Mona Lisa Moru
- Writer
Born in Sweden to Lebanese parents, Mona Lisa Moru would write stories from an early age, making writing her first true passion. One of her greatest early inspirations was the cinema of fellow Swedes Ingmar Bergman and Greta Garbo, which led her to set sights on becoming an actress for the stage and screen. After her initial studies, Mona Lisa attended the legendary Stella Adler Academy in Hollywood California, where she was taught and directed by teachers such as Academy Award winner Milton Justice. Mona Lisa speaks five languages, and also expresses herself through painting. Directly out of drama school she wrote a screenplay called "Hollywood Rooftop", drawing from her experiences as a foreign student studying the dramatic arts in America. It was directed it as a blend of traditional cinema and Virtual reality. The hybrid 360/VR film has inspired an 'immersive new wave' of storytelling, and was first showcased at the SXSW Film Festival in 2019.