Useful Idiots

“They will teach you not to shine, but you shine instead.” (P.P.P.) During the early days of making Useful Idiots, our director Maurizio Mistretta shared these words from Pier Paolo Pasolini with me. It brought me back to my university days, to when I first encountered the works of Pasolini, Antonin Artaud, Jerzy Grotowski, Tatsumi Hijikata, Yoshi Oida, Michael Chekhov, and others who shaped how I see art and life. It also made me reflect on my youth and how my sense of freedom and rebellion shaped me long before I ever tried acting.

I was born in Lithuania during the Soviet occupation. From an early age, I had an urge for freedom and resistance, something my parents encouraged. I rejected everything that was told to me by grown-ups, school, television, and others. I was searching for my own path, which wasn’t without failures and disappointments. Paraphrasing Kafka: I was free, so I was lost. Even though it was a tough journey, it was filled with great adventures—funny ones, foolish ones, complicated ones, dangerous ones, and even some that were almost fatal. But those experiences shaped who I am, fueling my curiosity and my need to explore life on my own terms.

That same spirit led me to acting. While studying Drama at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, I discovered Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty. He described actors as “athletes of the heart,” and that idea stuck with me. Acting isn’t just about playing a role; it’s about full emotional freedom. It taught me to see the world through different eyes, to zoom in and out, and to explore the core of human experience. Theatre became my teacher, my passion, and my way of making sense of life.

However, during COVID-19, all the theatres shut down. So, we decided to create something new, and that’s how Useful Idiots was born. Shooting the film in Bangkok during lockdowns, curfews, and constant uncertainty was full of complications. But theatre teaches you to adapt, collaborate, and create something out of nothing.

When Maurizio introduced his vision and inspiration, it connected to everything I had learned in my youth, during my studies, and my stage work. It also reminded me how much my entrepreneurial experiences have influenced me. Theatre taught me resilience and creativity, but entrepreneurship taught me how to manage projects, lead teams, and deal with the unexpected. These two worlds feed into each other, shaping how I see both theatre and film.

Finally, after countless challenges, we completed Useful Idiots. It’s a film born out of passion, persistence, and a refusal to give up. From the original script to the music and cinematography, every piece is a labor of love. I’m proud of what we created and thrilled to be partnering with Buffalo8 to distribute it on multiple platforms worldwide. It may not be perfect, but it’s ours. It’s the first film I co-produced, and it will always mean something special to me.

I want to thank everyone who was involved and supported us along the way, and personally, my whole family.

Useful Idiots is now streaming worldwide here.