Teamie Spotlight: Sasha Duncan
Hi, I'm Sasha, and I'm a recovering work-and-stress-aholic attempting to make the industry a better, safer, more calm place one class, meeting, and film/series at a time. I'm also a bit of a jokester. I grew up split between the woods outside Victoria and the suburbs of Calgary and feel most at home in the quiet parts of Vancouver and the surrounding coast. I like knowing the city is there without having to be in it all the time. I have a degree in Sociology, as well as a diploma in Writing for Film & Television, and I use principles and ideas introduced by both every single day.
My family has always been artistic (mum dabbled in theatre, dad was involved in music, grandma in design) but my brother and I are the first in our family with full permission and ability to focus our careers around our art, which I'm so, so grateful for. I'm a storyteller; I write, direct, edit, develop, and produce. There are so many ways to tell and shape a story and I struggle to limit myself to just one. My partner, also an artist, but so many other things, has inspired me to pursue artistic hobbies outside of my profession; so far macrame is going okay, and I'll keep the world posted on wine-making. Cross your fingers for me.
What was your first job?
Working the concession at a movie theatre at 15. The weirdos and misfits I met there really shaped the weird adult I grew into; it was the first time I experienced other people comfortable with their own "weirds" and the radical acceptance that comes with it. Also, I saw a lot of movies. That's really when I started thinking about stories in terms of screens.
How many years have you been working in this industry?
Just under a decade.
What piece of advice do you wish you had been given when you first started working in this industry?
There is no "right" way to do things. Question, question, question. Try new ways of working. Are you engaged with your work? Don't take things so seriously. "Tomorrow" will always be there for what doesn't get done "today". The weight of the world is not on your shoulders.
And so many others; I've learned so much about myself, people, and ways of working in the past eight years.
If you could give one piece of advice on how to get through a hard day, what would that be?
Take a deep breath, and go outside. Getting into nature, stepping away, and oxygenating your poor, stressed brain and body are so important when we feel overwhelmed. Also, it's okay to cry when you're frustrated ;)
What qualities do you look for in a mentor?
Compassion, grace, and anti-establishmentarian thinking. Someone who believes in system change and puts people first, and who's taken the time to really learn the ins and outs of their field.
Who are the fellow leaders you look to for inspiration and guidance?
I'm very lucky to be surrounded by peers and colleagues who immerse themselves in their fields and strive to learn how to improve it, whether that's working on the climate crisis, working within sales or accounting, or in film and animation. Rather than looking to celebrities or current leaders, I find more and more of my inspiration in how to become a better human from the people around me engaged in their communities and work/art.
What continues to motivate your work, or has that changed over the years?
When I was a teen, and first engaged in the industry, I wanted to win an Oscar by 30. I think we all start out with an idea of what a perfect achievement looks like, and it's often based around external validation and accolades! And there's nothing wrong with being recognized for our work! But, as I've continued to develop as an artist and human, I've realized that it's not about how others feel about what you do that matters, it's how you feel. Do you like what you made? Did it impact and change you?
Now, I'm not motivated so much by achievement, but in wanting to share ideas and support others doing the same. That's how we improve and uplift our community.
What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday?
Depending on the season and mood... a long walk with a really solid coffee, a languid spin around the farmer's market ogling and buying all the fresh things, long talks with friends or my mum, a lazy morning watching tv with my partner, a matinee with smuggled chow mein, jumping in the ocean.
What is your superpower?
A mixture of resilience and action. I believe nothing is insurmountable or impossible, and that we can always find better ways of working, doing and being to support ourselves and those around us.
Check out more of Sasha on IG!
@sashamduncan
@wivesentertainment
@rngfest
Myself, my newly-minted production company, and the film competition and festival I'm very grateful to be a part of.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLZ5XLGm7k8&list=PLVtRrrkaX_7Bemje7ilawbWoRkLvCXCcn