Greg Lansky’s Vixen Media Group is proud to announce the company has given Julia Grandi the opportunity to make her directorial debut with the award-winning Vixen studio. After recognizing Grandi’s potential, Lansky decided to become her creative mentor and guide as a director. Grandi’s first project for Vixen is “Beautiful Vista,” starring Lexi Dona and Alberto Blanco, which was shot on the French Riviera in Saint-Tropez and in the lavender fields of Provence, France.

In 2018, Lansky tapped Grandi to produce scenes for VMG’s Vixen, Blacked, and Tushy studios in exotic locales, from Mykonos, Greece, to Ibiza, Spain. This year, Lansky felt it was time to launch his protégé’s directing career. “I love guiding and mentoring people with potential,” says Lansky. “That’s what I do best. I saw Julia’s potential when no one else did. Now I’m going to help her reach the top. There will be a lot more from her in the future.”

Grandi—who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and is the founder and owner of JulModels, which is based in Budapest, Hungary—says she’s benefitted immensely from working with Lansky. “Working with Greg has been an incredible journey. I’ve learned so much. I’ve always tried to put my vision into every scene as a producer, and I’ve always wanted to be a director.”

A former performer, Grandi has found that her experience in front of the camera has given her an edge behind the camera as a director. “As a producer and a director, I know all sides of how the movie should look,” she says. “My own experiences as a performer means that I understand what it’s like to be in their place, and my advice helps the performers deliver better scenes.”

The “Beautiful Vista” trailer can be seen at Vixen. Follow Vixen at @Vixen. Follow Greg Lansky at @greglansky.