Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erika Miranda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Erika, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

It’s so hard to choose, but I think I would have to say Mi Casa. It was the first film that my production company, Cafecito Productions made, and it has since taken off in a way that I could only dream about. During the pandemic, when art (and life) seemed to be at a standstill, I found myself daydreaming. I bought a domain name for this production company that didn’t even exist. I think at that point, I had just talked to my cousin about names and logos…but just for fun. Fast forward to six months later and we were filming Mi Casa. Mi Casa was written by Jocelyn Rick. It had originally started as a ten minute play, but me, my producing partner, Caitlin Hargraves and our director, Kristina Arjona, worked together with Jocelyn to create a story that embodied our experiences as half latinas, embracing our culture while living in the United States. We explored the themes of family, and the fear of a life unlived. We built the process of Mi Casa based on our experiences in the theater, so it was really process oriented and collaborative. We shot the film overnight, with one of the most inspiring crews. It is meaningful to me because of the way that we all worked together and shared a creative space that encouraged and uplifted everyone involved. It is also meaningful for me on a personal level, because it is proof that we can do hard things and that we can start at any time. I remember taking a walk with my mom, when this was still just an idea in my head, and I told her Im going to make a movie based on the play she had seen me in a few years earlier. I am not sure either of us really believed me, but here we are. A year after we filmed Mi Casa, it was picked up by HBO. You can watch on HBO! Writing that sentence still makes me giddy. I am super humbled and grateful and hungry to keep creating movies and spaces for people to be seen.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Erika Miranda, a Mexican-Norwegian actor and producer. I am represented by the incredible, Taylor DeThomas at AWA and SilverMass Entertainment in LA. I have a production company based in Atlanta, called Cafecito Productions. I work with an incredible team, consisting of producer/actor, Caitlin Hargraves, and filmmaker/producer, James Rayner. Between the three of us we have formed an incredible crew of filmmakers (crew, writers and actors) that help our visions become reality. I am also involved in the theater scene in Atlanta as an actor and also Executive Producer for SheATL, which is a festival for new plays written by marginalized genders.

I am a storyteller, through and through. Over the pat several years, I have discovered the many ways that I can do what I love in different roles and through different perspectives, both in front of and behind the camera, as well as on stage and behind the scenes! I started my career as an actress, and it was a brutal awakening when I realized the world had set boxes for me because of who I was and what I looked like. What was even more challenging was when I realized I didn’t fit into any of them. That frustration was a blessing because it led me to develop and produce my own work. I am a Mexican-Norwegian woman who was raised in the south. I tell stories that challenge stereotypes and that ultimately reflect all of the rich cultures that raised me. I work to find the heart in every story and the humanity in every character. I am attracted to stories that explore the realities of life: the beautiful and the ugly, the good and the bad.

Caitlin and I were recently told that our films are “heart” stories. They focus on characters and relationships and it doesn’t matter if they are comedic or dramatic, we are always going to find the humanity. We challenge to go deep with us and our characters. And personally, I am always drawn to magical realism. What’s the fun of life, without a little bit of magic?

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

I got into producing to create and develop the roles that as an actor, I craved so badly to play. Being half Mexican, I have felt, that I am constantly straddling two worlds and feeling as though I don’t fully belong in either of them. Identity can feel so suffocating sometimes when you don’t feel you’re enough to play this person or that person. When at the end of the day, we are all people who love, and hate and rebel and fail and succeed. I want to be a fully realized human on screen, and have the opportunities to live fully and not just play into stereotypes or bend to fit into a box that was created for me, not by me.

So, on a global scale, my goal and what drives me, is to make stories that challenge what we’ve seen on screen and on stage before. On a personal level, I have such big goals for myself. I want to challenge and grow as an artist and learn to play in bigger spaces so I can really change the scene for filmmakers. I think that I’m only just getting started and learning new things and creating with different people is just going to help me become a well rounded artist and human. That excites me. I dream of a life where I am in writers rooms developing these magical, gritty heart stories. I am excited to push self to levels I previously didn’t think were possible.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Every day that I commit myself to my craft as an artist and creative, I give myself permission to be vulnerable, brave and curious. I get to connect people and create community through story. If what I create can sort of make a ripple effect, then I am as happy as can be. I think that’s it right? If one person watches my play or one person watches my film and has a moment of feeling, we’ve won. Even if it’s not in the moment and perhaps an after thought…we’ve won.

Our world needs empathy, and our world needs to feel and it fuels me to know that I can play a small part in that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cafecitoproductions.com/
• Instagram: @cafecitoproductions @erika.ines.miranda
• Other: https://www.erikainesmiranda.com/

Image Credits
EM7, Lola Scott