‘I want to continue telling stories in any way I can’

Young filmmaker Kristle Backe is making a name for herself in the U.S. and abroad. (Contributed Photo)

These were the words of young filmmaker and Saipan-grown Kristle Backe, who is currently making a name for herself in the film industry both in the U.S. and abroad, starting with short and experimental films that end up as masterpieces.

Her recent film Sincerely, Kaye won the Audience Award and Best Experimental at University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Academy for Creative Media Showcase. The same film was also selected as one of Hawaii’s local featured shorts to screen at Hawaii’s Film Collective Show Your Shorts screening.

“I think most experimental films can have just as strong of a storyline as a narrative itself. Whether experimental, narratives, or even documentaries—I just want to put or project a picture on the silver screen that is open to interpretation,” she said.

“My other film called METROTICKETS had also been selected to screen at the Shanghai International Film Festival 2018 early this month as part of the Sino-U.S. student program which highlights The Academy for Creative Media and Shanghai Film Academy and gives students making short films an opportunity,” Backe added.

Most of the long line of great filmmakers started when they were young and some made accomplished films when they were aged 25 and under. At only 22 years old, Backe is going on the same route.

“I went to Saipan International School in high school and in college I took classes like directing the actor, directing the camera, cinematography, independent producing, documentary production, post-sound editing, and screenwriting classes

Backe went to the University of Hawaii in Manoa and graduated in May 2018. During a semester abroad in Paris, France, she took business and marketing courses at the Institut d’Economie Scientifique Et de Gestion-School of Management.

“I had no idea I was going to become a Creative Media major. In fact, I was going into Psychology and I took an Introduction to Film course as an elective and that class taught me film terms, showed movies, and forced me to analyze them through a different lens. I found myself enrolling for more film classes because I was curious enough to learn more and later realized there has got to be a reason for it, so I just kept going,” she added.

Backe said that family is her No. 1 inspiration in putting stories together with heart as she used to film family home videos, edit them, and show it to them.

“My family would watch it with tears— these films were a reminder and a true reflection of how happy they made us kids feel and it was all because of them… My mother radiates with grace and she proves to me everyday that we can be all the things we want to be …My father is soft-hearted and he never fails to show how much he believes in me, even when I can’t see it. My grandmother reminds me we are never alone and my dear siblings, they love so freely—we don’t need to fear it,” she said.

Backe’s next project is taking in charge of cinematography in a film entitled A Stone in Candy Paper.

“I am blessed to be given the opportunity to take part in the collaboration of a film called A Stone In Candy Paper as a cinematographer with such talented filmmakers who taught me their style of storytelling, their work ethic and approach on a film set, and their culture,” she said.

“I’ve met unforgettable friends who never failed to make me smile on set and even though there was a language barrier, we all had one goal in common and that was to tell a story… I learned that how lucky I am to have a dream and pursue it. I will always remember the feeling I felt on that film set and I strive to continue to surround myself with that kind of energy and passion,” she added.

As Backe continues her journey, hone her craft, and nurture her talent, Saipan is always in her mind.

“It would be my greatest pleasure to share my film to my family and friends in Saipan. There are different approaches to the exposure of this film and I choose to go for the film festival run… Whether it’s now or later, I would definitely love to screen my film back home,” she said.

“The most meaningful awards are the people who come to me after the films to talk about it. Awards like these bring people together and more often than not, it leads to future work and collaboration on the next projects and in the future, I hope to start a film festival to encourage young filmmakers to do the same,” she added.