We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ana Sierra a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Working on meaningful projects has an immense subjective connotation. What could be the most life-changing experience for me, could easily be just another paycheck to another artist.

So let’s start by defining a “meaning-ful” project, at least through my lens. The meaning of meaning if you’ll pardon the redundancy.

Meaning can be the interpretation of a word, or maybe the understanding of a literary piece, but meaning within a project carries significance due to one’s personal beliefs.

I believe life is meant to be lived, not dwelled upon, experienced, not resented, and of course shared, not exclusive.

The most meaningful project I’ve been a part of was a piece I directed back in 2022. Adspicio is a story of personal grief translated into cinematic healing. Based on a personal event with fictional undertones, I was able to convey along with extremley talented artists my vision of what the transition from life to death looks like.

Once the final product was locked and being watched by family, friends, and strangers, I found reassurance in the conversation that followed up. People I had never met before, shedding tears and opening up about their interpretation of life & death. Powerful messages thanking me for sharing a piece they had found healing in. I was speachless.

That’s what made it worth it to me. Not only providing meaning to me, but to others.

Ana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Mexican American Director who’s passionate about bringing thought-provoking and heartfelt stories to life. Whatever the format may be. If there’s something I’ve learned in my filmmaking career is that the stronger the substance, the bigger the impact.

As much as I adore writing, directing, and editing my vision, collaborating with other artists and bringing their vision to life is one of my most satisfactory achievements. From Assistant Directing to Production Managing, my service and interpersonal skills come in handy when having to deal with over 40 cast members and a myriad of dietary restrictions.

Outside of film and storytelling a wholehearted curious soul lives in me, yearning to travel, learn, and explore. I like to consider myself life’s mentee, absorbing as much as I can and alchemizing it into colorful photons.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had to pivot from the life I was building in LA quite recently, allowing me to reconsider the direction in which I was leading my professional and personal life.

Being in a constant work environment, set after set, not allocating much time to my leisure and by default minimal care for my health, made me reach a point where I got the opportunity to take a step back, move to Texas, and work in industries that are not related to film. I would’ve never thought popping that bubble was exactly what I needed to ask myself:

Where do I want to be? What type of projects do I want to invest my time and creative input in? What type of woman am I striving to become? And what things are no longer negotiable that once were?

Having the blessing to pivot in your life is a gift, it truly depends on the lens you decide to look through.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Sharing. Making people feel, reconsider, and think. Opening an unsponken dialogue amongst human matters, questions or uncomfortable subjects. Reminding people that we are all the same, with different experiences, leading to different stories. But in the end sharing is the cornerstone to human connection, making this lifetime worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vimeo.com/user139707921
• Instagram: @anasierra.mov
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-sierra-43a859197/

Image Credits
Paola Balandra, Claudia Chávez.