Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Mosch.
Hi Beth, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My love of visual storytelling started from a young age. I got my first camera when I was 10 years old and was immediately hooked. Later on, I transitioned to making videos and started posting them on YouTube. By early high school, I realized that I could turn this passion of mine into a career and I decided I wanted to pursue filmmaking. I was always playing sports growing up and was recruited by Lindenwood University to play on their women’s lacrosse team. I was studying film there, but decided the school wasn’t right for me. USC was always my dream school and it had one of the top film programs in the country. I applied as a sophomore transfer, and didn’t get in, so I went to the University of Miami instead. I kept studying film and also joined the D1 rowing team there. Along with that, I joined the professional cinematic society, Delta Kappa Alpha. Although I really enjoyed Miami and the connections I had made, USC was still in the back of my mind. I applied one last time and was accepted into the School of Cinematic Arts. In the Fall of 2020, I moved to Los Angeles. Currently, I’m in my final year and studying Film & Television Production with a minor in 3D animation. This past semester, I worked on the pilot of a student-made sitcom pilot and in the spring I will be producing one of the senior capstone short films.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To begin with, nothing about shooting a film is easy. You have to accept that anything that could go wrong, will go wrong and you have to have plenty of backup plans in place. I’ve dealt with locations falling through, cameras breaking, losing principal cast members, getting stranded in the desert, and so much more. On top of that, making films during the pandemic has added another layer of challenges. When things first shut down, I had to completely change a film that I had been doing pre-production for all semester and was scheduled to shoot that same week. Even when we were allowed to start making films again in-person, there were new layers of challenges with new safety protocols and testing for the entire cast and crew. This led to more cast and crew members dropping out last minute due to positive test results and required a new level of organization and problem-solving.
Even getting to USC was not a straightforward path. I had to apply three times before I was accepted into their Film & Television Production program. After getting in, it hasn’t been an easy road. The workload for some of these classes are extremely demanding. The projects could consume my entire life at certain points and I wouldn’t have time to do anything outside of it. But because of these intensive classes, I have also learned so much during my time at USC. I’m grateful for the challenges and struggles the program has put me through because it helped shape me into the filmmaker I am today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a director and producer for comedic and dramatic narrative films. One project I’m most proud of was an independent short film I wrote and directed called Lost Touch which was completed in June 2022 and is an LGBTQ romantic drama. It is currently on its festival run and has already been accepted into multiple film festivals. Another short film I made that hits close to home is called Surfaces. This was a Midwest-inspired story about a father that takes his daughter on a fishing trip before she goes to college. I made this film during the spring of my junior year at USC. But no matter the story I’m involved with, my overall goal is to help tell diverse and uplifting stories that help bring people together.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
One of the things I love most are the people. A lot of my family and close friends are in the area and whenever I visit home from being in Los Angeles, seeing them is what I look forward to most. Also the idea of “Minnesota nice” is so true. It’s always refreshing coming home because even strangers tend to be friendlier than out in LA. Life is a little slower and there’s so much more nature in the area. I’m always refreshed after I come home because it helps me take a step back from the constant grind mentality of LA and reminds me to just enjoy wherever I am on my journey.
The hardest thing about being a filmmaker from Bloomington, MN is the fact that there’s not a big film industry here. There aren’t many films or shows in production around the area, which leads me to have to look for work in other places in the country.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.moschmedia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethmosch/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/bethmosch
