Member Profile #3: Lauren Zito

Name: Lauren Zito
Website: www.theweakness.net or www.youtube.com/toolgirl150
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Artistic Discipline: Film/Video
Fractured Atlas Member Since: January 2007
Fractured Atlas Services Used: Film & Equipment Liability Insurance, Health Insurance

Today, we’re featuring Lauren Zito, a teacher, filmmaker, and actress residing in Pittsburgh. Currently, Zito is working on a long-term web serial video project titled “The Weakness.” The video is a “gender-bending dramatic film noir” piece that centers around a 400+ year old vampire who is in love with a clairvoyant, yet loony woman who holds the key to another vampire’s survival. Zito portrays all three major characters in the webisodes. As the filmmaker herself states, the piece is “your usual heartbreaking coming of age story… only with vampires.”

We asked Lauren a few questions about her work….

What/who are your biggest influences?
It’s obvious that Zito is influenced by and models herself after multi-faceted female artists who work across multiple artistic disciplines. She cites photographer/director Cindy Sherman, musician/performance artist Laurie Anderson, and actress/comedian Tracey Ullman as her greatest influences.

What have been your greatest successes to date?
As with her influences, who constantly manipulate and morph themselves and their artistry, Zito is following a similar path. As she states in answer to our question, “I am venturing into a new genre - so I’ll let you know!”

Finish this sentence: A world without art….
“…. could never really exist; art would exist one way or another.”

How can we see, experience, or learn more about your work?
If you’d like to view new and upcoming webisodes of “The Weakess,” simply visit www.theweakness.net. Or, to see all of Zito’s “crazy creations,” visit her YouTube page at www.youtube.com/toolgirl150.

And remember, if you have videos posted on YouTube, make sure you also post them to Fractured Atlas’ YouTube site (www.youtube.com/LiberateTheArtist)! Fractured Atlas members can post their videos using this simple online form.