Hayyan: Firstly, we’d like to know a little bit about where your filmmaking journey began; what first inspired that drive in you to make films, and what do you credit for shaping your creative sensibilities?
Pauliina: It started at a very young age. I was part of a theatre club, and even then I loved helping other actors get into character. At school I was always organising performances, and whenever I had the chance, I’d turn assignments into short videos instead of written work. I was also lucky to have an older sister who was into photography, so I often went along to film behind-the-scenes videos at her shoots. Around the same time I went through a YouTube phase, which taught me a lot about storytelling and editing. Looking back, all those experiences naturally led me towards filmmaking.
Hayyan: What inspired this specific project?
Pauliina: My Last Day on Earth actually began as a music video before evolving into a short film. It was inspired by the poem Sudno, which explores the idea that sometimes dying can seem easier than living. I wanted to approach those themes in a more visual and metaphorical way rather than being too literal. The image of a lonely astronaut spending their final day wandering through London felt like an interesting way to tell that story.
Hayyan: What was the biggest challenge making My Last Day on Earth?
Pauliina: The biggest challenge came after filming. Since the project started as a music video, we hadn’t recorded production sound, so when we decided to turn it into a short film we had to build the entire soundtrack from scratch. During production we also faced practical challenges, like finding an astronaut suit and figuring out how to film on the London Underground. Looking back, I’m really proud of how everyone came together to solve those problems.
Hayyan: What did you take from this project that you think will stick most with you throughout your filmmaking journey?
Pauliina: Collaboration, without a doubt. I loved working with the entire team, and it reminded me how much filmmaking depends on trusting the people around you. It also helped me become more confident in my own decisions as a director. Learning to trust my instincts is something I’ll definitely carry into future projects.
Hayyan: What do you love most about the filmmaking process?
Pauliina: I love seeing everything come together. Watching months of planning, writing and filming finally become a finished film is incredibly rewarding. It’s the moment when all the hard work starts to make sense.
Hayyan: Which filmmakers inspire you the most?
Pauliina: I don’t really have one specific filmmaker that I look up to. I’m usually inspired more by individual films than directors. Some of my favourites are Close by Lukas Dhont, Black Swan by Darren Aronofsky, and Superman by James Gunn. They’re all very different, but each one has stayed with me for different reasons.
Hayyan: Finally, have you got any new projects in the works for us to look forward to?
Pauliina: I’m currently developing my first feature film, Aurora Sun. It’s a science fiction drama about fatherhood, grief and hope, told through the story of a father trying to save his daughter in a dying world. It’s the most ambitious project I’ve worked on so far, and I’m really excited to keep developing it.