On Your Radar: Olive Jeffares

On Your Radar is a Grad Film News segment that features a current student. We asked Olive Jeffares a few questions and this is what she said.

Where do you consider home and what is it like there?

New Zealand (Aotearoa) is my whenua (land). When I was growing up, I often found it a little suffocating. I would sit on the beach and feel so far away from everything. Now, living overseas and building a life here, I can't believe how idyllic and singular New Zealand is. It's a magical place with magical people and will always be my home.

What is currently inspiring you as a filmmaker?

At the moment, being outside and around nature. For the past few years, I've been a serial car sitter, watching people's cars so they don't get parking tickets. I also take every moment I can to head upstate or to the seaside. I love the contrast between urban life and country/small-town life. The different ideologies and communities that exist because of the environments and lifestyles. Having lived in both settings for long stretches of time, I'm torn about where I want to be. I finally bought my own car the other day, a ‘90s Volvo. It was suspiciously cheap and broke down the week after. Classic. But now it's running again and inspiring me to write a road movie or something.

What has been your most rewarding experience at NYU Tisch Grad Film?

Both the artistic growth and the sense of community I’ve found at NYU. I’ve been stretched and challenged and had space to try and fail and try again. And beyond inspiring me with their talent, I’ve valued having my classmates share this specific and demanding experience with me, especially as it can be difficult to convey this experience to friends and family.

@olivejeffares (instagram)