Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Estarlyn Hiraldo, better know as Starling The Kid. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Starling The Kid, appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
I spent most of 2021 freelancing as a contractual videographer/marketing specialist for local non-profit organizations and start up companies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I had graduated college and I was networking profusely with local creative individuals and organizations in the Massachusetts/Rhode Island area in search of leads for consistent clients/work. I didn’t secure temporary contractual jobs until late that year. However, freelancing in the Northeast taught me one mom the most important lessons I have ever learned in my personal life and professional career, both as a creative and a person. Some of the biggest gigs I was hired to do at the time consisted of shooting and editing a promo sizzle (virtual tour & interviews) for a local public library in Rhode Island as well as a music video for a MA-based Rap/Hip-Hop artist. Both of these experiences taught me the importance of setting boundaries and working with contracts, to be transparent about all expectations and responsibilities for both the contractor & contractee. Gigs like these prepared to develop an organized internal structure/workflow and administration for handling contractual work as a creative contractor going forward. Yes, including doing favors for friends or referrals. Why? Because in order for me to execute my best work, I need to reflect and communicate my needs with external parties and set a system/workflow. Many creatives don’t come to this realization ever or until they reach a point of burnout in their careers. I learned this level of accountability, such as giving the client 2 rough drafts for notes/feedback/adjustments and 1 final deliverable, will prevent me being taken advantage of for my skillsets, burning out, and protecting my energy. Sticking to a system in full disclosure now keeps me in a stable mental state of mind while also ensuring the client is happy with the result.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Known by my artist name as “Starling The Kid,” I am a Dominican multimedia artist and freelancer: filmmaker (writer/director/producer), musician (songwriter, producer, audio engineer), and photographer. After migrating from the Dominican Republic with a studio art background, I discovered my love for storytelling. Once I graduated high school, I picked up my phone and whatever cameras I could borrow from my peers to document life stories as films, merging my visual eye & love for sound from my creative practices of the past (photography, drawing/painting/sculpting, and music). I educate communities about injustices of the world by telling underrepresented stories in a relatable but compelling way. With ample years of editing and production experience, my work captures the immigrant experience from a holistic perspective and explores the quest for identity in transitional stages of life. I studied Film/Video at Providence College and am now a Television Academy Foundation 2021 alum. My mission is to reconstruct the Hollywood narrative around the Latinx immigrant experience while uplifting underrepresented voices. Throughout my life, I have directed and produced over 5 films and a series of contractual videos for companies & organizations. I have also had experience working on national campaigns (Bring on the Ballot’s 2020 Our Vote, Our Reality virtual series), commercials for the Rhode Island Department of Health, United Way, and Lucy’s Health, and studio-level movie sets (Sony Pictures’ I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2022), Walt Disney Studios’ Hocus Pocus 2 (2022), Verdi Productions’ Johnny & Clyde (2022), and Golden Deer Productions’ Apple Cinema (2021) & Fast Food Breakfast Morning (2020)). My films “Heritage” (2018), “Into the Frame” (2020), and “JUNE 22ND” (2023) have been selected and screened by various festivals worldwide (Providence College Student Film Festival, Digital Monthly Online Film Festival, The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards, Dominican Film Festival New York, Prague International Monthly Film Festival, Kalakari Film Festival, and Blacksphere Film Festival) and local TV channels (North Andover Community Access). In 2021, I was inducted into Mass MoCa’s Assets for Artists Spring 2021 Cohort. I am also the recipient of the 2021 Providence College Film Award and Janel Young (JY) Originals’ 2021 Scholarship for Creatives. More about my life biography can be found in Lois W. Stern’s book Tales2Inspire ~ The Pearl Collection: Awesome Kids (2018).
On the musical front, following my 2016 debut single L.A.W.R.E.N.C.E, my debut mixtape In the Midst of Adolescence paid homage to my adolescent hardships. My 2018 single Feel Alive introduced a more experimental sound, along with featured verses on song collaborations with Paradoxic King and Blue Wave Poetics, LLC. I am currently working on new releases in the upcoming year. I made live musical appearances and poetry performances at various college and community events across New England. I most recently performed at WDOM 91.3 FM’s Stuartstock Music Festival.
My curiosity is ever-changing as I am constantly experimenting with different forms of art. I want my potential clients, followers, and fans to know that art is education to me. Art ignites human connection and helps us understand the human condition. I utilize art to educate myself and communities around the world about social injustices. My coming-of-age stories give a voice to the voiceless; they encourage groups to embrace the beauty of hardship and struggle as a natural element of building meaningful relationships. In doing so, my number one priority is always to depict subjects as authentically as possible, shining light on perspectives rooted in humility and truth.
It is my love for the simple and intimate moments of life that fuels my pursuit for a career in film/television. I live to make the world a more inclusive place by challenging what art has been versus what it should be. I tackle client work with an active listening approach, encouraging learning from one another as teachers and students. No dream is ever too big, and no story is ever too small. My granular attention to detail and emphasis on story structure and cinematic quality helps me capture visual media, advertising campaigns, and digital promotional materials for clients that stand out. I provide the following services to clients: videography & photography (shooting/editing/coloring/sound design for sizzles/social media reels/YouTube videos/weddings/commercials/music videos), writing (copywriting, social media posting, script coverage & breakdown), music production & audio engineering (mixing & mastering), graphic design (posters, stickers, business cards, digital graphics), and creative consulting. I am most proud of my unmatched resilience and drive for excellence in every project I tackle. I only take on work that is meaningful and purpose-driven, and will always challenge and empower my clients to strive for greatness.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect is that no day and no project is ever the same. There is never a dull day; every day for me is full of life and excitement to make new discoveries. The constant streams of unexpected changes that uphold in the creative process for any artist keeps life interesting. Personally, it inspires me to push boundaries and go to unimaginable places that previously never seemed possible. As a result, this is my favorite part about being an artist, it is what makes me love what I do. It allows me to unapologetically be my most authentic self, to have no filter, and continue to expand my horizons, educate others, travel the world with impact-driven motives, and grow into the best version of myself.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
From 2020-2022, I worked on Michael .T’s third coming-of-age film JUNE 22ND (2023) as executive/line producer and assistant director. On the third and last day of production, we were unable to shoot at any of the exterior beach locations that I had planned and scouted in advance. We were already running behind on schedule, so driving anywhere else would jeopardize the project not being completed at all. We only had certain cast members for that one last day of production and all other location ideas my team had were unavailable or preoccupied. Just as everything seemed to be falling apart, I left the set to scout the entire coast of the town we were already shooting in with 2 other crew members to find new locations. My drive and determination allowed me to keep the crew energized and hopeful. Although doubt and fear emerged, I pushed myself to think positively and believe that the last and most important shots of the film would get done. And so they did. We found new locations and wrapped the day on time as planned. If this isn’t the definition of resilience, I don’t know what is!
Contact Info:
- Website: *currently under construction
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starlingthekid/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estarlyn-hiraldo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/starlingthekid
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@starlingthekid
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/starlingthekid
Image Credits
Starling The Kid (Estarlyn Hiraldo) Golden Deer Productions Michael .T