ASIA KHMELOVA
“ON YOUR RADAR” IS A WEEKLY GRAD FILM NEWS SEGMENT THAT FEATURES A STUDENT PICKED AT RANDOM.
ASIA IS CURRENTLY A 3RD YEAR STUDENT AT GRAD FILM. WE ASKED HER A FEW QUESTIONS, AND HERE’S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY:
1. Where do you consider home and what is it like there?
I was born in Ukraine, Dnipropetrovsk. I’m working on a feature right now that is set in my home town and I’m looking forward to going back this winter break to rediscover what it’s like.
Most of my life growing up was in Kiev. It’s very green and beautiful even though in the past years it went through a tough revolution and severe political crises. I love my friends and family from Kiev and they are what makes home home for me.
2. What is currently inspiring you as a filmmaker?
For as long as I’ve been interested in making movies, I haven’t had an interest in writing films about my origins and where I come from. But over the last year, suddenly the thing that has compelled me the most are the stories of my culture. I have a love /hate relationship with my roots and that is why the genre I’m working in now is satire.
I’ve found that this genre is helping me to talk about the bigger issues that I would like to have an effect on while at the same time being okay with laughing at myself and my flaws.
3. What has been your most rewarding experience at NYU Tisch Grad Film so far?
What the Grad Film program has given me is a genuine hope that I can have a chance at becoming a professional film director. Here I know that at least 36 of my classmates will read my scripts no matter how shi**y they are. And that makes me want to write them in general knowing that at least someone is going to be forced to read them haha.
No, I’m joking. All my scripts are genius…