3 Questions with Emily Mast

Why L.A.? Why did you choose to work in this city in particular?

I think L.A. chose me. I chose not to live in other places, so it was a process of elimination. Paris was too depressed and mean, New York too expensive and busy, and Portland too dreary and accepting. I lived in Mexico for a while, and it was just hard to get things done (it’s a country best set up for taking it easy). L.A. had the right balance of people, attitude and infrastructure. I came, I didn’t dislike, I stayed. 

How has your time in L.A. shaped your work?

I would say my work has slowly become more self-actualized, laid back, and pescatarian. I have begun to thematize traffic and explore its affinity to smog, to which I think it's related. I have made more than a few works that would aptly be characterized as “outdoorsy”. And in addition to hiring numerous eminently employable recently graduated MFAs, I now work with a life-coach, a dietician, a plastic surgeon, two yogis and a labradoodle. 

Favorite place in L.A. Go.

My backyard.

Emily Mast screens two of her films, Six Twelve One by One and B!RDBRA!N, next Tuesday, June 24. Get more info.