Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Guzmán.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a loving family; Mom, Dad, 4 brothers , 4 sisters and me. I having learning disabilities and didn’t know what was going on with me until I was in college. A friend sent me to the School’s learning center where I learned how to naviagate the world. Filmmaking was my major and I learned about being a Director. Today I driect film and theatre.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not smooth, but not hard, making films was exhilarating. You create a family, you get together and create art.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a filmmaker and a Theatre Director. My films have played around the world. I have received acolades with my filmmaking and my directing theatre. What always sets me apart is my disabilities. and I am person of color.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk-taking? When I was working on my feature “Desi’s Looking for a New Girl” I ran out of money to finish it. And I was heartbroken. My Love was with someon else. I was broke and I couldn’t find work. I didn’t know what to do.
My friend Catherine pushed me forward. I bore down and got as many jobs as I could. This was a time in the bar business that money was flowing. Catherine helped me get jobs at good bars. I rented an editing flat bed and put it under my loft bed. I worked around the clock at this bar and then I would leave that one and be at the other bar until 10AM. Go to sleep, on a loft bed, while my editor who would come in right after I went to bed. She would edit underneath me. I paid her in cash tips. I don’t know if I would call it a risk, but I knew I either finished this movie or I had to move.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oneof9films.com/
Image Credits
Fontana Butterfield
Mary Guzmán