Ava Williams on The Darjeeling Limited

I could find the beauty in going through the hard times to get to the good times, even if the good times had not arrived yet. I could very well be on the train to them, and it turns out I was.

The first time I met Ava, I was visiting her class with my sister for their installation. I remember each student going around to show their projects, many of which would become their senior thesis. I remember the way Ava decorated her corner of the room to resemble a living room with photos hung all over the wall. The photos were from her project, The Twins. I would later buy this project in the form of a book. I thought her presentation was so clever and creative, its no shock what she's gone on to accomplish since.

Though, what I remember most vividly, and I don't know if I ever shared this with her, was her sitting on a table drinking her tea, accidentally spilling it on herself, and upon realizing I saw it happen, shot me finger guns and started laughing. That's the Ava I have come to know and love. I knew before even beginning my monthly newsletter I would interview Ava for it. She has such a unique perspective, especially when talking about things she's most passionate about.

That's why there was no better movie to interview her about than one of the many works of Wes Anderson. If you're not actively on social media, you might not know about Ava's iconic viral moment from last year. Ava so brilliantly posted a video on TikTok in the style of Wes Anderson doing something very simplistic: riding the train. This is, in my opinion, one of Ava's strongest talents: turning something simplistic into a masterpiece.

Side by Side images of Ava Williams from her Instagram: @avawillyums.

I was blown away by her initial video, and it turns out I wasn't alone. It felt like the video took off instantly, and a year later, the likes sit at 2.3 million. It was recreated by everyone from the official democratic party's TikTok account to the most recent, Travis Kelce. As major swifties, this was a big deal for us! As exciting as this is, I know Ava will go on to accomplish things that will make this viral TikTok moment seem like just a small blip in her life of success and creativity. However, I suspect Ava will be a lifelong Wes Anderson fan which is why I'm so excited I got to hear her thoughts of The Darjeeling Limited.

Hi Ava! Can you introduce yourself to Movie Mondays subscribers and tell us about your career and passions?

Hi, my name is Ava Williams. I am a photographer and retoucher, and I guess I also do some social media stuff. I write a newsletter called From My Search Bar, typically about fashion and culture and my thoughts on how we live life in the modern era. My true passion is paparazzi photos, which I think are art. 

Collage of Ava’s favorite Paparazzi photos featuring Chris Pine and Leonardo DiCaprio.

When I first met you, you were an FIT student, and your main focus was your Twins project. Can you talk about why you were so passionate about that series and how your work has evolved since then?

Art is interesting because of the relationships it forms through consumption, not only in context to the artist and the viewer but the work as an entity and the viewer. My art tends to focus on how our relationships (not necessarily romantic love but how we interact with everyone) affect our lives in unimaginable ways. Human connection is universal. So, while I may be photographing my unique relationship, I am interested more in how people relate their relationships to mine. I need to tell people what it feels like to me so they can tell me what it feels like to them.