SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS
Islander Vivian Crosby wins Best New Filmmaker at the 2023 Nantucket Shorts Festival.
Children often have an unvarnished view of the world that yields questions that are often deeper and more profound than those that come from adults. It’s this curiosity that inspired 11-year-old islander Vivian Crosby in her short film Contemplating. “My little sister loves asking thoughtful questions about things around her,” Crosby explains. During the six-minute film, which was filmed on the island, Crosby follows her sister around, reflecting on the questions she might ask, using the written word rather than dialogue. The work recently led her to win Best New Filmmaker at the Nantucket Shorts Festival. Here, N Magazine chats with the young filmmaker about her budding career, what’s next and her goals.
You recently won the Best New Filmmaker award at the Nantucket Shorts Festival. What does the award mean to you and your future career?
I have always really been in love with filming and editing, so this means a lot to me. [Winning the award shows] me that professional video editing and filmmaking could actually take part in my future [and tells] me I should continue.
How did you get into filmmaking?
Both of my parents are photographers, so I’ve always been around editing and that type of art form. I have seen videos on YouTube that I have found interesting and a challenge to recreate; I started by editing characters’ dances on a video game. I still am doing that for my own entertainment and practice. Also, in first grade, I did a stop motion project during COVID-19 that was based off of Marcel the Shell. I made my own little shell out of Barbie shoes and buttons.
What do you hope to accomplish?
I hope to make filmmaking a career, and hopefully take a class or go to college for it.
Now that you’ve completed this film, what plans do you have for the future in terms of filmmaking?
I have a plan to enter the film festival again next year to get my films seen by the community. And make my already existing YouTube channel more popular and known.
Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
There is one small YouTuber that I look up to. She is a young creator, and she does have 300 more subscribers than me and is a bit older than me. She makes the same edit form that I do, we like the same games, and we go back and forth commenting on each other’s posts—hyping each other up and giving each other support.
What impact do you hope to make?
I hope to encourage other young filmmakers that are scared they won’t succeed due to their age.
What does Nantucket mean to you?
Nantucket is a cozy place and a wonderful place to visit and a nice escape from highways, flashing lights, etc. I was born on Nantucket. It has always been home to me and my family and is just a big happy island. The beaches, people, restaurants, history, schools and events really make Nantucket, Nantucket.
See Contemplating, November 30 at 7 p. m. at the Dreamland.
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