THOMAS TAISTO

After completing a Bachelor of Film from SAE Melbourne, Thomas Taisto has been living in Finland making music videos and building on his passion for film making.

What inspired you to enter into the career you’re in?
There are many aspects to film/video that I enjoy and that drew me towards it. I have always been a visual person, which I suppose was the main reason for choosing this career. I receive a great deal of enjoyment from the entire creative process that is involved in this line of work. The ability to be able to make people feel different emotions, and the creativity one is able to put into a project, makes all of it a whole bunch of fun.

What are your fondest memories of your time at SAE?
My fondest memories of SAE were when a good group of people all worked on a project, and the sense of camaraderie that came with that. Everyone creating and working towards the same end goal. The long hours put into a project while creating and problem solving with your friends were always enjoyable. And of course, the entire learning process of going out there and ‘doing’ was a great deal of fun, even though it was nerve-racking at times.

Are you able to shed some light on how studying at SAE lead you to where you are now?
SAE gave a lot of possibilities for hands on work. You were able to get out there in the field and really learn from the process of doing. SAE does give you a lot of freedom to do what you want. You just have to prove you have the passion for it.

What are your career highlights?
Some career highlights have been working with big name artists here in Finland, also having the chance to direct a few of my own music videos for such artists. Of which one was nominated for an award at the largest music video festival in Finland.

What projects are you working on at the moment?
Right now I am working for one production company, alongside having my own company name. The projects are mainly music videos and a variety of commercials. At the moment I am also looking for funding for a few projects of my own that I’ve been developing.

What advice would you give to students aspiring to become successful in their field?
Advice I would give to aspiring filmmakers are the same ones they have heard a million times, but the truth of the matter is that they do work. Persistence, networking, and never stop learning. Also, I find that an important key to success in this field is staying humble. don’t let any kind of success get to your head. It’s an ugly trait to have. Be nice, have fun, but stay professional!