Alex Wiske (left) with actors Lawton Paseka and Carol Jacobanis. Photo by Eris Qian
“ON YOUR RADAR” IS A WEEKLY GRAD FILM NEWS SEGMENT THAT FEATURES A STUDENT PICKED AT RANDOM.
ALEXANDER WISKE IS CURRENTLY A 3RD YEAR STUDENT AT GRAD FILM. WE ASKED HIM A FEW QUESTIONS AND HERE’S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY:
Where do you consider home and what is it like there?
Home is New Haven, Connecticut. I still have never had better pizza than the pies I can get within 10 minutes of my childhood home. I grew up surrounded by teachers, neighbors, and family members who encouraged imagination and creativity. My elementary school and high school tried to educate their students about the world’s injustices, but shielded them at the same time. While I am grateful for those nurturing environments, growing up with a healthy sense of curiosity in a little cosmopolitan bubble made me eager to cautiously run towards excitement and danger when I got the chance.
What is currently inspiring you as a filmmaker?
Prestige thrillers like No Country for Old Men, Silence of the Lambs, and Prisoners.
New Haven Noir (ed. Amy Bloom), a collection of short stories set in the hidden underbelly of my hometown.
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower, a collection of short stories about various characters getting knocked down (mostly male, mostly deserved).
The Bridge on The Drina by Ivo Andrić, a novel about the history of Bosnia and maintaining national identity in the face of waves of colonization.
The videos of Bardia Zeinali.
What has been your most rewarding experience at NYU Tisch Grad Film so far?
Screening my 2nd year film, Sheila, at the Showcase. I had very little experience screening my work for the public, and I loved hearing audience members cry out at the climactic moment. It was especially gratifying knowing how much time my classmates and I put into the film, and I am looking forward to getting that crowd reaction again at festivals.