Inspire Me Series: Sassy Mohen--Remember This Name!

A few weeks ago, i completed a post entitled 7-year Itch.   I wrote about being in the in-between land of where i am now and where i want to be in my career.  The search to find myself continues however while working on it, i have decided on a new series called Inspire Me.  I will be reaching out to individuals who are living their dreams and totally rocking at it.

When i came across Sassy Mohen, a young indie filmmaker, i was immediately inspired and said "whoa lady, you are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!" At the young age of 24, she's directed several films, opened up a creative studio called, ArdentLife Studios and shot an awesome web-series called, About Abby, which is uber fun and endearing.  How can this person not inspire me.  And i hope she inspires you too!  

Just thinking of all the stuff she has done and has yet to do inspires me to live my dreams on a daily basis!  Learn more about Sassy and please remember her name because she will become a household name fairly soon.  

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Whats your name? 

Sassy Mohen

Is Sassy  really your given name? 

Yes

How old are you?

24

Where can we find you online? 

You can check out http://www.sassymohen.com/ and more recently my web-series "About Abby" www.youtube.com/aboutabby

Where did you attend school?

Chapman University Film 

Have you always known you wanted to be a filmmaker? 

Yes, ever since I was a little girl I've just known that THAT is what I want to be doing. My parents enrolled me in Acting, Theater and TV Production classes when I was just in 2nd grade because I was so passionate about it. It's such an awesome and challenging profession to go into, I can't wait to keep growing with it.

What's your fav movie and why? 

This actually changes A LOT. Recently I just re-watched 'Swingers" but I wouldn't jump to say it's my favorite. usually my response is this movie called "Before Sunrise." It's done in the early nineties, one of the first indie films to actually make it big. It stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. I am a hopeless romantic at heart and also like to believe that in the end the human race is innately good.  This film I feel captures this. The rawness of human relationships, what it's like to fall for another individual. Plus it's set in Europe which is a brilliant backdrop. There's a line in there where it talks about how if magic really exists, it's in the interaction between individuals and I believe that completely. It's definitely worth a watch.

Who do you admire as a filmmaker? 

One person I absolutely love is Kevin Smith. His work is hysterical to me and he has stuck to his guns throughout the years, not really conforming to how Hollywood wants him to be (ignoring that he made Jersey Girl or whatever that terrible movie was). He's got such a unique perspective on people, plus he made Clerks for like $20,000 and you have to admire that.

What is the coolest thing that has happened since you moved to LA? 

Oh man, so many awesome things have happened.  I think one of my favorite experiences was the first pitch meeting that I had for a script I was working on. It was really cool to be taken seriously as an artist and a creative individual. Also having my first film premiere, that was amazing. I walked into the room and everyone started applauding.

What celebrities have you met?

I've met a bunch in passing, through work, just randomly running into people. When I first moved out here I was a PA for NBA entertainment and I got to run around on the court for the lakers game. Was literally inches from Steven Spielberg, Mark Whalberg, Will Smith, Jack Nickleson, that was rad. The spielberg thing was the first time I freaked out about a celebrity, I had to run off the court and take a breather because he's one of my idols!

What gets you motivated in the morning? 

That's a really cool question, you know I think it's just hoping to bring my work to the world so to speak. There aren't a lot of female film directors and female driven story lines out there. Although lately there has been a slight growth in that category. What's awesome about making a film is you are showing the world how you see it and offering perspective and intellectual thought to people, ideas, environment. I really just want to make the world a better place for women to be in and also encourage creative thought around me. Perhaps it's the ultimate goal of that, that keeps me going.

How do you relate to the Abby character? 

I feel like Abby is rateable to most girls. For me it was writing the naive girl I maybe wish I could be. It goes to what I was saying earlier, in that hoping and choosing to believe in love and that people are good. I found when moving to LA it is very easy to get f*cked over (pardon my french). There are a lot of people here who will jump on your grave the second they can professionally and romantically. Abby chooses to ignore this and believe that the world is a fun, romantic great place where finding the person you want to be with forever is possible (and they wont cheat on you)

What's your favorite ice cream?

Mint Chocolate Chip, hands down.  

What's you favorite thing to do when you are not working?

Watch movies! I can't get enough of them. I've maxed out my netflix queue because there's so many I want to see!! 

Where can we find you? 

Silverlake, dance floors, sleeping when possible 

Do you like pancakes?

Absolutely.  

What would you rather be doing on a longlazysunday?

Again, watching movies. I also like to go on long walks and listen to music.
Eat thai food, hang out with my cat

Whose your favorite designer for clothes?

I really like a bunch of these boutiques on Melrose. If you know the right area you can get unique trendy stuff for an AMAZING price. Right now I've been shopping a lot at this place called Foreign Exchange.

Why did you decide to open up a photo studio? 

I haven't actually opened up a studio. What I have done is gotten a bunch of people together my age who want to create art and aren't going to wait around for the opportunity to just fall onto their laps. And I guess that's why I want to do it, because what's the worst that can happen if you take a stab at your dreams? You fail? So what, you won't have failed because you'll actually have tried.

What advice do you have for someone that wants to live their dreams?

Never give up. It's cheesy but it's true. No matter how bad things get, just pick yourself up and keep going. I remember when I was shooting my first film in college, I was dirt broke from putting all my money into it. My parents sent me care packages with cans of food in them which I literally lived off while not shooting hahah. Anyway, I microwaved a can of creamed corn, and somehow accidentally hit the bowl to the floor and it shattered. I remember looking at it and going fuck, maybe I should give up this film, get an after school job with the free time I would have and not have to worry about spilling a god damned can of food. But I said. No. I cleaned up the mess, finished the film. It made all it's money back plus some and because I finished that I was able to make my 2nd...then my third...then my fourth and here we are.
Never give up, no matter how bad it seems.

  

What is similar between blogging and filmmaking?

There's not a lot of similarities there...the only thing I could think of is being able to express yourself creatively.

What's your next project? 

I'm releasing my next feature in April which I'm SO excited about! It has most of the cast of Abby in it so get excited ;) I'm also writing my next script right now, but I'll tell you more about that later.  

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She is totally awesome, ain't she ladies?  

I hope she inspired you as much as she did me!

Visit and show her some blog love and support: 

http://www.sassymohen.com

If you can think of someone that totally inspires you, 

then let me know (dapancakes@gmail.com) because...
they would most likely inspire me too!