I'm excited to announce that my film "The Power of Choice" was selected for a screening at the 15th Annual Awareness Film Festival. The screening will be on October 6th 2024 at The Regal Theater in Downtown Los Angeles! Don't miss out on your opportunity to support independent filmmakers who create awareness. The festival includes both narrative and documentary films.

For more information and to buy tickets visit:

https://awarenessfestival.org/buy-tickets/
 

Click on the calendar for October 6th and you will see my listing if you scroll down the page. Please be inspired and vote this election. We are at a crossroads in the US and can't leave anyone behind.

As an artist I am constantly trying to hone my skills as a filmmaker. At this point in my career, I had my own photo studio for 12 years, branched out to do more films and advertisements, wrote a dark comedy screenplay about the first generation American experience, and have shot documentaries.

Throughout my film career I am constantly learn the craft of audio. When I edit my films and commercials I also edit my audio so that it is equalized and sounds balanced to the ears. I have also done narration and even sand on an album for my musician and DJ husband, Nomadico!

On my journey to become a more versatile sound designer I am now auditioning to do voiceover for audio books and narrate films that are not of my own creation! I am going to learn the ins and out of recording audio using a handful of programs from the Adobe Creative Cloud and also using other post production software. Of course and as always, my husband will be there as my go to IT guy! I am one lucky gal!

I’m beyond excited to announce my film, The Power of Choice, WON Best Short Documentary at the California Women’s Film Festival. The competition included hundreds of competitors from all across California so I am especially proud today! My film also screened on a cinematic large screen for the first time. Seeing it large was indescribable. It was both surreal and amazing all at once. It looked and sounded great. The audience was engaged for the full 30 minutes. 

I was able to show my film with other amazing women. There was a discussion panel with all of the filmmakers after the film. It was rewarding to talk with other women about our films and the impact we hope they made. This is definitely a high point in my film career and hope this is just the beginning of a great journey filled with learning and connection, with the audience and the people I work with. The film was shown at The Whitefire Theatre in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sherman Oaks.
 

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My film was selected by The California Women’s Film Festival to be shown in Los Angeles at The Whitefire Theater. Please take the time to support an independent filmmaker if you are in LA on July 6th. Click on the image above to get the tickets! The Power of Choice is a short documentary film about abortion rights. 

I am excited to announce that my reproductive justice film, "The Power of Choice is screening at Pieter Performance Arts Space in Los Angeles on October, 6, 2024. Before the film we will have a panel discussion with abortion rights activists speaking about the importance of this historic time. The doors will open at 6:30. The film will include new footage I capture while I am at the abortion rights rally in Washington DC on June 24, 2024. It is the day the Dobbs decision was passed down from the current conservative and politically charged Supreme Court, two years ago. 

Check out this Ad I create to promote the event.

Pieter is located near Downtown Los Angeles in the historic neighborhood of Lincoln Heights, next to Chinatown. The address is at 2701 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 90031. Join us for a celebration of bodily autonomy and film screening of "The Power of Choice" an abortion rights film that delves into the complexities of reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and the fight for gender equality and anti-racist ideology.

Before the screening engage with our esteemed panelists, including activists, experts, and advocates, as they share their insights, experiences, and visions for a more just and equitable world.

Here is the agenda for the evening:

6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Arrival Reception Snacks and Drinks

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Discussion Panel

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Film Screening

9:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Short Exit Speech, Music and Ending Reception

Watch this awesome interview of me about storytelling through film, the perspective of a first generation American during this time in American history and the importance of hearing different perspectives. 

I recently had my film reviewed on the popular and highly respected independent film website, Short Films Matter. It was truly an honor to get such a positive review. As an artist, when you put out your work to the public and they understand the message, there is nothing more powerful. The review was extremely detailed and reading it makes me feel so respected.

You can see the full review here: The Power of Choice Review on Short Films Matter

If you'd like to book me for your next shoot email [email protected]

It's been awhile since I posted. I became an educator for four years teaching film production in South Central Los Angeles at the high school level. I learned more than I could ever imagine. I was able to use my creativity to design lesson plans and effectively teach young people how to tell stories. It was an honor. At the same time, I missed telling stories through my own films. I left teaching in the classroom for now, but I have my Arts, Media and Entertainment CTE teaching credential so I can always go back. For the past year I've been busy creating two of my own films and am working on a third soon. Not bad for my first year back!

There are several steps to create a documentary. Having a thirst for knowledge is definitely a must. Having a desire to share knowledge with others is key as well. If you don't have a team of people you are working with, it is still possible to create a film!

Below are the steps I take as a ONE PERSON TEAM with NO BUDGET!

1. COMING UP WITH AN IDEA

2. RESEARCHING THE SUBJECT, WHETHER IT'S A DOC ABOUT A PERSON OR A POLITICAL MOVEMENT, YOU SHOULD HAVE AN IDEA OF YOUR SUBJECT BEFORE YOU DIVE IN.

3. FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT BY THE END OF THE FILM.

4. DECIDING ON A DOCUMENTARY STYLE. WILL IT BE AN EXPOSITORY, OBSERVATIONAL, POETIC, PERFORMATIVE, PARTICIPATORY, REFLECTIVE DOCUMENTARY OR ANOTHER STYLE?

5. WRITING YOUR SCRIPT. I WRITE A BROADCAST STYLE SCRIPT. IT INCLUDES: TEXT ON SCREEN, IF ANY. B-ROLL IMAGES/VIDEO, VOICEOVER WITH THE WRITTEN SCRIPT AND THE TIME EACH SCENE TAKES WITH THE VOICEOVER.

6. GETTING ALL OF YOUR PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT IN PLACE. THIS INCLUDES: CAMERAS, LENSES, SOUND EQUIPMENT LIKE LAVALIER MICS.

7. GATHERING FOOTAGE, SHOOTING YOUR OWN OR STOCK

8. DOING INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS IF IT IS NECESSARY

9. DOING THE VOICEOVER AND FINDING MUSIC

10. EDITING IT ALL TOGETHER!