2 Minutes With ... Prettybird Filmmaker and Milk Makeup Co-Founder Georgie Greville

Is there anything Georgie Greville can’t do?

Having grown up in Australia, Singapore, London, New York and Boston, she embarked on a creative career that was just as varied—as a writer, creative director, filmmaker, entrepreneur and more.

Along the way, she wrote and directed MTV promos; founded production company LEGS; created high-energy short films for Rag & Bone, crafted Evian’s avant-garde “Baby Inside” spot; teamed with British designer Gareth Pugh on a compelling, large-scale fashion film installation; and spearheaded acclaimed music videos for artists such as Selena Gomez, Flo Rida, Goldfrapp and Florence + The Machine (the latter’s “Dog Days Are Over” was nominated for a VMA award).

Repped for commercial work by Prettybird, Greville also co-founded Milk Makeup, where, as creative director, she is helping to redefine conventional beauty standards with a brand that embraces individuality and authenticity. 

We spent two minutes with Georgie—who was also a judge for this year’s Clio Fashion & Beauty Awards—to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations, and recent work she’s admired. 

Georgie, tell us…

The town where you were born. 

Melbourne, Australia.

What you wanted to be when you grew up.

A writer/movie maker.

How you discovered you were creative.

Growing up overseas, I was always out in nature creating make-believe fairy worlds. I lived in my head.

A person you idolized creatively growing up.

Andy Warhol. I was fascinated by The Factory era and loved that he mixed high with low brow, pop with intellectual.

A moment from high school or college that changed your life.

In college, I tore my ACL competing in a national women’s snowboarding competition and made the decision to start working on films in NYC as soon as possible.

The first concert you saw.

The Cure at a big stadium show in Massachusetts. I cosplayed goth with my friend.

Your favorite artist.

Geremy Jasper.

Your favorite hero or heroine in fiction.

I am into all the Hindu Goddesses.

The best book you’ve read lately.

Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza.

Your favorite movie.

All That Jazz.

Your favorite Instagram follow.

@museummammy

Your favorite creative project you’ve ever worked on, and why.

Branding Milk Makeup because we were able to infuse progressive modern values into every side of brand, from using clean ingredients and vegan, cruelty-free formulas to our leading stance on inclusivity and active philanthropic support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Your favorite creative project from the past year, and why. 

I loved working on the video portraits for HBO’s The Inspiration Room with the creative team at Wieden + Kennedy. It such a powerful, well thought out project for Women’s History Month, and I was able to direct world-class actors like Susie Essman, Poorna Jagannathan and Margarita Levieva performing real women’s diary entries from the hysterically funny to the heartbreaking. 

Someone else’s creative project that inspired you years ago. 

Terence Nance’s show Random Acts of Flyness. I love mixed media formats that mimic the stream of consciousness flow of our minds. 

Someone else’s creative project that you’ve been envious of lately. 

Euphoria is a masterpiece—every part of it was so well executed. I am also still haunted by the brilliance of Iñárritu’s Birdman. 

Your main strength as a creative person. 

Grounding a progressive vision with soul purpose. 

Your weakness or blind spot. 

Being too idealistic. 

One thing that always makes you happy. 

My beautiful sunshine beam of a son! 

One thing that always makes you sad. 

Institutionalized racism. 

What other creative projects you’d like to try.

I am really keen to direct a playful, socially progressive TV show and start a biodynamic farm.