Greek actress and singer Anna Rezan. Photo Credit: Erion Kovaci.
Award-winning actress and filmmaker Anna Rezan chatted about her music and directorial debut with “My People.”
She also opened up about being a part of the digital age as an entertainer and storyteller.
Helen Keller once said: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” This quote applies to the creative work of actress, filmmaker, and vocalist Anna Rezan.
In “My People,” she worked with two acclaimed producers: the late but great Oscar nominee Mitchell Block and two-time Academy Award winner Kim Magnusson.
What inspires your new music?
My dad was Greek but one part of my mother’s family comes from Spanish Jews and the other part from Poland. I’ve always felt that that makes me a co-production in general.
All of this made me a very Cosmopolitan citizen of the world. I had a great time performing in Spanish and collaborating with the legendary Julio Iglesias.
My music is inspired by personal life experiences, dreams, love and other forms of art like film and visual art.
Working with other musicians can create a dynamic environment for creative exploration, pushing artists out of their comfort zones.
My new song “Baila Morena” is a mini-film project; it’s a collaboration with Taavia Vartia and Julio Iglesias.
It’s an ode to the grace and the passion of a beautiful woman, as it is observed by another woman and not in a sexual way but as woman to woman admiration.
What was it like working with Oscar nominee Mitchell Block and two-time Oscar winner Kim Magnusson on your directorial debut “My People”?
I’m honored and humbled that they supported me to make my directorial debut. Mitchell loved to support women in film. The fact that he wanted us to work together is such an honor and a blessing.
Kim’s energy is powerful. When I met with Kim Magnusson, a multi-Academy Award winner, it was a really unexpected surprise. I believe that it helped me in believing in myself and that I was actually able to do this.
At first, people would say to me that it was impossible to do such a movie. There were already few movies about the Jews of Salonika and they were saying it is impossible to tell the whole story of World War II in Greece.
Mitchell called and told me that “I was one of the youngest people to ever tackle such a matter,” and it intrigued him.
It was wonderful to have such support and encouragement. Knowing that you have that support can get you anywhere.
What did this movie and screenplay teach you about yourself?
It taught me that love and unity are great powers. It was very difficult to be constantly exposed to all sorts of torture and suffering and loss and I would burst into tears between one location and the next. So, I spent more time with my energy therapist .
It wasn’t an easy film to make, but I have been lucky. I am a hustler too. I have had many experiences; a very powerful one was making this film and working with these people.
Also, as a woman, as a director, as a lover, as a friend — everything. I understand now that experiences don’t bring maturity.
Evaluating these experiences bring maturity. Work with thyself and therapy brings maturity. We humans need to start with happiness but we get to learn this through life.
The meaning of life is simple… just to live it, and live it well, meaning happily. I feel blessed to be able to inspiring and encourage people.
I am grateful to those that inspire me and make laugh, and those that make me believe more in myself and in life.
What inspires you each day as a storyteller and filmmaker?
A heartfelt conversation between friends, a quiet moment of reflection, a mundane task that holds deeper meaning, a great film with a happy end… an inspiring true story or a chance encounter with a someone.
I would also have to say kindness… but also therapy, finding your tribe and love for life. The desire to live , explore and inspire others.
It’s very important to believe in yourself and understand that each has its own personal journey.
I believe in therapy. I recommend that one finds a method that they clearly observe it works for them and heal themselves’ while they are networking.. take classes and materialize their creativity .
Also, other films. As a teenager films, especially comedies and romantic comedies shaped me, changed me, and in some occasions, saved my life.
I believe that comedy is valuable and to be able to make people laugh is a gift. I think it’s about time that Academy Awards are being more often presented to feel-good movies, inspiring romantic comedies, and to great comedians.
How does it feel to be an artist in the digital age?
I guess it involves navigating increased accessibility and opportunities for feedback alongside pressures from online validation, potential work-life balance issues, and the perceived devaluation of art compared to convenience or AI-generated content.
It offers flexibility, new tools, and direct audience engagement but requires managing a constant digital presence and the stress of a rapidly changing, sometimes overwhelming, digital landscape.
I think It’s important to be mindful of the pressures of online validation and the overwhelming nature of the digital world; it’s important to disengage and find ways to unplug, such as returning to traditional methods.
What do your plans for the future include?
“My People” is out across various platforms such as Amazon and Apple TV. I’ve been invited at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt this October.
Season 2 of “Great Kills” just came out! I am so excited to be a part of such a great show with Steve Stanulis, James Merendinand, and Oscar nominee Eric Roberts! I really wish that you will enjoy it. Hope you will love it as much as we do.
I recently staged a musical theater piece in Athens, Greece, titled “I am Calling my Old Friends” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising.
I’m co-starring in “City Rush 4,” which was filmed in Germany, and I am developing a pilot, a romantic comedy and a World War II epic.
I’ll be costarring in Fatmir Doga’s new project. Fatmir is dear friend, and we believe in promoting the relations between Greece and Albania.
I will spend time in Athens to work on an amazing new project by Giorgo Labiri and then I go to Canada to co-star in Douglas A. Ewen film. Also, I will be doing a Finnish film with Taavi Vartia.
I cannot wait to work alongside Coins and Serpent productions, over the coming months in the UK.
We are about to launch a duet with Craig Walker. I’ve been a fan of his for many years.
What does the word success mean to you?
Success is a deeply personal and subjective experience. Obviously, achieving goals, finding fulfillment and purpose, making a positive impact, maintaining health and happiness, and living authentically according to my own values.
Also joy, health, happiness, and the ability to do what you love. It’s actually my priority.
While growing up, I realized that my well being comes first. I love what I do and I’ve given quite possibly too much but my chosen person and my friends are most important to me.Then, I can create meaningful art.
What would you like to tell our readers about this film? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
It is a nonstop experience of moving moments, I felt: these stories …OMG, this is too much, this is incredible, and then something else would come up to top that experience.
It is shocking and at the same time inspiring, and I hoped it would be inspiring for the audience.
I don’t know if you noticed that I wanted this film to be something different — that at the end, you would feel empowered. The Nazis destroyed hundreds of millions of people – it’s on a much larger scale than what we generally look at.
One person survives, such as Nina [one of her interviewees], and she loses 27 members of her family.
For me, the most inspiring element is not that these people survived, but basically the fact that they decided to have good lives after having experienced something like that.
Also, it is important to be made aware of the greatness of our presence and that Greece played an important role in the outcome of the war.
One of the reasons I decided to make the film was to make these historical facts known globally – about Greek Jews and Greece’s contribution to winning the war.
Most importantly, to spread the word… that love brings love and it is the greatest power of all.
“My People” is available on Amazon by clicking here.
To learn more about Anna Rezan, follow her on Instagram, and visit her IMDb page.
