At 15, Jovana Elek Is Already Asking Cinema’s Hardest Questions

Welcome Jovana, we are very excited to have you today with us to discuss about your work.

Who is Jovana Elek and how did the passion for creating begin?

My name is Jovana Elek and I am a screenwriter and a filmmaker.

My passion for creating began when I was around five years old, that’s when I learned how to write. Ever since then, I have wanted to become a writer. My passion for filmmaking, though, came at a moment so early on in my life that I don’t even remember it. As long as I can remember I thought of everything in my life as a film, but the moment that I actually realized that I wanted a career out of it, came only about 4 years ago.

Can you tell us a bit about your previous work?
I have started my career about a year ago,when I created my first short film “It already happened” is about a haunted voice telling us the truth that we all missed: Ai was there long before humans were.

While my recent documentary “Missing” explores Ai and proves that no matter how good it gets, it can never beat the creativity of a human mind. The two films explore the same theme in a very different way.

You’re only 15, yet this script dives into identity theft, murder, and moral ambiguity. What drew you to such dark and psychologically intense material?

I honestly don’t see it as something dark.Psychologically intense is a much better way to describe it. I honestly find topics like that very interesting and exciting to write about, and I think that the audience enjoys when the story is constantly unfolding and something is always happening.

CONVERSATION ABOUT: ''A twisted sisterhood''

Do you think love can exist inside something violent and destructive or is that love itself twisted?

I think that love can exist in many ways,but at some point boundaries need to be set. That’s what I would like the audience to think about when watching this film. I want the audience to think about their personal relationships, maybe realize that a person in their life is not good for them and ask themselves where they personally set their boundaries.

The opening scene on the fog-soaked street feels very visual. Do you see the story as a writer first, or as a cinematographer in your head?

I always see everything as a cinematographer. Not just my screenplay s, but absolutely everything that I do, and I think that everything can be made into a good story if you look at it the right way.

What does a typical writing session look like for you? Rituals, music, time of day, or total chaos?

I get the best ideas for the best screenplays when I’m supposed to do something I don’t want to do. For example: studying. I never plan to write or force ideas. For me, writing is never a task it’s more so a response to a moment of inspiration.

 If you directed this yourself, how would you shoot the final scene, close and intimate, or distant and cold?

I would end it with a cold and distant angle.With Kate closing her eyes, the red laser appearing on her forehead, a gunshot and a black screen. The end.

 In future projects, do you plan to explore similar genre intersections, or are there other genres you're eager to explore ?

Yes, I definitely plan on writing more crime, mystery and horror films, but I also plan on doing comedies and dramas. I have a lot of inspiration and ideas, so new projects are definitely coming.

What emotion do you hope lingers with the audience after the final gunshot, shock, sadness, empathy, discomfort?

With every of my films, I want to make people feel something. My biggest fail would be someone watching my film and ending it with no emotion. I want every person who watches a film of mine to feel emotions, whatever those emotions might be. Whether the person feels joy because it made them happy, sadness because the ending is sad, fear because they find it scary or anger because the film was bad, I don’t care.I can’t control people’s emotions. I just want my audience to feel something, and to have something to talk and think about. In this specific film, I would like people to question their personal relationships and boundaries. Whether the relationship is with their sibling, partner or parent I would like everyone watching ask themselves questions. Do I like this person? Is this person good for me? How do I feel after a conversation with this person? Is this person pushing my boundaries?