We recently connected with Priscilla Zambrano and have shared our conversation below.

Priscilla, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I am the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants who built a life in this country for me and my siblings with little else but their own two hands. Watching their discipline, vigor, and drive was a major source of inspiration for me.

My parents’ unwavering faith in me helped shape who I am today. They always encouraged me to pursue whatever I wanted so long as it made me happy.

There’s a phrase in Spanish that I remember hearing a lot growing up. “Échale ganas.” It roughly translates to, “give it a try,” or, “give it your best effort.” It’s an expression of encouragement. Something you would say to someone going for a promotion at work, or perhaps a child trying to win a game. I grew up hearing it whenever I faced a challenge.
Struggling with a subject at school? Échale ganas.
Applying for college? Échale ganas.
“Mom, Dad, I want to work in the film industry.” Échale ganas!
I feel lucky to have their trust and I try to repay it by building a successful career. But the truth is, I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t picked up some of their best qualities, such as my mom’s infectious confidence and my dad’s discipline.
My mom is the only person I know who doesn’t get in her own way. If there’s something she wants, she will go for it until it is hers. Growing up, she reminded me to never let my own self-doubts get in the way of my dreams or goals. To this day, I know that if I ever feel like there’s something I can’t do, she will remind me to give it my best effort and not give up.
My dad is one of the smartest people I know, and he never shies away from a challenge. If there’s a problem, he won’t quit until he fixes it, no matter how difficult. It’s a quality not many people have, and it’s one that I’ve tried to emulate in my own life and career. I credit that discipline to a lot of my successes so far!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an assistant editor in the film and television industry. I primarily work on live-action projects (most recently, Superman & Lois on the CW), but I also have prior experience in animation as an assistant editor and animatic editor (Robot Chicken on Adult Swim). I have ambitions to edit comedy one day, and I dream of the vibrant return of the sitcom!

I’ve always been interested in visual storytelling, but I didn’t always know it was a possibility for me. As a Los Angeles native, Hollywood was never more than a stone’s throw away, but it still felt unreachable – as if careers in television and film were reserved for other, more talented people.

The imposter’s syndrome was stubborn, but so was I. After graduating from college, I came back home to LA with a pocketful of knowledge from working at a videography studio as a student, and the sort of blind tenacity particular to someone in their early 20s.
I knew I loved post-production. I knew I loved to edit. That was all I needed.

I got my start working in promos and other short-form social media content, and as time went on, I found myself meeting more and more people working in television and film, which opened up new possibilities for me. Hollywood felt less “unreachable” when shaking hands with someone who worked on one of my favorite shows.

As I’ve become more established, I’ve found that one of the most famously challenging aspects of the film industry is actually one that I love the most: networking.
The old adage, “it’s all about who you know,” strikes fear into the very hearts of many who wish to work in this industry, and while it’s true that networking is the lifeblood of a successful career in Hollywood, there’s a side of that statement that doesn’t often get acknowledged. Getting to “know” people just means forming relationships with them – becoming friends with them.

It’s a very human industry. We often find projects via word-of-mouth, and we often work alongside our friends, or friends of friends. It doesn’t mean you’ll love everyone you work with, but it does mean that if you’re a hard worker, and you give kindness as often as you receive it, you’ll find yourself surrounded by good people. I love the community aspect of this job.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

There is a stigma in our society that creative work isn’t “real” work. We can do without this sentiment. Creative work is work. It takes time, energy, and effort, just like any other endeavor. Artists deserve the same respect that any other craft gets. The best thing we can do for creatives is to trust them with their art. Give them the tools they need to create and the freedom to create what they want.

We can support artists directly by consuming their art: watch indie films, go to local music shows, or attend a film festival. But we can also support them by endeavoring to become more creatively well-rounded. Diversify your own creative interests by consuming art outside of what you might normally find interesting. Who knows? You might find a new film (or song, or painting, etc…) that you really like. We can all benefit from living in a creatively curious society.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The film industry has a reputation for having a brutal work culture. The long days and competitive nature means it’s not always easy making movie magic. I hope to see kinder workplaces, and an end to “hustle culture” in my career’s lifetime.
This is a nebulous goal as much as it is a big one. There are systemic ways of trying to change the work culture. I am actively involved in my union (IATSE, Local 700) by participating in committees and volunteering at events as often as I can. Right now, I’m part of both the Latinx Steering Committee and the LGBTQ+ Steering Committee. Getting involved in your union to bolster the sense of community among colleagues can be a powerful tool in fostering change. A union is only as strong as its membership, after all.
I can attribute a lot of my success to the kindness I’ve received from my friends, colleagues and mentors across every project I’ve worked on. So perhaps the simplest way of creating a kinder work environment is just that: being kind.