In a way if feels like I was in New Zealand just yesterday and in another it feels like it was years ago! Either way, it definitely has been an adjustment – it kind of felt like I was a bullet shot out of a gun and traveled at inhuman speeds in New Zealand, only to get lodged and stop almost instantly when I arrived back in Los Angeles.

Passed out with my dog "Little Pig" - this is what I did for the first 24 hours that I was home!

There really are no words to describe the experience. It was a dream come true which is just one of the clichés that come to mind to describe it – I guess clichés are there for a reason- they are true! From the moment I learned that I was a finalist, my heart did not stop beating at a quickened pace. On the plane ride over, I did not sleep a wink, nor watch movies as I storyboarded Sweet As over and over again, tweaking things and also editing the script. In the back of my mind I had so many questions and unknowns.

Luckily, I landed in Queenstown and was met by my amazing production supervisor who quickly put my mind at ease. Everything was so well organized and thought out that it really enabled me to concentrate on directing – a luxury that I have never been afforded before as I am usually wearing multiple hats on any set!

Filming Sweet As (even with its challenges) was so much fun. The crew, the cast, the locations etc all came together for one of those rare moments of “cosmic magic”. I remember a moment where I was standing behind the video playback screen and thinking “wow” both for the image that I saw as well as a quick reality check where I could not believe that here I was in New Zealand, directing my own movie!

Things moved at such a quick pace over there that I had very little time to think about things that I had done as I always had something new coming at me. Production was over before I knew it and it was off to Wellington to do post (what used to be my least favorite part of the movie making process)! As everyone keeps saying, Park Road Post in truly an amazing facility. I know I sound like a broken record, but you step inside and it is as though you have been transported to film nerd heaven! It is beautiful, functional, state of the art and comfortable – I felt like Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (only my candy was post production equipment)!

Again, you could not have asked for a better team of people – everyone was the best of the best, but also extremely supportive and respectful. Not only that, I feel as though I have made some friends for life!

At the screening of my movie, I was asked to make a little speech. I was not expecting to do this and although not a great public speaker, I thought I would rattle off some thank yous and be able to sit right back down. Things did not go as planned! After talking about losing my way since the early days of making movies, I started to cry – not little, dainty, Oscar winning tears but large, fat, blubbering tears that did not stop for the next few minutes as I attempted to express my gratitude, my renewed belief that I CAN and WILL make this a full time job etc. My emotions really overwhelmed me, and there was no holding it back (how embarrassing)!

Thank god I had little time to mull over that as the next morning I was on a fight back home. I remember getting on the plane and then getting off but nothing in-between – I must have passed out for the 13-hour flight!

Having one of many lunches with friends once I got back - this one with Alia and my dog "Little Pig"

Back in Los Angeles I was greeted by my beloved dog “Little Pig” along with my husband Ryan and all my friends. I slept for what was almost an entire day and then began the whirlwind of catching up with everyone so lots of lunches, breakfasts, afternoon teas etc! I think I managed to gain about 10 pounds in my first week back (agh!).

It has since been time to knuckle down – There are two directing fellowships that I am applying for (Barrie Osborne has been kind enough to write me a recommendation for one of them!) as well as a short film that I had been wanting to make for quite some time about my friend’s mother. I wrote, shot and edited the 2 minutes by myself and it made me want to fight to get to a position where I have the money and ability to hire others to help me out! Nothing like a reality check to go from having a DP and the RED to shooting yourself on your digital SLR!

Dying on a hike with LA in the background (trying to loose the weight from all the lunches)!

Anyhow, the short was completed and I am now waiting to hear back if the financing came through for an untitled Tupac documentary that I have been asked to co-direct. In addition, my friend that I met years ago on the movie Solaris and I have been working on a one-hour TV drama for over 3 years now. We are determined to get it ready to pitch and distribute to showrunners in the coming months (if indeed anyone wants to listen to us – hint hint to any showrunners out there!). In between the madness, I also managed to enter my dog into the annual Bulldog Beauty Pageant (it is a fund raiser for animal shelters here in Los Angeles). Over 400 bulldogs entered. Sadly my Pig did not win anything (not even best legs) … we believe that he was robbed!

With my dog "Little Pig" at the bulldog beauty pageant

Last but not least, my husband and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the Independent Spirit Awards this past Friday. It was an AMAZING experience that I shall update you all in another blog update! Also, if you are looking for more photos and gossip from me, you can always check out my blog.

Aya