Meet Tara Twal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Twal. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Tara Twal is a filmmaker and video artist based in Detroit, MI. Most recently, she began working as a production intern for the Detroit Broadcasting Company. She also currently works as a premixing audio engineer for About Right Media Group and films video events with Blue Racer Productions. When she can, Twal fills many roles on local productions such as sound utility, assistant camera operator, and assistant directing. Previously, she has worked on Emmy nominated “Ahlan Simsim” (Sesame Street) based in Amman, Jordan as an intern assistant director. Twal is eager to expand her career after she graduates from College for Creative Studies in 2023 with a BFA in Digital Film. 

Personal statement- I am an artist. I always have been. I had an epiphany moment when I was about 12 though. I was sitting alone in my bedroom watching short films on YouTube, and outloud to myself I just said, “this is what I am going to do for the rest of my life”. Nothing has changed since then, and I couldn’t be happier. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The artwork field is not one to take lightly. My line of work is very competitive. I hardly meet any women who work in film, and when I do, it is hardly for any technical positions. The conversations I have had with those women though are very empowering. When I am on productions, not all but sadly a lot still, I have experienced sexism on all the levels. Men often think I am an actress or part of makeup and are surprised when I tell them I am doing audio, lighting, or camera. It used to bother me but not anymore so much. Now I view it as a compliment. Yes! I am a Middle Eastern woman who is still a student doing my job amazingly! And I will continue to do so no matter what your view is on me. Hardships come with any job, and I have learned being assertive for yourself is key. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Outside of my freelance work, I create my own personal video art and short films. As a student at College for Creative Studies, my work has taken many different paths from experimental shorts to narrative stories. With my experimental pieces, I tend to have a focus on self-performances and rhythm. I really enjoying stepping out of my own biases and seeing my body as a performer, not myself. There is a lot less planning and more so exploring in the edit with my experimental films. On the flip side, my narrative work takes plenty of time and dedication in the pre-production phase. My most recent work is my narrative docudrama film “Hush Now’. The story follows a teenager’s relationship with herself and her mother after a family blowout. The cast is filled with powerful Middle Eastern woman as the themes focus on generational internalized misogyny. It is a very personal story to me as I am a Jordanian American. I wanted my first serious short film to be something powerful, and it has already connected to so many of those who have seen it. I would say I am known for ‘Hush Now’ at the moment and am excited to create more for people to know me by. In the future, I will continue to create art filled with truthful perspectives. Diversity and inclusion will always be a goal in my art. 

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was an absolute weirdo. There were so many factors that made me ‘an outcast’ to my classmates, family, and even friends. Even with this, the one thing that always mattered to me was that I was able to express myself. Even though my parents didn’t and maybe still don’t understand exactly why I need to be a storyteller, they supported me. I would fill my shared small bedroom, basement, and living room with too many toys. Looking back at it now, it was like I was setting up this stage or environment for these toys/characters to thrive in. The older I became, the more elaborate I was with it. I know it sounds silly to say this about myself in kindergarten, but I really took pride in all my arts and crafts. I painted my own version of Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers” and to this day it still hangs in our home office. When I began going to a catholic school in 2nd grade, I would spend every morning on the bus blasting Taylor Swift from my MP3 player in my poor ears all while imagining a fantasy world I could be in. A boring lonely bus ride? Nope! Now I was running along in a fluffy field with farm animals roaming near me. I carried these escapism habbits with me throughout middle school. High school me is when I think others began to viewed me as an artist. I drew on just about every paper assignment I turned in, started to experiment with photography, and joined a filmmaking club! My last year of high school is when I really began to consider being an artist professionally, but there was so much pressure to “have a normal job”. I ended up attending Macomb Community College for two years earning my associates of arts there. During my second year there I took an intro to filmmaking course, my first actual art class, and the artist seed that was always in me fully bloomed. I knew I could not avoid it anymore, so I committed to transferring to College for Creative Studies where I am currently a senior in their digital film program. I am the happiest I have been since attending CCS. While my confidence in being an artist has gone through many ups and downs, I feel I am finally at a place of peace with it. The film industry, and art workforce, is very brutal. I have no doubts that I will go through phases of excitement and fear after I graduate, all while knowing that I am an amazing artist who can succeed. Life is hard, and I will always have my art, and all art, there to guide me through it. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara.t.art/
• Other: vimeo.com/755797505

Image Credits
Joshua Spaman