We recently connected with Liat Benezra and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Liat thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I have ever worked on would have to be my feature film, Lisa and Liza. I co-wrote and directed it with my best friend almost six years ago. We wanted to create a story about female friendship, love and loss, and girlhood – in the campiest manner imaginable. It was a long and exhausting process, involving over 50 creatives and collaborators, and took years and years of work. The film was actually released this April, and is finally available for viewing on YouTube! However, what started as a labor of love, ended as a solo project of my own. My best friend and co-creator and I lost touch, and she removed herself from the project. It was a difficult choice to continue moving forward on my own, but I knew this story deserved to be told and heard. Lisa and Liza will always hold a very special place in my heart. It will always remind me of a time in my early twenties when I felt invincible and fabulous – all because I had a best friend. That is what I hope all viewers of this film are able to take away from Lisa and Liza, and that they can reminisce upon a time in their lives when they felt that too.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Spreading myself thin is what I do best. When I find something i’m passionate about, I dive in, full force. And when that passion leads to a new one, they cycle continues. My creative career started in 2016, when I began my undergraduate degree at CalArts, in Film and Video. I fell in love with cinema at a young age, and knew I wanted to write for the screen and become one of the greats one day. I specialized in screenwriting and directing while at CalArts, and in my final year, developed and shot Lisa and Liza. After having graduating in 2020 during Covid lockdown, I became rather lost and unmotivated. The world seemed to have stopped turning, and nothing felt meaningful anymore. Reality television became an escape for my reality, and I became obsessed with America’s Next Top Model. This obsession became an enamoration for the craft, and suddenly I had an interest in being on the opposite side of the camera. One thing led to another, and I got signed to an agency. Five years later, I can proudly say I have worked with some of the biggest brands and companies, such as: Apple, Instagram, Venmo, Rare Beauty, About Face Beauty, Her’s, and many more. Becoming a plus sized model has been one of the most transformative experiences for me. And knowing that I can provide inspiration and comfort to other plus sized bodies brings me so much joy. My love for modeling made me want to give others the same sort of joy and confidence, which is why I began dabbling in photography. I mostly do live music photography, which has included accompanying a band on a national tour across the entire country. Cover art for singles and albums is also a favorite of mine, as I absolutely love the concept of capturing an entire song or album in one photo.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist for me, is knowing that someone out there saw something I created, and saw themselves in it. Art is a constant reminder that we are not alone, and somebody out there can always connect or relate to our own experiences. When someone tells me that my film reminded them of a meaningful moment in their life, or that my photo in a bikini inspired them to go to the beach this summer, regardless of their shape – then I know my work is done, and that my work matters.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

As a society, we need to encourage our youth to embrace artistry as a realistic and important career path. Artists make up for such a large part of our economy, yet we are told as young adults that it can be nothing more than a hobby. We need to lift up our young creatives, and let them know that their art is meaningful and can absolutely provide them with a fruitful life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.liatbenezra.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shycowluvr/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liat-benezra-43b909166/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/rB4GVO_edhI?si=EaDW0NAOFPeq-qRn

Image Credits

Liat Benezra
Malik Daniels
Danielle St. Laurent
Sinah Ober
Erick Mora