Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Gecewicz. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I would always sneak my dad’s Sony Camcorder out to the backyard and play with it. I loved making movies, especially when my friends would come over to play. My parents saw my passion early on and bought me my first video camera for my 8th birthday. This was a pivotal moment for me and my love of filmmaking continued to grow. I was never spotted without my camera from that point on!

Amanda, 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?

As a youngster, I would tote my video camera wherever I went. Little did I know, this was the start of my career and life-long passion for filmmaking. My mom was an English and theatre teacher who encouraged me to read, write, and tap into my creative side. For every class project I was assigned, I somehow found a way to turn it into a video project of sorts and my teachers always supported it. When I didn’t have my camera in hand, I was likely sitting outdoors just doodling in my journal and crafting my latest short story.

I graduated from DePaul University with a BA in digital cinema production in 2016. Shortly after, I started and ran my own business in wedding videography for over 7 years, which was also a great creative outlet and a way to support myself as I pursued a career as a writer & director.

I wrote and directed my first film, Night Wanderer, in August of 2020. It was a short horror flick with a $0 budget, put together by my friends and I. It was filmed at The Music Box Theater in Chicago and is one of my fondest memories on set. In 2021, I wrote, directed and produced my film, Blackhatter, which won 3 awards.

Currently, I am in pre-production for my short film, The 22, which is centered around a World War II veteran struggling with PSTD; a subject I feel is ill-handled in movies and television. The script has won over 5 awards and counting.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

These passions are often sparked at a young age and it’s important for kids to have an outlet to explore them. Growing up, there wasn’t anywhere for the film kids to go, so most of them, including me, just turned to theater. While I had some good times on stage and behind the curtain, I wish there had been more opportunities for kids like me to be more hands-on with film. I struggled with academics quite a bit in elementary and middle school but thrived in the arts. I believe teachers are our unsung heroes truly, but I think the public school system needs some work- I don’t believe that every student can be educated the same way. Instead, it’s important to look at their individual strengths and place them in an environment where they can flourish. I wish I had that- I always felt left behind.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My mom was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at 60. It’s been a struggle for my family and I to adjust as we’ve transitioned into becoming caretakers. There are days where I find it hard to concentrate or put my energy towards my film projects because I’m focused on helping my mom. But I’m learning how to juggle both. We’re all fighting a battle people know nothing about. And in the age of social media, we are accustomed to seeing only the highlights of a person’s life- but that’s just scratching the surface.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandagecewicz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefilm_lady/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCru9LTMjcQ8DoGaDhf0FTtg/videos