EP #23: Maya Bastian - Investigative Video Journalist To Award-Winning Film Director (Including 2021 Cannes Festival Entrant)

Maya Bastian is a Tamil-Canadian filmmaker, writer and artist.   From 2008, she spent several years travelling the world as an investigative video journalist, documenting areas of conflict and post-conflict, which has culminated in an ongoing exploration of trauma as it relates to community and culture.  As a director, she has won awards and exhibited her short films internationally, which run the gamut from narrative to documentary, to experimental animation, including recently having her film "TIGRESS" accepted into the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.  She joins Ara to discuss getting shingles from working a job that she hated, dealing with the consistent fear of losing her job and all her money, pursuing her passion for almost 20 years before being able to make a full-time living from it, and much more.Follow Maya - https://twitter.com/mayabastiTimestamps:00:54 - Introducing Maya Bastian; volunteering in Sri Lanka02:34 - Starting out as an actor 20 years ago03:25 - The judgement actors face; transitioning from acting to filmmaking05:20 - Maya’s upbringing, her rebellious nature growing up09:52 - Brown parents’ need for external validation before giving props to their kids11:31 - Has the Tamil community progressed in how they view creative careers?14:39 - Why Maya has taken it upon herself to create diaspora-related films21:03 - Passing on trauma through generations22:56 - Maya’s time as an investigative journalist; Cambodia, Palestine27:41 - How Maya managed/manages her finances as an artist33:05 - How Maya secures film projects to work on38:44 - The power of intention, learning to deal with and accept rejection41:48 - What is Maya insecure about?42:47 - Maya’s plans for the next 3-5 years43:50 - Maya’s hobbies; singing, playing the ukulele, hiking, dancing, board games with her daughter45:14 - The legacy Maya wants to leave behind45:50 - Advice Maya would give her 16-year-old self and her daughter46:50 - The impact of the Tamil community on Maya48:16 - People Maya admires, stealing a Maya Angelou book in high school50:11 - Advice Maya has for other Tamil creators53:25 - Creator Confessions57:59 - The Wrap UpSupport the show