By Lily Hutcheson
Welcome to NYWIFT, Alex Kokenis!
Alex Kokenis (she/her) is a queer filmmaker and editor living in Brooklyn, NY. Her last short film, A Pickle and a Coke, is currently in its festival run, recently winning Best Script at Chicago Film Frenzy.
Through her production company, It’s a Long Story Productions, Alex has co-written and co-directed two short films, Wednesday, and The Root, as well as directed and edited music videos. When she is not creating her own work, she is a passionate editor and loves to bring others’ stories to life.
Alex is currently an Assistant Editor for narrative features and a proud member of IATSE Local 700. She cites Steven Soderbergh and the Duplass Brothers as her main inspirations for storytelling. She loves a good vest and to go bowling.
NYWIFT Member Alex Kokenis
Welcome to NYWIFT! Please introduce yourself briefly to our readers.
Hi! I’m Alex Kokenis (she/her) a queer filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York. I’m a huge fan of genre films and take inspiration from Steven Soderbergh and the Duplass Brothers, as I have a huge love for the mumblecore movement.
When I’m not working on my own projects, I’m a passionate editor and love bringing others’ stories to life. I prioritize working for women and nonbinary folks, which is why I’m super happy to be a part of this community! In my spare time, I love to go bowling and sit in the middle row of the movie theatre. I also appreciate a good vest.
Kokenis speaking at an event
What brings you to NYWIFT?
I have heard nothing but incredible things about this community and the resources it offers artists! I’m excited to be a part of it and connect with other filmmakers in order to learn from them and collaborate.
Kokenis at a film screening
What inspired you to become a filmmaker?
The first film that I ever truly loved was Chris Columbus’ Adventures in Babysitting. My parents showed my siblings and I and it quickly became a blueprint for us that we were constantly referencing. To this day, it’s still one of our favorites and brings me great comfort to think about and revisit in adulthood.
I wanted to be a part of an artistic process that can leave a lasting impact on people the way this film did for me. Art brings people together and it’s incredible to think that something I am a part of, even in the smallest way, can lead to the sort of connection that can span decades.
Kokenis on set
How did you end up founding It’s a Long Story Productions, and what are some of the joys and challenges of running a production company?
My friend and frequent collaborator Alison Hale and I decided to combine our skills and our shared love of every aspect of filmmaking – from pre-production to post-production. We have loved making music videos and short films with a holistic approach to process. We have two short films in the festival circuit at the moment, and are in pre-production on two others.
The biggest joy is to make art with a community of people that I am lucky to call my friends and to collaborate through every step to do what’s best for the project. We formed in 2019, so it has been a challenge to focus on our company while also maintaining our own careers and work (Alison with color, and me with editing). But we are learning to take things slow and enjoy every project. Quality over quantity.
Kokenis working on a film
As an editor, how do you feel that this step of the filmmaking process can contribute to storytelling?
The edit is the final place where a tone of a film is achieved and where you can connect truly with the audience. I find editing to be a crucial part of the storytelling aspect as working with actors’ performances, fine-tuning pace, and even re-arranging action or exposition, completely alters the experience of the film. The editor has to approach the project holistically, while also zooming in on the finest of details in order to tell the best story possible with what they were given.
Kokenis with an award
How do you approach creating a music video? Is it similar or different to your process for other films?
For me, the process to creating a music video isn’t much different from a narrative film. Every music video I’ve been a part of has had a narrative quality to it, with a story that has been crafted with intention in line with the musician’s vision. From there, we find a look, color scheme, and overall energy that we want to convey and then take it step by step.
To me, the most exciting part of directing a music video is deciding if there will be any performance aspect and how to best show the artists’ image to the audience in a way that excites everybody involved.
Are there any projects you are currently working on or would like to explore in the future?
I am in the middle of writing two screenplays right now. One is a short heist film and another is a horror feature. They are extremely different and it’s fun to explore both stories and genres in different ways! I’m hoping to go into production on the heist film next summer.
In addition I have been editing three shorts for local NYC directors. The most recent short I edited, written and directed by Genna Edwards, Brian Won’t Wear Condoms will premiere this Fall!
You can connect with Alex Kokenis through her website, and on instagram at @alex_kokenis and @itsalongstoryproductions.
Lily Hutcheson
Lily Hutcheson is an intern at NYWIFT and a student at Princeton University, where she is studying English and creative writing. She grew up in Vermont, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs. She loves film, television, and theater, and especially enjoys writing and directing. She hopes to continue exploring these interests post-graduation, and is excited to be a part of the NYWIFT community!
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