Most recently, Alexis created NSFTV’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” - an original series following the schooling lives of four very different girls as they navigate their youth, sexuality and family. As a female director who focuses on strong and nuanced female characters, we sit down with Alexis to talk about her experience being a female in the creative industry.

What got you started in your creative career?

As I created more and more characters, I came to realise that there’s no one hard way for them to get to their milestones, and it’s always ever-changing. As long as it’s true to them, the audience will get it. I’ve always wanted to be a screenwriter, and used to create characters while zoning out in secondary school. I think I still have my notebooks from then.

So, what does being a creative mean to you?

It means having to come up with different truths to answer life’s questions, commercially or narratively.

What was your proudest moment in your career so far?

Eh… this is a hard one. I’m proud when my parents are proud, so maybe the time where I won a film award and didn’t tell my parents, and found out days later my mother actually watched the livestream and cried.

What does success mean to you?

Success means having the opportunities to tell your character’s truths, again and again.

One of the clear themes in “Girls Girls Girls” was empowerment, especially to and for young girls. Were there any personal experiences you drew from?

Oh definitely, especially how I deal with my problems. Much like the girls, my friends and I go straight to arguing and then make up immediately because there’s just not enough time in the world with your friends, and you wouldn’t wanna waste it on being passive-aggressive or angry. ‘

Do you think there are similar challenges you are facing as a female in your career? Especially because film is a pretty male dominated industry.

Hmm… If I were to equate this to work, it is pretty challenging to balance the way you communicate as a female. I faced this early on in my career because of my straight-faced demeanour, and was told a lot that I was fierce, or looked angry. I’ve been told to smile countless times too, but I think that’s common for every female in any industry. Luckily I’ve had the good fortune to work with great collaborators who create environments for any person to thrive in.

“I’ve always thought it was important to write what you know. Even when creating unfamiliar characters, I use a base of someone real to jump off of when writing, so that there’s still that truth, no matter how small it may be. For “Girls Girls Girls”, it helped that I had an array of people that I’ve crossed paths with, that helped to form the four girls.”

Was there ever a moment where something unexpected changed the way you see things or decided to change your life?

When I was really young, I resented how I was denied certain things in life, and how different I had to grow up from the rest of my peers. It was a moment that inspired one of the stories in GGG. My mother has been (and still is) obsessed with luxury bags. She finally got the chance to own one when we were young for a cheaper price and was marvelling over it, but eventually had to let it go in order to pay some of our bills. Watching her cry over a bag at that time made me feel like it was so frivolous, but yet, now that I’ve grown up, I know that she was crying over something much bigger. That made me realise how the world doesn’t owe any of us, and that you have to just fight through and find your own truth.

What are some pieces of advice or things that have guided you through different journeys in your life?

Work hard, life doesn’t owe you shit, and speak loudly when necessary. Feel everything at its hardest, ugly cry, and then move on.

This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.