of it, but I figured I had nothing to lose by submitting the film. It ended up winning an award for Special Mention, making our team first-time award-winning filmmakers. It was truly an honor. It taught me that sometimes writing what makes you smile without any pressure or focus on how an audience might respond can sometimes work out in ways we would have never expected. I believe people are drawn to what feel authentic, and I think that’s beautiful.
Fountain is released and I’m currently working on several upcoming projects that I’m excited to share more about soon!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://castalysikora.wixsite.com/aly-sikora
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_aly_sikora/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssasikora04/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alysikora/videos
- Other: AVAILABLE NOW: Fountain
Thank you for being the REASON someone in Eswatini has clean water for life.
