
liya
zech
Since my early childhood, I have been touched by the beauty of every day, fascinated by the effect change and environment had on my emotions. Born in Vienna, Austria, a city where cobblestone streets are lined with history and exceptionally proud pedestrians, I spent my early years growing up in a small family. Being an only child, I began to desire a deep connection with people of all ages and backgrounds. From adult family friends to children at my Montessori school, I fashioned a greater curiosity to discover new environments and sensations. With my evergrowing curiosity, I found the sudden move to Los Angeles, California, a chance to further my ability to understand experimental topics and original perspectives. Landing in a city housing such cultural and creative diversity left a significant impact on me and my character. Being exposed to new environments at a young age has shifted my awareness of the world and how people interact with it.
Immersed in film studies since the age of nine, enrolled in the film academy at Millikan Middle School, and now in the country's number-one public arts high school, the Los Angeles County High School For The Arts, I have been learning advanced editing software and use professional equipment for my films. Working alongside other filmmakers and leading casts and crews of my own, I have gained influential insight into the craft of filmmaking, using my constant curiosity to pursue new film projects and collaborate with like-minded creatives.
With a deep love for editing and cinematography, I find great satisfaction in crafting a final project, connecting all parts of the story, sound, and picture. With a heightened level of sensitivity, I find that film and video editing is a powerful form of self-expression that can be used to share touching emotions in real and raw ways, as it fabricates a bond between meticulous visuals and curated sound. Using my hobby of photography and assembling digital video diaries, I have developed a great appreciation for cinematography and its impact on an audience. Using editing and graphic design, I have incorporated pitch deck design into my list of creative curiosities. Arranging imagery with color and careful typography, I have been creating film pitch decks for several young filmmakers and producers, leading me to find joy in helping students’ visions come to life.
With a multi-cultural outlook on various challenges and situations, I plan on bringing diverse perspectives to not only the film industry but also the casts and crews involved. I look to intertwine the expressive European perspective of storytelling with the grand-scale production of the American film industry. With this, I want to create a diverse web of other creatives and build connections that will lead to future memorable and impactful filmmaking experiences. Frequently leading all-female casts and crews of my own, I plan to continue elevating women’s roles and prospects in collaborative filmmaking/creative endeavors.
I look forward to integrating various forms of diversity within my films and professional undertakings, ultimately deepening the impact the upcoming generation of filmmakers will have on society’s creativity and innovative global relations.