Editor’s Note: Welcome to “Reel Women,” our annual tribute to dynamic women in creative industries. For the month of March, let us introduce you to some very special women like SixTwentySix director and filmmaker, Marysia Makoska.
Marysia, a filmmaker with a rich background spanning different cultural and historical landscapes, grew up in Legionowo, a small town in Poland. Her formative years were marked by the transition from end-era communism to the nascent stages of capitalism in her country. Despite the challenges, Makowska pursued her passion for the arts and earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the prestigious Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts.
After completing her education, she ventured into the advertising industry, where she honed her skills as an art director for over a decade. However, her creative spirit yearned for more expressive avenues, leading her to transition into directing.
In 2011, Marysia made a significant move to New York City, where she found a new home in the vibrant borough of Brooklyn. However, her ties to her roots remain strong, as she continues to split her time between Brooklyn, Cape Town, and Warsaw.
Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds joy in the company of her two tiny dogs, adding warmth and companionship to her life. Additionally, she embraces the thrill of kite-surfing, seizing the opportunity whenever the wind is favorable—a testament to her adventurous spirit and love for outdoor activities.
Let’s meet Marysia!
What’s your origin story?
One day in Manhattan, 12 years into working as an art director in the advertising industry, I just had enough. I wanted to be free from going into the office every day and participating in endless pitches and office politics.
That day coincided with a small write-up that the “Huffington Post” did about my short film. This article gave me the confidence to make filmmaking my daytime job. My husband is an experienced DP, and his help and involvement in my early projects was a catalyst for my career as a director.
How did you get into the creative industry?
I was involved in the creative industry for most of my career, as I started working in an advertising agency even before graduating. Working in advertising gave me a unique insight into the process; I am super aware of how much work happens on the back end of each campaign and that what a director sees is probably 5% of a picture.
Transitioning from advertising to directing was smooth, with just a couple of bumps along the way. It was when Free The Bid (now Free The Work) started gaining traction and more opportunities were available to women and people from previously disadvantaged groups.
Who were your mentors?
Mel Cox at SpangTV in Richmond, Virginia, is big on honing and maintaining relationships. She taught me so much about the human side of commercial filmmaking and about being generous, not only with money but also with the time I give other people. She also showed me how to be direct and earnest in a good way. I’ve learned so much from her.
While there will be others, what do you consider your biggest achievement to date?
I’m most proud of a commercial that I did for Puma, a project called “No Comparison”. The client, Puma Poland, and the agency, Pomysly, blessed me with a lot of creative freedom, while we bounced the ideas around.
There was no packshot, no brand colors that we had to include in the wardrobe or set design, it was a relatively low budget, and we shot it on a 16mm film. It’s a story about women being conditioned to compare themselves to others.
What drives you to create?
I am not sure what drives me to create. But I can tell you that my favorite time of the day is early morning, 5 a.m., when the day is just starting. When I have my early morning coffee, black and strong, then I think that everything is possible. That’s when I write my treatments and think about ideas.
What is a product or service you dream of doing a campaign for?
I’d love to do a campaign for lifestyle technology brands like Bose or Apple and a car commercial, something super art house. I’ve always loved the old Dunlop “Tested for the Unexpected” commercial; it’s a singular piece that massively influenced me.
Who are you dying to work with in the film/tv arena?
Marcell Rév
Female-directed franchise films such as ‘Star Wars’ or MCU constantly get called “woke” by Internet trolls. Why?
I honestly don’t wonder why. Perhaps female-identifying creators are an easy target because there’s still an undercurrent, veiled perception that we are a charity case or something? I just want to do my thing, and I see that as the best medicine for trolls.
Coffee, Lunch or Happy Hour
Coffee: Chloé Zhao
Lunch: Agnieszka Holland
Happy Hour: Maya Rudolph
It’s an election year, what is keeping you up at night?
I’m a naturalized American citizen, and I’m a Polish citizen by birth. So, despite my generally very positive outlook on life, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is something that keeps me up at night, metaphorically speaking.
I work a lot in Poland, and just yesterday, my Polish crew on set was discussing whether they would join the army when the time arrived. It’s a very real thing to talk about the war and to weigh all options in this part of Europe. If I had one wish, I’d wish for global peace.
Favorite movie and TV show of 2023
The Zone of Interest.
Beef.
Band or singer you would ditch your career and go perform with:
I’d have to choose Cirque du Soleil, because I can’t sing or play any instrument.
What’s your theme song for 2024?
At home, we’ve been playing a lot of Chopin for our dogs lately. Yes, we’re insane dog people. So, I’d say one of Chopin’s nocturnes.
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