our history
Our story begins in Vienna, where we met in 2015 while studying acting. Studying together made our artistic methods stronger. Even though we're different, we work well as a team.
We value not only the results of our collaboration but also each other personally. Respect and mutual support are crucial for us.Us working close together and our friendship have lasted over the years and grown stronger, even though we have been in different places and time zones. Weekly Zoom conversations have kept us connected. Meetings were rare but intense, filled with personal idea exchanges.
In the fall of 2020, we filmed our first self-written scene and discovered the joy of crafting our own stories. We shared more scenes and they made us become more professional, leading to the production of our first short film, 'Die Frage nach dem Fenster' (Questioning the Window).
Based on this positive experience, we decided to give the project a name: the vulpecula collective, with an associated logo. This is to move forward our creative ideas and projects.
VULPECULA - what does it mean?
The search for a suitable name for our artistic group took a while. After finding each other during our acting studies, we called ourselves the 'foxes.'
We can't quite remember how we came up with this name, but the fox symbolizes a special strength for us that may not be immediately visible but shows itself over time.
This allowed us to plan our projects calmly without being observed by others.
In our search for a name, we stumbled upon the constellation of the Little Fox (Latin: vulpecula). The stars of this small fox don't shine particularly brightly, but it appears at the centre of the Milky Way and contains important heavenly objects. This constellation seemed perfect to represent our collective. We want to be a group of artists working together fairly to bring their ideas to life. Like stars shining together, we want to grow by considering different perspectives. We aim to grow, inspired by the vast universe, while sticking to our artistic standards and values.
This is the vulpecula collective. This is who we are. And we are just getting started.
our Motivation
Our journey to the stars began in a tough time during the Corona pandemic. The world was affected by the crisis, and cultural life came to a halt.
After our training, as aspiring actresses, we faced the challenge of projects which were cancelled and not many new opportunities.
During this tough time, we realized that we didn't want circumstances from the outside to control our work as artists anymore. The Corona crisis was just one example. As actresses, we often had little say in the stories we were supposed to tell. Sometimes, we had to turn down offers because we couldn't support them for moral reasons, whether due to racist or sexist content or the way they were presented. We didn't want to play at any cost. If the industry couldn't give us enough opportunities for us to express ourselves in an artistic way, we decided to take action and reach for the stars.
our dreams
our basic idea
Our main idea is to make things fair for everyone, especially by fighting against discrimination in various forms. The productions of the vulpecula collective aim to be feminist.
our approach
We want to stand against different types of discrimination, like sexism, homophobia, transphobia, racism, and more. The vulpecula collective supports gender equality, female empowerment, vegan productions, and sustainability.
In our projects, we want to welcome a variety of people in the team and among performers. We want to question stereotypes and make inclusivity a top priority, not only in casting and the team but also for our audience.
We're committed to making our productions accessible to people with sight and hearing challenges, and we'll use simple language on this website.
Respectful communication is important to us, and we actively practice it. In future projects, we'll include different languages and dialects. While we may not follow the usual rules, we won't let industry standards limit us. That's what makes the vulpecula collective special.
our direction
Our way of creating is as wide as our approach. In our first short film, we explored fears regarding language, especially within the Burgenland Croatian community.
In the future, we want our projects to be as diverse as our team. We don't want to limit ourselves to a specific type of art, genre, or set themes. Our focus should be as big as the universe that motivates us. However, it's important for us to regularly address important societal problems. Entertainment is also important, but it should always match the themes.
If possible, we plan to donate an amount of the earnings from relevant socio-political projects to selected organizations, depending on our production’s success.
how we work
In our projects, we want to create a professional and friendly atmosphere. Having joy in expressing art is crucial for us. We support artists as much as we can, thinking about their talents and needs. Everyone should have the chance to say their opinions and make suggestions, regardless of their role. We want to consider different perspectives and like working together with fewer levels of authority.
No matter the position, we want everyone to actively take part and make our stories special.
For tough topics, we do proper research, get advice from experts, and talk to those directly affected. We make sure there is a safe work environment, especially during intimate scenes – that is top priority for us. Information for help or support, like #we_do!, is part as well.
Everyone who shares our views against discrimination is welcome.
We actively want to work with the right organizations and give preference to applications from people in disadvantaged groups when their qualifications are the same.
In a working environment where people may face discrimination, tolerance, openness, and consideration are essential so that everyone has enough space to simply be themselves.
our goals
“We want to find what connects us with others through the shared element of art."
We believe art can make a difference, bringing joy and bringing different emotions. It's crucial that art has an impact. Our goal is not only for people to express their feelings through our art but also to think about their old and new opinions. We encaurage thinking carefully and getting a better understanding of oneself and others.
Our art should help people see themselves in our stories and understand others better. We think everyone should have the chance to tell stories that represent their culture and community. That's why we support diversity in art, wanting to make it the norm. Ultimately, we want to inspire all viewers and bring them joy through art.
Unsere Aussicht auf die zukunft
Looking ahead, our team has big dreams. While our first short film achieved a lot, not having enough money limited some of our goals.
We are dedicated to actively fighting against discrimination in all our upcoming projects.
As founders, we, three white women from the middle class, feel a special responsibility.
We'll make sure people from diverse backgrounds participate in all parts of our projects and we'll use our privileges to collaborate, not dominate.
Knowing that we are not perfect, we are open to learning and getting better. Feedback, especially from diverse perspectives, is welcome.
Even with challenges, we hope our team can make a positive impact in the art world and find success with our projects.