We were lucky to catch up with Yara Estrada Lowe recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Yara, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

The moment I realized that I wanted to learn how to make films, I was aggressive in getting on any independent film set I could get my hands on. Over time, I spent a number of years learning various position on “crew.” That’s when I caught the directing bug. Not only because I fell in love directing, but because I felt that it was my biggest strength when it came to working behind the scenes.

I don’t think I could have done anything to speed up the learning process. There are so many facets when it comes to the art of filmmaking. When you are first starting out, you really want to soak up all the information and have fun trying out different scenarios to see how things play out.

When it comes to directing, the skill that is most essential to me is knowing how to communicate to your actors. The second thing would be – taking risks. Sometimes directors can be married to the vision they have in their head. The downside of that – is that it may prevent you from trying new things. I like to push the limits and think outside the box. For example: while on set, you might see a better shot for a specific scene when what you initially envisioned.

This year with my directorial debut ‘DEMISE” I finally had the opportunity to take my film all the way through post production. Prior to this, I had never taken a film all the way to the finish line. I felt like I truly became a director after going through a year of post production, and I soon realized that ‘directing’ didn’t end just because you’ve wrapped principle photography. The ‘directing’ continues, but in a different way. It was a great learning experience and extremely challenging to simultaneously direct all the heads of departments during post.

The obstacle that stands in the way of learning more is getting your next gig! Every film is different, and every film will have its own learning curve.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a kid growing up in the 80’s & 90’s, I always had a love for storytelling. Every day of my life as a child, I would create skits, characters, dance performances, and audio recordings of pretend talk shows. I caught the acting bug when I was in a church play at an early age. When I became a teenager, I would use my uncle’s camcorder to film our family parties. I was quickly enamored with filming and had fun doing it. All of my passions led me to study theater arts at San Jose City College. In 2008, I moved to Los Angeles, which was the beginning of my real journey to becoming an actor and filmmaker.

I studied acting a numerous studios in Los Angeles. Around 2013 I learned the craft of screenwriting, and began working behind the scenes on indie film projects. It was during this time frame where I fell love with directing. I am most proud of my work on my feature film DEMISE, which I wrote, directed, and produced. For those who are into watching noir thrillers, watch DEMISE on Amazon Prime, Roku, Tubi, VUDU, and more. Getting a film made and released has been the most challenging yet rewarding process of my life. I think what sets me apart from others is my wild imagination which allows me to tell colorful and compelling stories; as well my relentless persistence in never giving up to achieve my goals.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. When it comes to filmmaking, having the right team on board is a make or break. I can tell you a little bit about my process when it comes to hiring cast and crew members. During the pre-production stage of the making of DEMISE, before I would hire crew members, I would ask them: “Do you love what you do?” It was an important question for me to ask, because if someone doesn’t love their job, then they aren’t going to care or go the extra mile to ensure that their part in this process is nothing short of excellent.

Filmmaking is a team effort and there are so many ways for it to go wrong. I didn’t want to hire people for the sake of filling a gig in their calendar. The five things I look for when hiring cast and crew members are: . 1. Do they excel in their craft? 2. Are they passionate about their job? (love what they do) 3. Do they have great communication skills? 4. Are they reliable? 5. Would their personality be an addition or subtraction to the rest of the team ? In a nutshell, that’s my creative mission as a film Producer when it comes to putting a team together.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The best support is to be present and to be outspoken in spreading the word. Go to that art exhibit, go to that play, show up at that movie screening. Share it on social media, tell a friend.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.demisethefilm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaraestrada_lowe/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP0lTMyN5RHi7nSe-Ct1LhA
• Other: Yara Estrada Lowe on IMDB

Image Credits

Main Photo photography by Easton Schirra
On set photographer – Victor James
DEMISE Movie Premiere – Getty Images