We recently connected with Mauricio Arrioja and have shared our conversation below.
Appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
The most significant risk I’ve ever taken was the decision to move to Los Angeles and pursue a career in filmmaking with the ultimate goal of becoming a Producer. Back in Mexico, I enjoyed a comfortable life surrounded by friends and family. However, my intuition continuously nudged me to explore beyond my comfort zone, believing that migrating would lead to personal growth and skill development. Relocating to a new country is never a simple endeavor, especially when you undertake it alone.
“The Land of Opportunities” is a phrase often used to describe the United States, and it holds some truth. Nevertheless, the reality is far more complex than the perfect image. My journey has been filled with unexpected challenges and obstacles, and achieving my goals and aspirations has proven to be a far lengthier process than I initially anticipated.
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 Mauricio, and my journey in the world of filmmaking has taken me from Mexico City to Queretaro and even abroad to Denmark during high school. From the age of 15, I knew deep down that making movies was my passion, a path I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. After my graduation, I eagerly approached various production companies in Mexico City, but luck was not on my side. Without prior experience, many professionals advised me to explore opportunities by studying abroad.
In pursuit of my dream, I embarked on a schooling journey in Los Angeles. It started at LACC, where I earned my AA Degree in Cinema before transferring to CSUN to pursue a BA in Film and Television. However, this endeavor was far from a walk in the park. As a student, I faced numerous challenges, particularly the need to work in restaurants, often juggling multiple jobs simultaneously just to cover my tuition fees. There were times when I felt the weight of my responsibilities, and I couldn’t simply take a break or return to my parents in Mexico, as doing so would jeopardize my student Visa and my aspirations.
Throughout this arduous process, I’ve been called a “fighter” and a “warrior” for my unwavering dedication to my professional pursuits and my unyielding commitment to the dream of “Hollywood”. However, I understand that as adults, we must take responsibility for the decisions we make, including the sacrifices we endure to chase our dreams. I remain dedicated, knowing that the challenges I face are all part of the journey, and I am determined to embrace them as opportunities for growth and learning.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most impactful and enduring strategies in my journey have been time and resilience. As the years passed, I have been fortunate to receive numerous recommendations from satisfied clients, and many of them have become repeat customers. Word of mouth has proven to be my primary resource for gaining new opportunities and expanding my reach.
In the past, I used to attend a plethora of industry events throughout the year, which proved beneficial. While I still value these events and continue to attend them, the frequency has understandably reduced compared to pre-pandemic times.
I consider myself blessed to have experienced this growth and success, and I always strive to maintain a positive attitude towards life. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that staying positive requires continuous effort, as life’s challenges can be stressful. Despite the obstacles, I remain committed to embracing every opportunity and pushing forward with determination and optimism.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I’d love to share a story from my time as a PA in Productions, Award Shows, and Film Festivals. Initially, I struggled to make myself stand out or get noticed by the Supervisors, making it challenging to secure consistent work in their company or even as a freelancer. Over the next 2-3 years, I saw my colleagues, some of whom had become close friends, being hired one after the other, while I remained overlooked and uninvited. As time passed, most of them eventually left the field altogether, either by choice or to pursue different careers. A few managed to find their way into Post and succeeded there.
However, after 5 years, an unexpected twist occurred. I finally received a call back and was given an opportunity to prove myself. This breakthrough allowed me to work in significant roles for major Award Shows and Events. Every year since then, I’ve had the incredible chance to collaborate with a fantastic team on these exciting projects.
Each project brought unique challenges and opportunities for growth. Meeting people with diverse perspectives enriched my experience and taught me valuable lessons. Of course, with production comes unexpected and often unnecessary situations, making it a constant challenge to stay on top of everything. Life indeed has a way of surprising us.
The key takeaway from this journey is to never give up. Despite setbacks and delays, perseverance pays off in the end.
Contact Information:
Website: https://www.mamediaproductions.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricio-arrioja-b50a9335/
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3976018/?ref_=pro_nm_visitcons
Portfolio: https://www.mamediaproductions.com/myreel
Other: https://f.io/uV8JnISN
Glaistig: https://www.glaistigfilm.com/
Suggest a Story: CanvasRebel is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.