We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lena Báez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lena below.

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

For each story I film, I meticulously consider the meaning it will convey. There are no small projects in my eyes. I value the importance of telling stories that can cause change, break barriers, and challenge taboos. Every story is meaningful to me because it explores emotions, relationships, struggles, and the full spectrum of human experiences. I firmly believe that filmmaking is a powerful tool for freedom of expression. Therefore, irrespective of the size of the project, whether filmed with an iPhone or a RED Camera, all that matters is the content it carries and the meaning the director wishes to convey through the story.

Every single one of my projects holds significant meaning to me. From the first to the last one I’ve undertaken, each has been essential for my professional growth. My initial projects consisted of home videos, where my family played the protagonist of the story. I followed their steps through the exploration of new cities during our trips together. They marked the beginning of my curiosity for storytelling aside of being beautiful memories. As they say, “you need to start somewhere,” and the beginning is crucial and meaningful as it lays the foundation for development.

Later, I attended film school where I learned techniques, shots, storytelling, and more. Although my projects weren’t flawless, they held meaning in the knowledge and practice I gained. After finishing school, I continued making new movies and even submitted some to festivals. Additionally, I ventured into creating music videos, and a couple of them that I directed for the band Tarah Who? received recognition by being selected in the first round of the Grammys. Each one of these projects came with their own challenges, and they are meaningful to me as they contributed to my growth as an artist and hold significance to many because of the important stories they tell.

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

Over the years, I have created numerous creative works as a director, but I take the greatest pride in my latest projects. One of them is “Distorted Mirrors,” a short film that delves into the struggles of a young adult living with body dysmorphic disorder. This is not the first project I’ve directed based on real-life experiences, and I confess they have their challenges. However, I am committed to ensuring that my vision authentically portrays the truth of the stories I have been entrusted with. My purpose in telling stories, aside from entertaining, is to paint on the screen the story of who we are exploring our psychology in the most accurate way that I find it possible. It is my responsibility to delve into the emotions of each scene and share them with the audience.

Moving forward, I aspire to create more movies like the ones I love to watch, catering to anyone and everybody. I believe in making films that focus on people, regardless of the genre. After all, you can tell a love story in space or underwater, as in filmmaking, everything is possible.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

All filmmakers can probably relate to this story in one way or another. When I directed “Bad Time,” a music video for the band Tarah Who?, I encountered many challenges on the day of production to the extent that I had to reimagine the concept of the story. I wanted to recreate the environment of a childhood home on the top of a hill, and after two hours of setup, the wind knocked down the flats and destroyed our set. Time was limited, and we had to use what we had. In times of pressure, it is difficult not to get mentally stuck. Murphy’s law became true, and I had to come up with an idea immediately. This was a learning moment for me, an experience that I will never forget. I decided that I couldn’t dwell on the problem because what I needed were solutions.

The producer and I went out for a scout, and quickly I found the right place where we could rebuild our set. It was going to be different from what I had imagined, but it was going to work out. Luckily, I had a great producer, Tobias Lerman, with whom I brainstormed all my ideas, and I had an incredible crew that didn’t give up on me or the project. I’m grateful for that experience because it demonstrated to me that it is okay when things don’t go according to plan because maybe it was not supposed to be; perhaps I always need to take another path. Time is the biggest creeper on a set; it haunts you until the end. Therefore, be prepared for the unexpected because in filmmaking, it is expected.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Three things come to mind when I think about art. First, art is an open space to be vulnerable, to tell stories, and to feel, and I find that very rewarding as an artist. Through movies, I can open the doors to new adventures and new worlds, and I can convey metaphors and play with colors, textures, and delve deep into emotions. I am passionate about the many elements that can be used to express a feeling, and only art can accomplish that.

Second, as much as I am a filmmaker, I’m also a film lover. Therefore, I find it rewarding when people feel connected to my stories because I know that, in one way or another, they can relate to them, and that’s important to me. I don’t tell stories for my therapeutic purposes, but for others. With my psychology degree, I look forward to helping people through my stories. Hopefully, I can inspire them, just like many other directors have inspired me with their tales.

Last but not least, the process of creating a movie is incredibly rewarding because it allows me to collaborate with people who share a similar passion to mine. Over the years, I have learned valuable lessons from them, which have contributed to my growth as a filmmaker and the development of my creative skills. When surrounded by other creatives, there is so much more that I can achieve, and the process becomes a rich and beautiful journey. It’s not just my vision; it becomes ours. Collaborating with individuals who understand and resonate with my purpose as a filmmaker is very fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lenabaezfilms.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lenisa.films/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lena.baez.23
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8243099/

Image Credits
Ivanna Báez, Shubham Gosalia, Steve Escarcega, Rigel Yaluk Mosquera.