Filmmaker Lauren Kring’s bold style and deeply-human stories bring female-centered narratives to life

Filmmaker Lauren Kring aims to make films that are unapologetically female-driven, exploring both humor and emotional complexity through her narrative and creative style. She is inspired by movies and shows such as “Fleabag,” “Promising Young Woman” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” which have influenced the bold and deeply-human content of Kring’s recent films. 

As a University of Georgia graduate from the entertainment and media studies program, she helped co-found the Production Collective Club which strives to help students teach, assist, and connect with filmmakers at UGA. She has directed and produced over five student short films, and gained recognition for her films at “Atlanta Women’s Film Festival,” “Georgia Film Festival,” and “Elevate Film Festival.” Reflection won best lead at the Elevate film festival last year.

Kring interned at Mazu films, which specializes in feature documentaries and “authentic storytelling.” She also attended the Cannes International Film Festival study abroad program where she analyzed international film. She is currently working as a production assistant on an indie feature called “Lyrebird.” Her goal is to create stories that resonate with audiences and endeavors to recognize the team of filmmakers behind her projects in order to inspire the audience and the next generation of filmmakers.

Who would you say is the biggest inspiration for your work?

I would say my biggest inspiration as a person would be Amy Sherman-Palladino. She is the showrunner for “Gilmore Girls,” and she was the creator of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” I love “Gilmore Girls,” because it’s comforting. But “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” is kind of a dark comedy, edgier, and [Palladino] is just so unapologetic in the way that she writes and I love that about her. She’s really good at writing family dynamics and that’s what I love to gear towards when I am writing and directing. I want to explore relationships, whether that’s family dynamics, personal relationships, significant others, things like that. I like to make things that are bold and maybe things that people don’t want to talk about. I’d say in general what inspires me is making people feel seen. I’m inspired by people who aren’t afraid to share their stories. I hope to create stories that make people feel a little less alone in their chaos. 

How do you want people to feel when they’re watching your films?

I want to make the [audience] question things. I want to be though-provoking and open up topics that aren’t normally talked about. Especially growing up, born and raised in the south, it’s like “you only talk about certain things.” So, kind of opening the door, where it’s like “No, you can talk about everything.” Let’s talk about the nitty gritty, gross stuff too.

Could you talk a little bit about your original idea for “Reflection?”

I was recently diagnosed prior to this short film with PCOS polycystic ovarian syndrome, so it makes it really hard to lose weight. I was doing everything in the book and I was like “What is wrong with me? Why can’t I lose weight?” So that’s kind of where “Reflection” came from. How do you navigate this feeling, especially when medical professionals fail you, especially when it comes to women’s health. I knew that there were other people out there who were feeling the same way I was, especially in college, when everyone’s meeting new people and dating new people.

Do you feel like filming “Reflection” was kind of like a healing experience for you in some way?

I think the most healing part of it was the reaction from people after it. Because as a filmmaker you’re going to pick apart your work. [“Reflection”] went to the “Atlanta Women’s Film Festival.” It was nominated for “Best Impact Film” and “Best Lead Actress.” Afterward, so many people came up to me and were like “Oh my God, you know, I have struggled with this and this was so moving.” Some people were crying. It was so surreal. 

A lot of artists feel like they find themselves returning to a theme in their work. Do you find that true to yourself?

I definitely have a theme of navigating turmoil within yourself but also it being external, especially within relationships whether that’s friendships, boyfriends, girlfriends, significant others. So I think I definitely follow a theme of navigating relationships either with yourself or other people.

What kind of artistic approach did you take when filming “Wilted Flowers?”

I really wanted to play with color and I wanted to play with set design and things like that. I got really into the very technical aspects of the film and especially the cinematography. I play a lot with color in the film, especially in the flashbacks, you have very warm, bright colors. And then in the present, it’s very muted colors like wilting flowers, all brown and gray and black. I liked juxtaposing those two.

Lauren Kring is currently working on a documentary with filmmakers Rebecca Levy and Taylor Shults which aim to explore rural gas station communities. 

Do you have any up-and-coming projects that are currently in the works right now? Where do you hope those projects go?

We’re working on a documentary that is about the impact of rural gas stations in Georgia, specifically this one gas station that’s only 30 miles out from Athens, Georgia. Super great people that own it, but also the characters just felt like I stepped into “Gilmore Girls” but if “Gilmore Girls” was set in a boondock southern town—that’s the vibe of this place. 

Why gas station communities? What makes that unique to the story that you want to tell?

Oddly enough, these gas station communities [are] this third-party space, right? So now, as we’ve grown up, gas stations are more conglomerated—and by no means am I saying that’s bad or good, but it just changes the landscape of the community.  And I feel like, you know, as we’re moving into this super intense digital age and where people are kind of struggling to make friends or be part of a community in some way it’s like—let’s put a spotlight back on these gas station communities.