Hi, I'm Ally Nalibotsky!

Ever since I was little, I’ve always been the creative type. I wasn’t the “play soccer at recess” kind of kid. Instead, I used my imagination to transform the playground into new worlds where I could create stories. My sister and I constantly found ways to ease our boredom by coming up with creative projects—building furniture out of paper, choreographing dance routines, making parody movie trailers, and writing and performing songs for our family. Growing up like this shaped me into someone who not only values and appreciates all forms of art but is also passionate about mastering many different creative outlets.

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During my teenage years, my focus shifted heavily toward music. I learned trombone and violin, taught myself guitar and piano, and started voice lessons at age 10, continuing until I was 18. I became trained in Musical Theatre and performed in numerous productions with a theater group. Later, during my freshman year of high school, I joined my school’s female acappella group, and acappella became my new obsession. I dove headfirst into the world of competitions, attending acappella summer intensives for three consecutive years, and even joined a professional group outside of school. Music and singing came to define the early part of my high school experience, from performing in musicals and talent shows to competing with my acappella groups. For a long time, I thought music would be my career path—until I discovered filmmaking.

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In my freshman year of high school, I was introduced to filmmaking by an older friend who invited me to join her film coalition in Washington, D.C. Through this coalition, I got the chance to PA on film sets and meet filmmakers of all levels. I’d always loved movies and the idea of creating my own, and after being deeply inspired by Nolan’s Interstellar, I decided to give filmmaking a try. The feeling I had after watching Nolan's "Interstellar" was something I wanted to recreate for others. Once I got involved on a few sets, I quickly fell in love with the entire process, and soon, filmmaking consumed nearly as much of my time as music did. Every weekend, I was either on set or performing. Eventually, I began creating my own films—writing, producing, directing, and editing them. I explored a variety of themes, from a Public Service Announcement on restrictive care toward women, to a reflective piece about a girl's life as the world was ending, an anthology on the different stages of grief, and a historical film on conversion therapy. Through filmmaking, I realized the medium could be a powerful tool to educate viewers and explore psychological themes, which ties into my fascination with psychology. Getting hands-on experience with producing and managing films at a young age honed both my creative and project management skills, something I’ve carried with me ever since. These early experiences ultimately led me to attend Chapman University’s Dodge College, one of the top-ranked film schools, where I studied Creative Producing and Entrepreneurship.

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At Chapman, I had the opportunity to work on numerous film sets in roles ranging from producer to director to location manager to unit production manager and so forth. Working across different departments and genres gave me a broad perspective as a producer-focused filmmaker and has given me the proper knowledge to manage all different departments. Some of my highlights include producing two films during my junior and senior years. The first, "Lyria", was a horror film with special FX makeup, stunts, and getting messy that required careful planning and coordination. As the producer, I had to ensure safety, stay within budget, and protect our locations, while also contributing to the creative side in pre-production, from script work to casting and locations. I managed a team of 22 people, ensuring everything ran smoothly and on schedule, and through the process, I made lifelong friends that I continue to work with to this day. The second film, "Where the Heart Lies", was the biggest project with the largest budget I’ve ever produced, and it touched the hearts of everyone involved. It was based on the true story of a boy who tragically passed away while creating an elaborate treasure hunt for his girlfriend. We shot the film in the very town where the real story took place, which meant I got to organize travel for the entire crew from Southern California to Northern California. Managing logistics like transportation and accommodations while balancing a budget was such a valuable learning experience, enhancing my travel planning skills and passion. Additionally, shooting in outdoor locations like forests and beaches, filming in an unfamiliar town, coordinating a rock climbing sequence, obtaining permits for high level activities, and dealing with very expensive and high quality gear introduced a new set of challenges that helped me develop crucial producer skills. "Where the Heart Lies" was a magical project to be a part of, and overcoming the obstacles we faced along the way was an experience I’ll never forget.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt a shift. While I remained passionate about filmmaking and music, I became increasingly drawn to the idea of freedom—not just freedom in the traditional sense, but the freedom to explore new places, hike the tallest mountains, learn to surf, and discover my braver, more adventurous side. Once I started at Chapman, I became unstoppable in this pursuit. I seized every opportunity to camp, hike, explore new towns, and travel up and down the coast. The excitement I felt during this time was unmatched, and I knew that seeing the world had become one of my greatest aspirations. In my four years at Chapman, I didn’t just see new places—I learned about people, cultures, animals, and the planet. I participated in two study abroad programs: one in Greece, where I produced two films on remote islands, and another in New Zealand, where I spent six months on a life-changing exchange. In New Zealand, I realized that while I loved film, I was also passionate about understanding and caring for our planet. I took courses in Environmental Science, Climatology, and Destination Management, and got to participate in field missions, sail a university research vessel, and travel the country, learning about geology, tectonics, natural disasters, and wildlife. These experiences sparked a deep love for the environment, and I began to reconsider the way I wanted to pursue filmmaking. After these travels, I knew I wanted to blend my artistic passions with my love for the world—leading me to pursue documentary filmmaking.

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In addition to film and music, I’ve always had a passion for event planning. Over the last six years, I've had the opportunities to plan and assist at all kinds of events. From helping organize the Newport Beach Film Festival, assisting at school-wide functions at Chapman, and managing events for my film coalition, my event planning expertise stretches far and wide. Event planning is very similar to producing films in many ways, and I’ve always loved creating experiences for others. My passion for event planning started with small things, like writing and hosting murder mystery dinner parties for friends and family. I’ve also thrown themed events, like a "café study day" at my house, where I transformed my home into a café for friends to study, complete with decorations, coffee, and activities. As I’ve grown, I’ve taken this love for planning and applied it to my professional life, bringing creativity and attention to detail into every event or production I manage.

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After a lot of reflection, I realized I didn’t want to choose between my passions. I had neglected music while studying film, and filmmaking while traveling. Now, as I look ahead to my full-time career, I am excited by the prospect of blending filmmaking, photography, music, science, travel planning, and event planning into both my career and personal life. I want to create a life that encompasses all of my creative outlets while allowing me to explore the world, connect with people, and contribute to meaningful projects that span across these passions. This next chapter is about finding balance, adventure, and purpose, and I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned so far into this new journey.