To avoid a mundane self-portrait, here's an interview-style à la Vogue's 73 Questions.
Enjoy this bold display of defiance coated in charm.
How do you pronounce your name?
It's pronounced Lay-Uh. A bit like the princess.
Do you speak any other languages?
Besides my mother tongue Croatian, I am fluent in Italian and English. Auch ein bisschen Deutsch. Does reading music count?
What's the best part about being in the industry you're in?
Brainstorming, clicking with people and the puzzle - editing.
What type of projects would you like to work on?
Ideally, character-driven stories infused with humour, absurdism, and a bit of excess. I am drawn to exploring dark themes presented in a tragicomic or lighthearted manner.
What's the most challenging part of your creative process?
Grappling with the fear of failure and the fear of making mistakes.
What's a film that made a lasting impact on you?
Amadeus - I saw it as a kid and remember asking my dad what the term mediocre meant. Still one of my favourite films to this day.
Any other honourable mentions?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Before trilogy, Cinema Paradiso (for an extensive list, see my Letterboxd).
What's the most disturbing film you've ever watched?
Lilya 4-ever.
Favourite animation?
Anastasia.
What's a book that made a lasting impact on you?
Zeno's Conscience by Italo Svevo. I also fondly return to Species of Spaces by Georges Perec.
Who's your biggest inspiration in life?
My parents.
What's your favourite place you've ever travelled to?
Probably the Scottish Highlands or the mountains of Montenegro.
What's the one thing you can't live without?
The Sun and the Adriatic Sea.
What's your favourite way to unwind after a long day?
Singing and pestering my partner with the new theories of the day.
What's a good piece of advice you've received?
If you think you know something, find someone who disagrees and listen to them.