Meet Frankie Ingrassia: Filmmaker

What a wonderful question. You don’t, that is the only true answer. I love it enough to keep going at all costs which can be quite challenging at times and I struggle with this every day. I love telling stories, so if I can’t direct, I write. I am constantly shifting and adjusting to where I can find space to create. This year has been particularly challenging. I decided to go back to school, looking for inspiration myself to stay in the game and stay curious. I will always be a creator and a storyteller, it may look different at times but as long as I can be creative, I can find my happiness. I would advise young creators to do the same, be flexible, be ready to adjust, and constantly be writing!

Last year I wrote and directed a short film, “Detach” about a mother-daughter relationship gone bad. Currently circulating in the festival world. Luna Blaise stars opposite Mercedes Lopez Renard, a mother-daughter duo who have become -influencers when the daughter asks to detach from her mother for a night, since she is only 16 years old, this is not an option which leads her to a decision that changes their lives forever. She is missing that part of her that feels remorse, and instead turns towards her fans for validation. I love exploring human behavior in my stories. I am fascinated by the long term effects of social media culture. We are so disconnected from ourselves as we stare into our screens all day. There is a term in psychology called The Dark Triad, this is a personality assessment of criminal traits that, in the past, we shamed and now we reward with the rise of social media addiction; narcissism, psychopathology, and Machiavellianism. Not only are these traits on the rise, but they are climbing at a rate 6 times faster than before. We are promoting self-indulgence all day long, so of course, we are here today, but I digress. If we don’t use our voices as filmmakers to advocate for the social good, we are wasting our time. Don’t get me wrong, I love making people laugh too, my last film “Vampire Dad” was about a therapist analyzing monsters of the underworld. Currently streaming on Amazon and Itunes, and a few more platforms. (shameless promotion, see what I did there?) My path is not unlike many, I started as a child actor and just kept going, switching roles in order to stay valuable. I’ve learned many lessons, the biggest is that I still have a lot to learn. I am hopeful for tomorrow, I am grateful for everything around me right now, and after 2020 I will never take leaving the house for granted again. I cannot wait to hug my friends again.

If COVID was over: I am putting their websites in this, b/c I want to support these places as much as possible. I would go salsa dancing at https://www.elfloridita.com/ I miss it so much, cuban food and live music. But… we would also do https://oldplacecornell.com/ and wine next door first. Maybe a post dinner cocktail on the water in Malibu at Nobu. A trip up downtown would be fun dinner at https://baveldtla.com/ and play arcade games after at http://eightytwo.la/ Or… I love the baby back ribs at the https://www.bowerybungalow.com/ the owner, George is the nicest. Or… Korean BBQ in Chapman Plaza at https://www.baekjeongktown.com/ and drinks anywhere really… I miss going out in LA, this town has SO many amazing spots.  Oh and we would have to get manicures at Pastel Nails on Melrose first, Kim is the best in the west.

I have been so lucky to have many supportive people around me, so many cheerleaders. But there is one friend who has always been my biggest cheerleader, she will always be honest with me and at the same time screamed “yay” for every tiny little accomplishment that comes my way. She runs a nonprofit organization, Medicine for Humanity, they train doctors in Uganda to work with women who suffer from birthing injuries. Please take minute to go to their website and share ithttps://medicineforhumanity.org/ It is her passion and it shows. She is raising a socially conscious teenage daughter who surprises me in every conversation with her interest in the world.  Shelley O’Connor pulled me out of a few dark moments and reminded me to keep going. I am so thankful for her and all her energy and hope!