Sophia Prestwich

Unaffiliated

What was your first professionally directed work and when was it?
My first professionally directed work was for MixHers, a company who helps women balance their hormones in Christmas of 2022. I loved the process of crafting a story with a team and being on set and watching it all come together.

How did you get into directing?
I’ve been bossing my siblings around since I can remember haha. I grew up writing stories and then having my siblings act them out with puppets or in costumes (bless them, honestly). But really, I started making videos when I was in high school just for fun and kept going – I do have a lot of embarrassing YouTube videos to show for it. I have always enjoyed a more documentary style approach so I do make an effort to work with real people and tell their stories, as opposed to just actresses or models. I went to film school in the states and then have continued working in the industry since.

What is your most recent project?
My most recent project is a fashion piece I did for Dolce Vita. We shot it in the beautiful Utah mountains – I feel grateful to live in a place where we have such an abundance of beautiful, natural landscapes to work with. It was a fun day shooting with a nimble crew and great models in Utah’s mountains.

What is the best part of being a director?
The best part is watching a vision go from your mind and coming to life. I also just love being on set and the collaboration process that comes along with that. Everyone has their own very specific job and all being on the same team to make something happen is just a lot of fun. I also really love getting to meet new people and being on set gives you a lot of those opportunities.

What is the worst part of being a director?
How much time I spend on my laptop. I do enjoy putting a treatment together and crafting up something, but at the same time I don’t love how much screen time I have to engage with. I’m by far my happiest when I’m outside, or with my daughter and usually feel most inspired then.

What is your current career focus: commercials and branded content, television, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre–comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?
I’m focusing right now on branded content and commercials. I love working with women and telling their stories and have had the chance to work on a lot of those types of projects, although I don’t want to pigeon hole myself. I love getting tell a story that will help people feel more connected to each other when they watch it.

Have you a mentor and if so, who is that person (or persons) and what has been the lesson learned from that mentoring which resonates with you?
I have a lot of people who have helped me along the way that have been mentors to me…Pierce Tews is a great DP who’s worked on a few projects with me now and I love his positive attitude and belief in others for what they can achieve. Sidney Unga is another amazing DP who I look up to – she’s shown me that it’s possible to be a mother and be in the film world and be great at both. I’m learning to balance all aspects of my life and am lucky to have a husband who’s so supportive of my goals so, in a way, he’s been a great mentor for me too.

Who is your favorite director and why?
Oooh I have too many favorites. I love Gustav Johansson, Niclas Larson, Cole Webley. Kim Gehrig is a huge inspiration for me. Emilie Thalund, Olivia Kastebring…the stuff those guys make always inspire me. They bring such a natural human touch to their work which is something I always hope to bring to mine too.

What is your favorite movie? Your favorite television/online program? Your favorite commercial or branded content?
I just watched We Live in Time the other day and haven’t laughed / cried so hard at a film in a long time. A branded piece I love was Marcus Ibanez’s “Moments that never happen” for Volvo. Or “The Little Things” for Volvo as well is so gorgeous too. Guess I love car commercials now?

Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
I grew up in England, just outside of London and come from a family of a lot of sisters and one brother. My childhood was filled with a lot of painting, music and encouragement for creativity. I definitely owe it to my parents for encouraging me to pursue film and was never told I couldn’t do it. I grew up doing random jobs like working at Domino’s pizza, being a travel nanny, a TV editor and filming tons of weddings.

I now live in Utah with my husband and our little girl, Mila. She’s a genuine huge source of inspiration for projects for me. I was worried that motherhood would dull my desire to direct, but if anything it’s reignited something in me that’s made me want to go for it even more. I love motherhood because it’s been filled with pleasant surprises like that, that I never would have expected.

Have you had occasion to bring your storytelling/directorial talent to bear in the Metaverse, tapping into the potential of AR, VR, AI, NFTs and/or experiential fare? If so, tell us about that work and what lessons you have taken away from the experience?
Not yet…but hopefully soon!

Contact

Website: sophiaprestwich.com
Contact Sophia via email here.