Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Lewis

Hi Maria, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

My cinematic journey dates back to my early childhood days when my father would bring home VHS movies, and later on, DVDs, whenever he travelled for business. My mother also co-fostered this love of movies, ensuring that my siblings and I were always introduced to new and wonderful films. Movies like Sister Act and The Lion King inspired me, and awakened within me a true love for film. I therefore grew up acting and writing creative stories. This led me to study Film and Drama at the University of Kent (Bachelor’s Degree); then Screenwriting at Royal Holloway, University of London (Master’s Degree). A few years after graduating, I formed The Sizzleisland Company Limited. Over the span of ten years, Sizzleisland has produced numerous interview-style videos, movies, as well as television shows which have been licensed to air on Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT). Today, Sizzleisland continues to create films and television shows/web series programs. We also specialize in Digital Marketing content creation, along with web design and development.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

My journey has been a mixture of smooth roads, rough patches, winding courses, unexpected detours, and unchartered paths. I initially thought my career life would see me working as a successful screenwriter, filmmaker and actress in Los Angeles. Instead, my journey has panned out in an entirely different way. I am based in my home country of Trinidad and Tobago – with the (challenging) luxury of creating my own creative cinematic content. On the one hand, my road oftentimes feels lonely, and it seems as though support – financial and otherwise – is truly hard to come along for one leading an independent production company. However, the upside is that I am running my own ship. I have the freedom to create and tell my stories, and thereby forge a legacy for future generations of Trinbagonian/Caribbean talent to come.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

My company, The Sizzleisland Company Limited, produces original films and television programs. Our films are mostly centered around aspirational women who are seeking to achieve their purpose in life.

We also create featured productions called “Family Legacies by Sizzleisland.” This service involves capturing the life stories of one’s loved ones, so that their family members (both present and to come) would have a beautiful, timeless memento which can be treasured for generations.

Additionally, Sizzleisland specializes in Digital Marketing content creation (i.e. graphic design (logos, flyers, social media posts); videography; copywriting etc.); along with Website Design and Development.

We are proud of all that we create, especially as everything we do centers around the importance of recognizing one’s life purpose – and actively working toward attaining it.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?

I don’t believe you can truly advance by leaps and bounds in life without taking monumental risks.

All my life I have dreamt about living and working in Los Angeles (LA). Even though my film and television production company, The Sizzleisland Company Limited, has been growing in Trinidad and Tobago, and although almost everything I script is centered in Trinidad and Tobago, I have always deeply, deeply wanted to experience being in LA – surrounded by creatives who live and breathe film.

During the 2020/21 pandemic, I made the bold decision to make my way to LA, even if it were for a couple months. I applied for a program in Acting at UCLA, and was successful. I did not have all the finances to attend the first year after being accepted, so I deferred to the following year. I spent month after month after month after month working hard to raise the money to go, but by the time the course was due to start, I was no where near to acquiring the funding needed.

However, despite not having all the finances, I still forged ahead, and put everything within my control, into place for the move – and I prayed a lot. A few weeks before the start of the program, my family (for whom I would forever be grateful to God), rallied around me, and gave me immense support. Together with them, and bolstered by God’s love and power, I was able to acquire the money to move to LA for a year, and successfully complete a Professional Program in Acting for the Camera.

The experience in LA was incredibly hard and eye-opening, but I was blessed to have made great connections with my classmates and teachers; and I learnt a great deal about the art of cinematic acting.

Taking that risk to go to LA, even when I was unsure for months prior as to where the money would come from, was something that I am blessed I had the courage to do. There is a scriptural verse that says, “walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) If I relied on what I saw, that is, the fact that I was not acquiring the funding I needed to move to LA, then I would have never pursued this dream. Thankfully, I walked by faith. It was hard, but I am truly grateful to God that He guided me to still push for this experience, even though I had no idea where the money would come from. Despite everything – God saw me through, and my family and friends were there to support me every step of the way.

I learnt a lot from taking the risk to fulfil a lifelong dream of going to LA. Now, that that experience is behind me, I am grateful for all the learnings, and especially for the awareness that great things can come from creating movies from my neck of the woods by God’s grace!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sizzleisland.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sizzleisland/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sizzleisland
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4aICcKL76HARj1lUj3CktA