Meet Afton Quast Saler | Writer/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Afton Quast Saler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Afton, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind any success I’ve had in the entertainment industry (or my life in general) has been learning to speak up. Like many directors and writers, I’ve dealt with bouts of intense imposter syndrome, and in the past, I’ve let it get in the way of what I wanted to do. As a woman in a significantly male-dominated career, it can be easy to feel that people around you will think you’re uptight or mean if you ask for what you want. I was raised to make sure everyone was taken care of before addressing my own needs. I was always the girl that was a “pleasure to have in class” despite never sharing my ideas or thoughts so no one would dislike me. My arm could be ripped from my body with blood spurting everywhere, and I would make sure everyone else was okay before heading to the ER. People-pleasing is indeed the killer of success and fulfillment. So, I pushed myself through the discomfort of maybe saying the wrong thing or upsetting people. And guess what? Nobody hated me. If anything, speaking up made them appreciate me more. I’ve found more success by allowing my voice to be heard in a room full of big personalities than I ever did by not expressing myself out of fear. You can’t make everyone happy. BUT, you can speak up and present the best version of yourself proudly, which is never a bad thing. I still like to please people, and considering the entertainment industry is such a team sport, I’m glad to be the kind of person that others want to be around. But once I started using my voice and letting my ideas be heard, I found myself much more empowered to do my best work and even ask for help or support when I needed it. Can you imagine?! I’m pretty sure I would even take myself to the ER right away if my arm got ripped off. Now THAT’S what I call success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I always knew I wanted to tell stories and have a creative job, but I honestly didn’t know girls could be directors as a kid. I just knew that I liked creating stuff and wanted to make what I saw in my head. I would direct shows (AKA force my more passive friends to perform for me). At eight years old, I memorized the Madonna movie version of Evita and made my friend Ruby perform the whole thing with lights, costumes, and an old camcorder in hand. We are friends to this day, and she still tells people I was “like a tiny, bossy version of Martin Scorsese in pigtails.” She loves me, I promise! So, I suppose I was directing but didn’t know it. I never thought I could direct, so I told stories by becoming an actor. I began acting and singing professionally at 13 years old, going on to tour the U.S. and Europe performing and teaching elementary school-age children with The Young Americans, an educational outreach and performing group. This experience led me to study acting in New York at T Schreiber Conservatory and continue working in regional theaters across the country.

When I found myself unhappy working in musical theatre, I knew I needed to change something. I felt like I had lost the part of me that loved telling stories and felt more concerned with a paycheck and people thinking I was a “success” than doing what made me happy. It took me a while to figure out that dreams can shift and change as you move through life and that sometimes you need to take a different path, even if it means leaving what you know. I started writing, directing, and performing sketch comedy shows, plays, and webisodes. That’s when I applied to film school at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, got in, and graduated this past year (2021) with a degree in production.

After graduating, I worked as an associate producer on a teen mental health awareness project and gained recognition for directing and writing my short thesis documentary, Neurodivergent. The film is a personal story about my experience of being diagnosed as neurodivergent at 35 and how women are underdiagnosed with ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The film has played over 30 film festivals worldwide, including winning Best Documentary at Portland Film Festival, San Louis Obispo Film Festival, USC’s First Look Awards, and received the Jury Prize for Best Female Director at the DGA Student Film Awards.

My work is frequently defined by themes of family relationships, mental health (or lack thereof), bold visuals, and a feeling of endless curiosity. I love humans, and I’m fascinated by their behavior, leading me to dive into stories I can research and learn from. I’m a big fan of doing as much prep as possible, which includes character backstories, lots of communication and visual examples from each head of a department, and doing a hell of a lot of listening and collaborating with people I trust.

I’ve fallen in love with documentary filmmaking and the mixing of genre and style. Documentary and Narrative work are more similar than many people think, and I like the idea of stories that can be a little of both. The real and the fantastical. The funny and the tragic. I like doing work that conflicts with itself a little because it represents what life has been for me so far. As a Neurodivergent filmmaker, I want to break the rules and blur the lines between fiction and reality to represent how I see the world, which is a little different, I suppose. I genuinely feel that if you do what is authentic to you without trying to be what you “should” be, the work will be relatable and compelling to watch. And that’s the point, right? To connect with your audience in whatever way that is honest to you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m an Eastside/downtown girl, so most of what I love doesn’t take you west of La Brea. I love walking around The Huntington Library in Pasadena. It’s such a magical place. I go there when I need to walk in nature and think. I love going downtown and walking around Grand Central Market for food and drink. They have everything, so you can even grab food, get some dessert, and then a beer over at Golden Road. They have a great oyster bar too. Then, if you want to catch some music, seeing a show at The Greek Theatre out under the stars is fantastic with a nightcap at the Dresden down the street. Great cocktails and music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents have not only been my most powerful support system, but they have had an active role in keeping me sane throughout my life. They have worked so hard to allow me to pursue a career in the arts, and they have shown me what it means to love unconditionally. Plus, they are just super cool people, and even if they weren’t my parents, I would still want to hang out with them. I hear this is rare. So, Gerry and Lynn, thank you for letting me fall asleep on your couch watching forensic files and old movies and for allowing me to dig through your fridge and drink all your apple juice. There isn’t enough apple juice in the world to repay you for all you do.

Website: https://www.aftonquastsaler.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afton-quast-saler-35821934/

Image Credits
Jesse Saler