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

Mary, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I am a woman with learning disabilities. Didn’t find out what was my problem until I was in college. I thought there was things I just couldn’t do. But what brought me through it all was the knowledge that I was loved.

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 back background and context?

I am an independent filmmaker and theatre director. I have a Bachelor of Arts Film/Animation from San Francisco State University. Over my career I have made 9 films and many videos and commercials. I wrote and directed the first Latina lesbian feature film, “Desi’s Looking for a New Girl”. I have created films which have garnered sold-out houses, won awards, and have screened internationally and across the U.S.

I was honored by The San Francisco International Women’s Film Festival for achievement in Film and Media. My first film “After the Break” was recently inducted into the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

As an independent filmmaker and theatre director I don’t have clients; followers; yes, and fans; yes. I have people who come up to me after a film of mine or a theater piece I directed and they tell me how much they love my work.

Current projects: my TV pilot script “Starting Five” and I’m in pre-production on my next feature film: “Lost Dog”.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I get to create.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I get to do what I love. I get to dive into things that inspire me; Robert McKee’s book “Story” helped me get my “Lost Dog” script into a better shape. Spike Lee’s “Director’s Inspiration” book gave me many ideas about how I will shoot my film. The ability to work with other artists is important to me.. San Francisco Filmmakers has created events that we, the filmmakers, are able to trade ideas with each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.guzman.7921
• Twitter: @MaryGuzman

Image Credits
Fontana Butterfield