Meet MaryLanae Linen | Filmmaker, Writer, Costume Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with MaryLanae Linen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MaryLanae, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I always think about my past self and my future self. My past self could be that child in me that was bullied, wasn’t listened to, always felt lost, and always felt lonely. But she had so many dreams. She wanted to be everything: a lawyer, a fashion designer, an actress, etc. And she worked so hard for so long. Putting relationships on hold, moving across the country away from her family, her safety net, and the life she’s always known. I think about how much faith she had in herself that everything would work out. And I think of how disappointed she would be if I never gave this life a real chance. If I didn’t see what all that hard work and searching for who I am got me. I also think about my future self. The me that gets the job, gets the house, gets the rewards. I think about how much that version of me would appreciate all that I’m doing to make the life I want to happen. Future me could also be me tomorrow, who is counting on me today to make it through just another day.
On a darker note, I came very close to not seeing another day ever again. But the only way I was able to make it was through the people who have become my support system. I’m a proud woman and being able to do everything on my own has always been a flex. But I realized that I could not hold myself up on my own. And I probably never held myself on my own, I always had my people. Sometimes when things get hard it’s easy to feel completely alone but you’re never really alone. And as long as I believe in myself as much as my support team believes in me, that’s how I know to keep going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
First I want to say that trying to be different from everyone else is a slippery slope to insecurity and inauthenticity. We are all individuals and just that fact alone makes us all different and sets us apart from everyone. I believe that my life experiences, good and bad, bleed into all forms of work that I do. And that is what sets me apart because people could have gone through the same life as me but the way I portray it, and the way I use it to create my art, would be completely different.

Right now I am most excited about the documentary I’m directing in my last semester at USC. It is called A Proper Education and it is about the lack of sex education in America and how it has affected countless generations. It also gives hope to what America could look like if we had A Proper Education. This project is extremely important to me because of the sexual abuse I’ve experienced in my life solely because I didn’t know I had a choice in who gets to partake in my body. But now that I am older and wiser I hope the work my team and I are doing can help people of all generations find their voice and the strength to speak up for what they want. Shoutout to the best team to come out of USC: my producers Hannah Kelley and Savannah Edmondson, my cinematographer Bobbi Broome, my editors Jaire George and Srishti Chakraborty, my sound mixer Lu Lu, my composers Yaron Eigenstein and Ishaan Tyagi, and the other members of our crew Stephanie Bell, Danielle Thomas, and George “Fresh” Linen.

I’ve been in the USC MFA Program for the full three years and I believed I learned more about filmmaking in my first semester of this program than in all four years of my undergrad alma mater (sorry not sorry). Many people tried to talk me out of getting my Master’s but at no point in these three years did I ever think about dropping out. Even though project after project can be draining, I never wanted to quit and I have always been grateful. I’ve written and directed short films, worked on a live sketch comedy show, and I’ve been a wardrobe stylist on a few films. Every year I am reminded of my talent by the professors in our program. Shoutout to my mentors Helaine Head, Robert Townsend, Jennifer Warren, Eric Freiser, Rob Schiller, Robert Ramsey, and so many more. USC MFA Program has some of the most talented creatives I have ever worked with. The amount of fresh ideas and just overall capability to tell a story is ingrained in every student. Not to make a PSA for USC but I mean it is one of the top film schools in the world.

Another passion of mine that I’ve had since I was a little girl was fashion design. I use to style my barbies and have fashion shows with them. I loved going to the library and I would check out books on sewing and that’s how I taught myself to hand sew. During the pandemic, I watched up-cycling videos all day and night and I finally decided that I could do it too. One of my aunties (Auntie Pumpkin) bought me a sewing machine and I began making clothes and started a business. That proved to be too much for me with being a grad student so I started being a wardrobe stylist and costume designer on sets. I hope one day my designs can be in the films and shows that I create.

If there is one thing that I would want people to know about me is that I believe in holding the door open for the next person. Not just because I’m polite and I have manners but I remember what it felt like to not think I could make it in the industry because I didn’t see people like me. I remember what it felt like when my parents were scared for my future because they had never seen anyone like me (black, plus size, a woman), become successful. So if I can make it and also help other people like me make it, then that is the true definition of success to me. As Ava DuVernay once said, “If your dream only includes you, it’s too small”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So I have had my best friends come visit for a week and let me tell you a week is not enough time to see all that LA has to offer. Even though it’s one of the most expensive cities in the country, it has some solid hidden Gems.

Day 1:
– Brunch at Met Her At A Bar
– Movies at The Grove AMC
-Dinner at The Thai Thing

Day 2:
-Breakfast at Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen
– Chill at the Griffith Observatory
– Dinner at Joeys DTLA

Day 3:
– Visit Amoeba Record Store
– Walk down the Hollywood Walk of fame
– Dinner at Met Him at a Bar

Day 4:
– Visit the Academy of Motion Picture Museum
– Lunch at Annie’s Soul Delicious
– Party at the Ace Hotel Rooftop

Day 5:
– Shopping at Westfield Century City
– Dinner and a movie at Universal City Walk

Day 6:
– Hiking up to the Hollywood Sign
– Museum day at the Getty

Day 7:
– Visit Leimert Park Black Business Expo
– Dinner at Quarters KBBQ

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am dedicating my shoutout to my support team, my family, and close friends who have always supported me in everything I’ve ever wanted to do in life. My mom and dad have been to every play, every competition, every graduation, and every accomplishment. And if they couldn’t be there physically, they were always there in spirit. They were also my cast for every project I did during my first year of graduate school at USC. I want to shout out all my siblings and their spouses and children. Being the youngest of four, of course, I was spoiled. But now being a grown woman my siblings still check on me and try to support me in every way and I do the same for them. My extended family, TT, Javon, Auntie Pumpkin, Uncle Gary, and Krystle. Always cheering me on and being down with all of my shenanigans. And of course, my girls. Ore, Bee, Tiff, Mary, Ericka, and my angel, Tierra. We laughed together, cried, ate too much, and slept too little together and they truly have pulled me from the deepest darkest places and dusted me off. They’ve been my rock, my sisters for life and I really wouldn’t be here without any of my support systems. Also shoutout to my therapist and psychiatrist! Lastly, I want to thank my LA Family. Even though I haven’t been here long I’ve been able to create such strong bonds with so many good people here. So shoutout to Bobbi, Jasmine, Jenn, my documentary team, my amazing mentors, and my 2023 cohort!

Website: Vimeo.com/marylanae

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marylanaelinen/

Youtube: YouTube.com/marylanae

Image Credits
Dante Bailey