Tiffany Shlain

In a busy world where time is of the essence and the days never seem long enough, this is one of the things that we have really learnt to treasure: a moment to stop and connect with dynamic wonder women of all backgrounds and experiences. Women with ambitious aspirations, powerful perspectives, and few fusses to give about toeing the line. This is what our Conversations With series is all about. We recently had our mind blown by Emmy-nominated filmmaker, speaker and Webby Awards founder –– Tiffany Shlain. Tiffany has received over 80 awards and distinctions for her films and work, and Newsweek has named her one of the “Women Shaping the 21st Century." Recurring themes in Tiffany's body of work are technology and connection, and the love-hate relationship she sometimes has with the former. This perceptual tug of war is familiar to many, we are sure. In her 2019 book 24/6—The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week, Tiffany challenges us to take a Technology Shabbat each week –– a term she coined to refer to an entire day where all technology screens are turned off. We can vouch for this life hack.Not Tech Shabbat today though. Today, we want you to join us in Tiffany Shlain's world for this little moment in time. Another day, another source of inspiration, another perspective. Please, enjoy.

PHOTO CRED: Lauri Levenfeld 

SS: Describe yourself in 3 words. 

TS: Enthusiastic. Creative. Bold.

SS: Tell us a bit about the work you do and why you chose that field.

TS: I make films. I write books. I create experiences. I love moving people. I always like that films are called “movies,” because you can “move” people’s emotions, center of gravity or perspective. I am experimenting with a new form I am calling Spoken Cinema, doing a live cinematic essay performance. That merges together everything I love doing: speaking to a live audience, making films,  opening people’s minds, and shifting their way of looking at things. Making people laugh, cry and think differently.

SS: What were some of the lessons learnt along the way? 

TS: Always challenge yourself creatively. 
Frame things as an experiment. 
Invite the minds you respect the most to give feedback on your work.

"FAILING BIG...ON MY FIRST...PROJECT OUT OF COLLEGE....WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME....I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUCCESSES SINCE THEN IN A DEEPER WAY...I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO TASTE THE GROUND."

SS: What has been your most humbling experience professionally? TS: Failing big and publically on my first feature film project out of college at twenty-two. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I can taste that sense of failure like it was yesterday. It keeps me grounded and humble and I appreciate all the successes since then in a deeper way because I know what it feels like to taste the ground.

SS: What advice would you give to your 15-year old self?

TS: It gets better after high school. Don’t date men that hate their mothers.

PHOTO CRED: Lauri Levenfeld

"ALL MY HAPPIEST MEMORIES SEEM TO HAPPEN ON THAT DAY WHEN I TURN OFF SCREENS, AND TURN ON MY LIFE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME."

SS: Happiness is …?

 TS: The 24 hour period when I turn off all screens for my weekly Technology Shabbat. I have been doing it for over ten years with my family from Friday to Saturday night. It resets me and I feel like I get my soul back each week. All of my happiest memories seem to happen on that day when I turn off screens, and turn on my life right in front of me.

SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?

TS: When people ask to “pick my brain”-- for someone who makes a lot of films on neuroscience, that sounds painful. There are so many better ways to ask for advice. Like what I like to call the love sandwich. Start with what you love about that person’s work, then ask for advice, then end with what you love about their work. Anyone will want to give advice that way. And a love sandwich is much more inviting than the visual of an ice pick to your brain.

SS: Describe your go-to style. 

TS: A hat and red lipstick. That’s all I need.

SS: You feel most beautiful when …?TS: I am with my husband and daughters walking down the street or greeting guests at the door for our weekly Shabbat dinner.

"I...BELIEVE AN OBJECT OF CLOTHING CARRIES THE MOST MAGIC THE FIRST TIME YOU WEAR IT. SO CHOOSE WISELY!"

SS: What does fashion mean to you?
TS: I LOVE FASHION. I love putting something on that accentuates some facet of myself or makes me feel different. Something that draws out the boldness. I also love something tactile or colorful that invites people in. Wearing something fabulous is a magical way to take you to a new level. I also believe an object of clothing carries the most magic the first time you wear it. So choose wisely!

ABOUT TIFFANY SHLAIN

Tiffany Shlain is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and creator of the Webby Awards. She is the author of a newly-released book about her family’s decade long practice of doing Tech Shabbats and how to bring this practice into your life, 24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day A Week. The Museum of Modern Art in New York just premiered her new live Spoken Cinema performance Dear Human. She lectures and performs worldwide on technology and humanity. For information on her book, films, lectures and her quarterly newsletter Breakfast @ Tiffany’s at  tiffanyshlain.com and follow Tiffany on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.