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

Laila, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

There isn’t a manual on raising a kid, nor does it matter how many siblings have come before you as a sort of test run. I think that, as in life, everyone is doing the best they can. We all make mistakes and hopefully learn from them. We can also do amazing things. I’m forever grateful my parents did amazing things for me and my brother, more often than not without them even realizing it.

They taught me the value of hard work, respect for others and myself, kindness, and passion to pursue what you love regardless of the challenges. They taught by example and continue to do so. I remember very clearly hugging my mom after she got home from work and I was already in bed, or knocking on the door of my father’s studio, peeking through the door, and seeing him completely immersed in whatever blueprint he was working on that day. Without them realizing it, through their phone calls and (sometimes loud) meetings they taught me how to talk to people, listen, and be listened to. They taught me to be passionate every day of my life by how much joy they brought to their work, from every early commute to researching the absolute best material for the project and having, without exaggerating, a thousand material samples stored in our house. They kept alive my curiosity and creativity, balanced with discipline, planning, and execution. I realize now they gave me a mix of daydreaming and how to make that dream come true. They taught me to take risks by taking their own and getting back up when things didn’t go as planned.

My parents did many things right but if had to choose, the best thing they did was support me, love me, and always stand by my side even with my wildest dreams. I wouldn’t be here without them, both in this world and in this career path.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an actor, producer, and screenwriter born and raised in Mexico City, and now based in New York City. I came to pursue a BFA in Acting For Film at the New York Film Academy with a Talent-Based Scholarship from which I graduated with honors. I’ve been in theater for as long as I can remember, writing, acting, and helping out the producing team to put on plays. I think a part of me always knew it was more than a hobby but it wasn’t until I decided to move to NYC that I started seeing my dream as my career. As I delved into the craft of acting for film, I took on screenwriting and producing. I realized most of my skills and experience in theater could translate to film and I quickly involved myself in as many productions as possible.

During my BFA, I was honored to serve as president of The Pioneers Theatre Club where I produced and stage-managed Kate Hamill’s adaptation of “Dracula”; produced and starred in the club’s first original play, Pedro Fassa’s “Filth”; and produced and intimacy coordinated the second original play, Juniel Aeriel Maldonado’s “Spoon-Fed.” I was awarded Best Screenplay in the Society of Secret Scholars Writing Competition for an original screenplay and was lucky enough to find an amazing co-writer, Lily Malm, with whom to create “Scent of Marigold”. Our feature screenplay was honored by judge Francis Ford Coppola as a finalist in the American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition, recognized as a Top 5 finalist in Final Draft’s Big Break Screenwriting Contest, made the Second Round at the Austin Film Festival, and won Best Feature Drama at the Big Apple Film Festival among other recognitions.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

My favorite part of telling stories, whether it be by acting or writing or by helping them come to life as a producer is how it moves the audience. Stories have the power to bring people together and break prejudices against others. It’s both a shared and individual experience.

When I was young, I entered a monologue contest. The story was deeply personal and embedded with metaphor, it served as closure for one of the hardest moments for me and my family. I performed the monologue and after all the awards were given (to my fellow participants, not me), a woman came to me. She had a tissue in her hand and with watery eyes, she thanked me. I was confused. Actors are the ones thanking the audience for coming to see them, not the other way around. Turns out, my monologue depicted almost the exact situation she was going through with one of her children, and told me my story made her understand and feel seen. Needless to say, I was now in tears with her.

I frequently remember that woman and how it might have helped her go through a hard time. Characters hold our hand, stories show us what we sometimes refuse to see, and above all, make us feel. Making people feel is the most rewarding aspect of what I do and what guides me through every project I take on.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think the best way to support artists and create an ecosystem where creativity fuels their every day is by fostering community. I feel like nowadays we are encouraged to do everything on our own: be the best even if it is at the expense of your peers, have more followers than the person next to you, keep your connections to yourself, and so on. I think it’s a very individualistic and bitter way to go about being a creative. For me, being a creative means collaboration, teamwork. Film festivals, comic cons, and community centers are so important because we crave connection and shared interests. We are social beings. I’ve found that I’m my most creative when I’m surrounded by other creatives, listening to their experiences, and taking the advice and guidance that they offer. I think that by encouraging and offering spaces for community, creatives not only grow but new creatives are born.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lailamatuk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lai_matuk?igsh=MXB6cDN2cDcybHlqZA%3D%3D
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lailamatuk/
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14262107/

Image Credits

Nikita Kamat, Greg Wallace