Anna Dvorak: Director & Filmmaker

DAM: Today we’re here with Filmmaker Anna Dvorak, Anna would you like to give everyone a brief introduction?

AD: My name is Anna, I’m 24 and I’ve grown up in Sydney my whole life. My family is from Eastern Europe so I also speak Czech & Slovak. I’ve worked in the film industry for about five years now in different areas such as marketing, publicity for film festivals, agencies, on film productions and podcasts. More recently I’ve been focusing on making my own work with directing, writing and producing. I’m also about to move to Europe in two weeks to further pursue my studies. I just finished a Bachelor of Communications majoring in Journalism and Film at UTS. I plan to hopefully do my Masters in Prague in Europe which hopefully will be a Masters in directing and see what the industry is like over there. 

DAM: Wow, that’s amazing. Why Europe and Prague in particular?

AD: I’ve always had a dream to go there because my parents were born there and all my relatives live over there so it’s only my parents here in Sydney. I’ve always felt really connected as if it’s a second home to me and I’ve always loved European culture, art and history. The last time I visited I was under eighteen, so I want to go as an adult and immerse myself in the culture. It’s also free to study there and I’ve got dual citizenship because of my parents. It’s something that I feel like will grow my character and my craft – moving to the other side of the world, starting fresh and not really knowing anyone.

“It’s something that I feel like will grow my character and my craft – moving to the other side of the world, starting fresh and not really knowing anyone.”

DAM: What’s the story of your parents, how did they meet? 

AD: They met in Australia at work, both came separately and didn’t know each other. My dad was escaping communism around the 80s. He’s from the Czech Republic side of Czechoslovakia, Mum’s from the Slovakian side. There was communism there so lots of rules and restrictions which he wanted to escape from. He left and couldn’t even really tell his mum because it was so risky, so he got a friend to tell his mom that he was going to Australia. He had one long distance relative here who was able to sponsor him so he came and started working, I think [with only] $500 in his pocket and started to build a whole new life here. My mom actually came with her first husband but their relationship didn’t work out. Then she met my dad in an embroidery factory and a long time after, had me.

DAM: What was it like growing up here in Australia and having that Czechoslovakian culture within you? 

AD: Even though I was born here – because all my family was overseas, I kind of always felt like in a way that Australia wasn’t fully home. There was always a part of me that longed for Europe even though I was so young. I grew up watching a lot of the films, reading a lot of the folk stories, eating Czechoslovakian food, I even did Slovakian dancing when I was little in the traditional outfit. My parents are very catholic so there was a Slovak and Czech church that we would always go to so I always grew up around that.

DAM: And you speak the language?

AD: Yeah so whenever we would go over there (Czech Republic), I would immerse myself in the culture and fluently speak the language. Even at home I would always speak Czech and Slovak and then go to school and speak English with my friends. There were times where I tried to speak English at home but my parents only allowed me to speak Slovak and Czech – which I’m so grateful for because I wouldn’t remember if I didn’t practise. Also my Grandparents didn’t speak any English unlike my other relatives. My dad told me a story that when I was four, my family and friends were waiting at the airport after our trip back from Czechoslovakia, waiting to greet us but I was tugging my dad on the shoulder and asking him what they were saying. They were speaking in English but I had already forgotten how to speak English!

“…When I was four, my family and friends were waiting at the airport after our trip back from Czechoslovakia… But I was tugging my dad on the shoulder and asking him what they were saying. They were speaking in English but I had already forgotten how to speak it!”

DAM: So tell us – why Filmmaking?

AD: I always loved creating from a young age so I was very into art, not maths or science. Growing up I did a lot of visual art such as painting and drawing. My parents got me into art classes, which I’m so grateful for. Watching TV growing up, especially Disney Channel, I was like ‘how cool would it be to create something like that or be like them’. I also took acting classes when I was young, I thought I wanted to be an actress. 

It wasn’t until high school when we started getting film projects that I really started to think more about the production side of things and how I can be behind the camera and make things. I always loved making little birthday videos for friends. Near the end of high school I just knew that I wanted to do film so I applied for AFTRS but I didn’t get in. I didn’t have much of a portfolio to show, I had only done one short documentary for high school. After high school I applied for UTS and Macquarie (university) and I got into both but I ended up going with UTS because they were more specific about their degree. I ended up choosing Media Arts, which is kind of like their film course and also journalism. I quickly realised that I didn’t want to be a journalist but I’m grateful for trying it. I was so excited to get on set but it was quite difficult because all this paperwork had to be done for under aged kids to come on set, especially because I was more interested in crew roles.

When I was in high school I tried to get on people’s sets as an extra but after I turned 18 I finally went out to explore more of the crew side. Unexpectedly, my first job in the industry was working for the Sydney Film Festival, which they actually gave the job to someone else but that person didn’t want to work early in the morning. That really opened my eyes to consuming a lot of cinema because until then, I didn’t really watch many independent films. This really opened my eyes to so many different kinds of stories and it was like the best experience and I got to meet people in the industry. It took about three years, when COVID hit, that I ended up finally getting my foot in the door of a big set on Thor: Love and Thunder, and that was my first little in. After that more jobs started coming. I’m extremely grateful for that because I learned how these big productions work but there’s still lots to learn. 

DAM: What was your first step towards directing? 

AD: When I was in high school, I made a documentary which I was the director for but It was a very fresh project. Then in my first year of Uni onwards, I somehow fell into producing and assistant directing and I enjoyed that and did that for quite a while. There was a lot of paperwork and financing involved but what I loved about producing was bringing people together so early on in a project. I really missed the creativity aspect, I always loved writing and having a vision. I knew I wanted to do directing eventually but I just kind of tried to gain as much experience in different departments as well. I had been writing a script since my first year of Uni which was a fiction script that I wanted to direct as my final project. That was my first time directing a fiction work and I loved it, especially working with actors. I love that as a director you get to work with people so much more closely I guess than as a producer. Also just being involved in all the different departments, as a director you get to kind of dip your toe a little bit into each one – so that’s what I really love about it. I really just want to continue learning more about directing. 

“I love that as a director you get to work with people so much more closely I guess than as a producer. Also just being involved in all the different departments, as a director you get to kind of dip your toe into each one…”

DAM: Well now, we’d love to hear more about your film The Choice to Love.

AD: That story came from a very personal place. It was inspired by watching my mom look after a relative for seven years as a caregiver so I lived that experience with them. I was living with my parents for most of the time they were looking after them and it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever watched but also one of the most loving and beautiful things I’ve ever watched as well. To see someone give their life for someone like that was really powerful and it was a story that needed to be told. From what I saw, there weren’t that many films made about caregiving and the ones that were – often featured two men. It’s also from an Australian Czech perspective as well so there’s a lot to explore, especially as a short film. 

DAM: What was the process like making it?

AD: It was such a beautiful experience and so fulfilling to tell that story. I named a lot of the characters after relatives who have passed away and members who are really close to me. It was kind of a love letter to them, both my grandmothers passed away within the space of one year so I thought about them a lot while I was writing it. I had the most beautiful team come on board so it was amazing to get to work with so many talented women especially as a female filmmaker. Seeing them working in positions that I wouldn’t usually see them in, such as Gaffer, Sound Recordist or DOP was really important to me.

“It was amazing to get to work with so many talented women especially as a female filmmaker. Seeing them working in positions that I wouldn’t usually see them in, such as Gaffer, Sound Recordist or DOP was really important to me.”

We had quite a big team, there were like 25 crew on set but then a total of 40 credits all together. We had an incredible cast, we had Diana McLean who played the elderly lady in the film, who’s worked on Neighbours and so many other incredible TV shows and films. Then we had Meagan Caratti, who plays our protagonist, the daughter, who’s also done Home and Away and so many other cool projects. Then we had Gennie Nevinson, who played the principal, who’s also been in Babe and Muriel’s Wedding.  Finally we had my beautiful friend Tabby, who’s an incredible up and coming actress and stunt performer who recently worked on The Fall Guy. It was such a pleasure to work with them and we learned so much from each other on set. It was an incredible cast and I think that’s what it’s really about, collaborating with people you love, learning, growing together.

DAM: Sounds like an amazing team. What was the reception like?

AD: There were tears in the audience both from relatives but also from friends and colleagues. I’ve gotten so much beautiful feedback. People mentioned really well known directors that the work reminded them of which was incredible to hear. A lot of people said they wanted to see more, which is an awesome thing. The story is quite fictionalised, it’s based on true events and people so was still really powerful, especially for my parents. A lot of people also said that it was quite a mature story!

DAM: As a female filmmaker in the industry, there’s often assumptions made about them – for example not knowing as much. Has that been something you’ve encountered?

AD: Yeah I agree and not even not knowing much but just being ‘weaker’, that’s something that bothers me, especially in those really technical or physical jobs such as lighting or operating the camera. There’s often an assumption that you’re weaker and people would be like ‘here let me grab that for you’ and I know a lot of my female friends would have to assure them that they were fine. It was really important not just to work with mostly women but to have them culturally and linguistically diverse. For The Choice to Love, we had a crew from all different races, religions and genders which was an over 80% female crew. 

DAM: That’s incredible, and so important in creating a more inclusive industry. What are some of your ambitions for the future?

AD: My short term goal in the next five years would be to direct a feature film. I would love to get more experience on those bigger sets in higher roles, especially in the AD department. I’d love to experience the film industry in Europe, learn more, and study more specifically about directing. Also definitely collaborating with more people overseas and to have my work screen at International Film Festivals and meet the people there. Longer term, definitely travelling for work and to make films in different places with different people. If I can just continue to tell stories for the rest of my life I’ll be happy. 

“If I can just continue to tell stories for the rest of my life I’ll be happy.”

DAM: Any final words of advice to others out there wanting to start a career in filmmaking or begin creating their own work?

AD: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, go and learn from the people that have done it before you. Find a mentor if you can – someone you can build a good relationship with and learn from. Just get out there and don’t be too self conscious or worried that you don’t know what to do, you’ll learn as you do it. I’ve seen so many fellow students at Uni that just focus on their studies and think – after they’ll do an X,Y and Z plan but when the time comes the opportunity disappears or you’ll be even more scared to do it. Yes, you’re gonna make mistakes, yes you’re gonna make a fool of yourself but you’re going to learn. Make your own work because you’ll learn so much by creating your own work in terms of the craft and different departments. With that, try different departments as it will give you such a deep appreciation for everyone on set and will make you a more respected filmmaker as well. Find your people, meet people and see who you work well with and go create stories with them. Tell stories that you find important and love.

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Find more on Anna & her work here:

Linktree/Work: https://linktr.ee/anna__dvorak

The Choice To Love Film: https://tctlfilm.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna__dvorak/

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Published by Marshall-Weishuai Yuan & Sangeetha Gowda

Photography by NOAH Creative