The content creator and director reveals what powers her
They can say what they want to say, but there is power in being able to tell a story. Done right, it can move people to tears, to action, to change their minds. It takes a certain type of creativity to tell one’s story, a certain intelligence to tell someone else’s, and a certain level of humility to take a story to where it needs to go.
Lottie Bie is no stranger to storytelling. You might know her from her satire skits on TikTok, which started during the pandemic when she was diagnosed with ADHD. “I was having severe anxiety attacks and consulted a psychiatrist,” she recalls. “I figured I needed an outlet for my creativity and made skits on TikTok with no expectations of [virality].”
But behind the camera, she’s a serious creative at heart who has sat in the director’s chair for brands like Mobile Legends, Birch Tree and IKEA.
Ahead, our conversation with the 30-year-old, where we talked about how she started in the industry, society’s obsession with the female gaze, and what she’d like a local adaptation of (clue: “Boy Kalawang”).
Wonder: How did you get into the world of storytelling?
Lottie Bie: I knew from a very young age that I would become a storyteller. Whether as an author, musician, director or artist. I’d be “pasang awa” in my math subjects but would excel in extracurricular creative activities—writing, theatre and production. My parents would catch me talking to myself as if I’m in some play. Portraying all the characters, as an introverted only child.
So when I graduated, there was no other option that I was willing to take. I became a writer, editor, assistant director, producer; and now an author, director and content creator.
W: What’s the best part about it?
LB: The fact that your imagination could actually come to life and you get to share it with people. Then hearing how it affects them. Getting people to feel something.
W: There’s been an interest in the “female gaze” recently. Do you think it’s important or relevant to audiences today?
LB: Absolutely crucial. Gaining the perspective of women, particularly when it comes to characters intended for a female audience, holds significant importance. Understanding what truly captivates women's attention is key. The female gaze transcends mere physical attributes; it encompasses the overall dynamics of a character, including their nuance, expressions, intentions and sensibility.
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W: How do you go about telling some else’s story?
LB: Sit them down and let them lead me while I give creative suggestions. It’s not my story to tell, but I would take it upon myself to creatively execute it the best way I can. I’d look for metaphors and how we can create a cinematic approach to facts without bending the person’s reality to the point of breaking.
W: If you could localize any film of your choice, what would it be? Why?
LB: THE AVENGERS. Captain America would be “Mang Kano,” Iron Man is “Boy Kalawang,” Black Widow is “Gagambabe,” Scarlet Witch is “Pulang Bruha.” [It] would be fun!
W: As a woman on the director’s chair, what do you think you’re telling the next generation of creatives?
LB: Be unapologetic. As long as you're not stepping on toes, embrace your true creativity. “Cringe?” That shouldn't be in your vocabulary. Don't be your own worst critic to the point where you've already built a stumbling block for your career by caring too much about what others may think—whether about your gender, your role in society, your style, your femininity, background or your taste. Ask yourself why you would care so much about the opinions of people you don't even want to be like.
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But while a staunch supporter of women, Lottie Bie understands it isn’t a matter of women “taking control.” More than anything, she explains that it’s about being able to “stand as an equal force in the realm of storytelling, alongside men. It’s about being acknowledged, truly heard and provided with opportunities to articulate and depict the female experience independently, without solely relying on the lens of male perspectives.”
She further goes on, saying: “It’s not about one being superior to the other. We need both men and women-led stories.”
There’s a lot more to Lottie Bie than meets the eye. She describes herself as an “ADHD-powered” “satire savant [and] skit-maker.” Someone who likes “crafting laughs and insights with a clever twist.” A woman who makes “emotions entertaining, and life a bit less serious.”
Catch more of Lottie Bie’s professional work with Secret Menu, or her personal skits on TikTok.
Art Alexandra Lara
