We recently connected with Ashley Soto Paniagua and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

It’s not all about the writing. Writers rooms are inherently collaborative. Working in a TV writer’s room is the greatest privilege, and there’s a responsibility to tell stories that widen our understanding of humanity. And with humanity comes the humans who you will be stuck in a room with for hours over weeks, months or even years at a time. You’re in a meeting without a laptop as a crutch, and you constantly have to be “on”, pitching jokes or telling your most hidden secrets. Make friends, support each other, advocate for one another, read the room–and maybe, just maybe, stop shaking your leg at the most mind numbing rhythm so we’re not all pulling our hair out by lunch time.

Ashley, 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?

A Mexican and Afro-Puerto Rican native of El Paso, Texas and a former high school teacher in Mississippi, Ashley’s writing credits include Emmy- and NAACP-winning THE PROUD FAMILY: LOUDER AND PROUDER (Disney+), VIDA (Starz), and FAST AND FURIOUS: SPY RACERS (Netflix). Serving as Co-Executive Producer, Ashley most recently showran and directed Broadway Video/Audible Original podcast series MICHELLE ROJAS IS NOT OKAY starring Dascha Polanco that was named one of Audible’s “Best of 2023,” she’s sold and developed projects for Disney+, and her co-created pilot CHUCHI & ADALIZ premiered at SXSW last spring. She was recognized with the CALI Catalyst Award by the Center for Cultural Innovation for her work co-founding #RaisethePercentage, a grassroots initiative that connected working TV writers with emerging Black/Afrolatinx writers in order to reduce barriers to access in the entertainment industry. She currently lives in Los Angeles where she actively avoids her laundry.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I graduated with a degree in Neuroscience and thought I would go to medical school. I was rejected from all 14 medical schools I applied for. There’s a case to be made to try, try again, but I think everyone’s safer this way. I went into marketing and thought I’d go to business school. While I tested at the top percentile for the verbal on the GMAT, I was at 8% for the math. After a very extensive psychological evaluation, results showed I was at the 99% of the general population for memory, 99% for verbal, and the 0.1% (read: zero point one percentile) for attention, and I was finally diagnosed with ADHD. Life started adding up: I was talking myself in and out everything and relying on my memory to get by. Good thing that’s key in the writer’s room. I’m now on Adderall.

Moral of the story, get a psych eval.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

This has evolved over the years, but at its core, I’m rooting for everybody black. I don’t mean that in a cheeky way, but as a directive that black liberation is liberation for everyone.

In addition to that, I’m following the fun. I started to lose that and now I make that a priority. The work isn’t always easy, which may mean it’s not always fun, but when you keep showing up for yourself and if the criteria for yourself is fun, then you have no choice to find the fun. I want to make a distinction that fun doesn’t mean you don’t have to grind and do the grunt work. That’s still part of it, but by surrounding yourself with people who show up for themselves like you show up for yourself then you position yourselves to fully show up for each other. Don’t be an asshole, and that’s not just in how you address each other but how you show up for each other. When you don’t show up and commit, you’re being an asshole by shifting that work onto other people and creating a work imbalance that stews resentment. When the vibes are off, the work stops being fun. So show up. Show up for yourself to show up for others. And be okay with walking away if the vibes are off.

Follow the fun. Find the fun. Root for everybody black.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ashleysoto.me
• Instagram: instagram.com/sotospeak8
• Other: Email [email protected] to have Ashley lead a workshop on fundraising for your independent production or screen CHUCHI & ADALIZ.

Image Credits
Photo cred: Alexandria Stuart