Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lizette Castro. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Lizette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
Both my parents were growing up during the Civil War in El Salvador, with separate experiences but the common theme that was implemented in their lives at a very young age was survival. This is a very double-edged sword, because on one hand, resilience and persistence in the industry is crucial, however it also unintentionally influences overworking and burnout. Having immigrant parents that lived through really dangerous and life-altering circumstances, being stripped of their childhood and innocence, really emphasized how fragile life is and how maximizing the experience of mortality through finding a “purpose” really pushed me to make the most of my life. Occasionally I do experience guilt that I had resources my parents never had, such as furthering my education, pursuing my career that started as a hobby, and having a somewhat safety net in finances. My parents are almost complete polar opposites, but that also provides me some sort of balance.
My dad, although a fiery personality, is a relentless worker. He taught me that whenever there is an opportunity to strike careerwise, to always take it and to never give up. In my childhood, he was my biggest influence in hustling and staying focused. Although our relationship is particularly strained, as an adult, I do recognize how my never-ending work ethic reflects his influence. I suppose as a child, I never comprehended how hard he worked, until I joined him on a work trip, trucking from California to Portland.
My mom is the epitome of everlasting light and love. Her name is Salvadora, which translates to “savior” in English, and that name couldn’t be more fitting. She gives me balance and reassurance when I am most doubtful of myself, reminding me that everything takes time. During the war, she grew up in a refugee camp with her mom, siblings and grandpa, while her dad fought alongside guerilla soldiers. My great-grandpa would oftentimes tell her stories or sayings, as opposed to disciplining her, and she definitely inherited that patience and wisdom when it came to parenting. One of many examples would be a time where in high school, I joined track and field (hurdles and sprints) and I was a really mediocre athlete. I remember expressing my hopelessness and dreading seeing how much distance I had left to run, while everyone was ahead of me. At that moment she said, “Do not focus on what’s ahead of you, but rather what is in front of you”, and that has been burned in my brain ever since. That saying taught me to be patient and gentle with myself, because the future is not sealed and fate can change at any given moment, despite our personal plans.
My parents did not have it easy, but their ability to survive and persevere lives in me. My dad’s resilience and unbreakable stubbornness, combined with my mom’s spiritual warmth and comfort shaped me to be who I am today.
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?
My name is Lizette Castro, and I am a Salvadorian-American film assistant director and producer raised and based in Los Angeles. I began my filmmaking journey as a video-journalist for Bell Gardens High School’s web series, Lancer News, in addition to being a filmmaking mentee for the Latino Film Institute’s (LFI) Youth Cinema Project (YCP). Last May, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Television and Film Production, while minoring in Entertainment Marketing from California State University, Los Angeles. I am also a recent graduate of Venice Arts’ Digital Storytelling Fellowship after completing the intensive program in late 2023. This is my eighth year of being a freelance filmmaker, as I was a junior in high school in 2016 when I started.
I suppose what makes me stand out from others is my versatility, as my origins in filmmaking are anything but linear. From a young age I knew I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment, but I never had resources to guide me, as my neighborhood was primarily Latino, consisting of immigrants with American-born children just being taught to work really hard to get by. My earliest memories of film and television stem from watching Sailor Moon and Pokemon on VHS with my older sisters, watching the Harry Potter films with my mom, and catching early-bird showtimes on Saturday mornings. I loved how it brought me closer with family, that no matter how many times we watched the same movies over and over, it still had the same effect of union, joy, and harmless distraction. Even now, as a filmmaker myself, producing films still has that same effect as watching them because it brings people together, just in a more professional setting. Just like the audience has the same goal of watching something to enjoy, we as filmmakers have the goal of making something great and enjoying the process and product.
What I’m proud of the most is sharing these experiences with people of different backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives of filmmaking, as being an assistant director I have the privilege of being able to interact with most crew members across departments. A most recent example has been a film I 1st AD-ed for called Before Fireworks, written and directed by Lyncis “Xueyang” Niu, who is an incredibly intelligent and precise director from China who got her BA from NYU. That was the first film I was on that was not in English, as the film is 95 percent Mandarin dialogue, and with this film I got to meet and interact with cast and crew from different parts of the United States and the globe in general. Before this project, I was still in my bubble of either working with my groups of close friends from school, or other film schools in Los Angeles, and while the city is the filmmaking capital of the world, there’s pockets of filmmakers in the indie scene who are overlooked. Thanks to that film, a producer actually helped me get on sets for projects at the American Film Institute where I got to really broaden my horizons and meet so many more talented filmmakers from all over the world who unite for the same goal I touched on earlier.
Another project I would love to mention that I assistant directed, produced, and casted for last year was a short film called The Day After, which was written and directed by my good friend Misael Landaverde. This film is a coming-of-age passion project that was made in the midst of the strikes, where for most people it was super anxiety-inducing, but in my indie eyes it was a perfect time to create with others who wanted to stay productive. With the help of self-funding, donations, and thorough pre-production Misael and I assembled an all-star crew to carry out production last September, which was super fulfilling and inspiring. Although a good majority of the crew were still students at my alma mater, Cal State LA, we really went above and beyond to break that “student film” mold and visuals through the cinematography, lighting and production design. The mutual love and ambition we shared for our crafts and disciplines, during what seemed like a dark time in the industry, was our brightest moment. It was a also teaching moment for the crew, especially for the members that were still students, that in this industry perseverance, strength, and resilience take you. I was proud to contribute to our experience. The project is currently in post-production, and I cannot be prouder of how my crew executed with what we had. We hope for our audience to catch it somewhere in the film fest circuit when it comes out!
Something I want potential clients, followers, and colleagues to know is that any set that I am on as a 1st AD or a producer, my priorities within production are to execute filming with safety and efficiency with a professional, yet empathetic, compassionate and comfortable environment. The industry is sometimes really cutthroat, and while I understand that there is money and people’s careers on the line, sometimes it’s really unnecessary. I’ve heard so many horror stories of people getting cussed out by other AD’s or heads of departments for minuscule things, sometimes even losing their jobs. The goal for everyone on the crew, again, is to come together to make a really great picture, but to me if people are being disrespected or made uncomfortable, it is almost pointless. No matter how good the picture looks on screen, in the minds of cast and crew, it will playback as a sour memory in their minds. Nothing is ever worth losing respect or dignity. Thankfully with the rise of Gen-Z, people’s mental health is being very much prioritized, however I want to echo that testament.
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
My ultimate goal is to be a face of representation for Salvadorian and Central Americans, to show that there is space for us in the filmmaking industry, as well as media in general. Especially as someone who was born in the states, I unfortunately only got to experience the beauty of El Salvador two separate times, almost twenty years apart. I could only experience my culture at home with my mom, sometimes my extended family. Despite growing up in a Latinx neighborhood in Southeast Los Angeles, I was relentlessly taunted and bullied by my Mexican peers because I was Salvadorian and visibly melanated. Nevertheless, I am very proud of my heritage and where my family comes from. I want to show the upcoming generations of Central American descent, whether it be in the motherland or anywhere else in the world, that you can do anything you set your mind to and that creative careers are just as valid as “traditional” careers such as the medical field, education, etc. I think a lot of us struggle with that crossroads of pursuing our true passions, while still trying to keep our family content and “validate” their sacrifices.
I also just want to be happier. That’s such a blanket statement, but in actuality, this industry can be such a tough space for people to navigate when you have little to no resources. That being said, I started my career particularly young, with little resources and I worked really hard to get to a place where I recognize my worth and talent so much more than when I started. Over the past eight years and counting, I’ve gone through a lot trying to discover myself and build my career with my bare hands. As much as I am proud of being able to do that primarily on my own, I learned some hard lessons about balancing work and personal life. As I reflect on those lessons as an adult, I can’t help but feel sad that I was so hard on myself despite my intentions of building a better future. I felt like I sacrificed a noticeable portion of my youth for something I can build with time and personal growth. I am still pretty young, but I don’t like to confide in time that it would give me grace. However, over time, I’ve grown to be comfortable, but most importantly confident in myself as a person, but especially as a creative. Having my colleagues and my friends in my career with me, motivating me to enjoy the projects we are making together, it gives me life. I could not be any more grateful and lucky to have such amazing, hardworking, talented people by my side. As I have delved more into the corporate world, being freshly employed in a production company, it gives me the reassurance that despite my circumstances of coming from immigrant parents and just the mere passion for the art of filmmaking, that I deserve to be here just as anyone else. And I hope that motivates people. I want to be happy in a sense where I do what I love, with the people I love making films with, enjoying each process and motivating people along the way.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think something that really shocks people is how financially unsustainable being a filmmaker is. What I mean by this there is a misconception that everyone in the industry, no matter what the position is, is a bigshot with money. This could not be further from the truth. Almost any time I tell non-creative people that I am constantly working with making little to almost nothing being a freelancer, they look at me and tell me I am being ripped off or question why I am doing something I cannot survive on. Freelancing is a gamble, but it is also how I’ve been able to network and meet people that I am very close with to this day. Sometimes, being a creative you have to remember that sometimes you cannot sustain yourself financially unless you have stable connections and resources, but we do what we do because we love it. Life is already so complicated within itself, but doing something you love that can potentially become a career is awesome. I wished that non-creatives would understand that just because something does not pay your bills, does not mean you are not receiving some sort of fulfillment. Of course, people have their circumstances, but I am very fortunate enough that I struggle to a non-threatening level to my finances. To each their own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/castroliz
- Instagram: albarnliz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizette-castro-2947851b0/
Image Credits
Angel Cabral, Erik Kollasch, Sean Harvas, Roger Lin, Joshua A. Vazquez