We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maylen Calienes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maylen below.
Hi Maylen, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I am happy being an artist and creative because I love it and I have no choice. I have no choice because what I do I feel is what I was meant to do, my vocation. I have always been true to myself even if life or people try to steer you in a different direction. Being an artist is often seen as not having a career that gives you profit. Granted that being an artist of any kind, whether you paint, or dance, or act, or sing, or make movies…these are careers that are not seen as jobs that provide unless of course you make it to a level where it is consistent and the jobs pay very well.
People often judge artists and consider them “making it” if they make consistent money or are celebrities in the limelight. You don’t have to be “famous” to be a great artist and to follow your vocation. I love that Artists are philosophers and have the power to create a positive change in the world through art and storytelling. The entertainment industry is one that is known not to be a full time gig but rather more of a freelance job, where you are always seeking work. That doesn’t have to be the case though.
I get to work on different projects all the time, meet different people and keep a full time gig that is also industry related. I spend my time creating or helping others create as a producer by bringing those stories to life. I write everyday on my breaks and I am also creating opportunities for many through my non profit organization Latino Filmmakers Network, my production company Multi Studios and my digital streaming Bilingual website QueEyeTV.com. I also just started a consulting firm for storytellers, check out: https://film-therapy.com/
As a creative, I don’t make it about myself, I also make it about community and work in ways to bring community together so that we can create together and together build a better entertainment industry that is more inclusive. I believe in creating a positive change in the world through our stories while showcasing diversity. I feed my soul by creating and by being a good person that gives opportunities and creates change. The stigma that is put upon artists of any kind has to change! We need to recognize that being an artist is also a job which takes time, sacrifice, talent & artists should be compensated for it.
Without art or entertainment, the world would be a boring place. For me personally having a regular job, living a regular life that fits societies standards is dull. I love that I get to experience different things all the time and dive into different projects creating art through storytelling. Artists are rebels that think outside the box and societal norms. It’s definitely not easy being an artist, but it is most certainly not dull. Living life as an artist and experiencing the world with and open mind and an artistic point of view is interesting and allows you to create and be a change in the world.
Maylen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hi everyone reading this, my name is Maylen Calienes and I have been involved in the ARTS since I was a young girl. Whether it was painting, dancing, modeling, singing, playing the guitar, acting, writing I have done it or tried it. My freshman year of high school when I made it into the exclusive drama team I became even more passionate about acting and doing theatre and competing in drama tournaments while representing my school. I started teaching modeling, dance, acting and etiquette at the age of 16 after school while also attending rehearsals for the next show I’d be performing in. While working for a performing arts academy and putting shows together, I felt we needed better and more entertaining materials for our theatre shows so that is when I started writing and directing for theatre.
I moved to Los Angeles, CA from Miami, FL to take my career to the next level and I started off acting in TV and Film. When I noticed that the few roles I was given the opportunity to audition for were so stereotyped because I happen to be Latina, that is when I decided to focus behind the cameras to change the narrative so I started writing and directing and learned how to produce by making my own movies.
While making movies and trying to make sense of this industry and where I fit in as a Latina creator and a woman, my movies were getting amazing attention at film festivals and screenings but nothing much was happening after that. I noticed the lack of representation there was for the Latino community in general so I founded Latino Filmmakers Network a non profit organization, in 2015 at the Sundance Film Festival to bring that visibility and opportunity our community needs. I then started working on other avenues to bring more opportunities to the Latiné community and underrepresented storytellers by creating a Bilingual channel called QueEyeTV.com and a production company Multi Studios.
These past few years I have found myself producing films made by talented Latino Filmmakers and building these production avenues to create more films and content that is entertaining, universal and diverse. I do plan to getting back to writing and directing because I have stories and a unique voice that needs to be unleashed. I am proud that I get to create and do something good that hopefully makes a difference.
More info on my companies & organization:
Film Therapy is a consulting company, that helps individuals unleash the stories inside of them and guide them to tell their stories. You also get personal consulting to feel confident through networking and connecting to get your projects made. Latino Filmmakers Network (LFN) brings visibility, opportunities and educate the Latiné community and underrepresented storytellers. LFN is also about bringing people together so we can create stories and build community. QueEyeTV.com helps amplify our Bilingual (English, Spanish) voices and helps define the American Latiné voice through podcasts, films, web series made by Latiné talents and underrepresented communities with diversity and inclusion in the forefront. Multi Studios helps develop and distribute films made by underrepresented storytellers.
Make sure you connect with us and follow us on Instagram below:
Latino Filmmakers Network: @latinofilmmakers
Que Eye TV: @queeyetv
Multi Studios: @multimoviestudios
Film Therapy (consulting agency) : @film.therapy.consulting
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Society should start off by respecting artists and their visions. We can use more art in the world and in every place we turn. Art is a form of expression, intellectuality and storytelling. Art should be seen and compensated for. It is important to support artists in their different forms. Art is the best way to educate the world. It is important that schools have art and use art to educate. Art also frees the mind and I believe it is important for our personal mental health and societies overall.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
There are so many resources I wish I knew about earlier in my career. There has also not been enough resources for underrepresented communities which are evolving more right now. ART, whatever form you’re pursuing, is not seen as an occupation in my community it wasn’t something that was encouraged or spoken about. Counselors in schools should encourage students that have that creative mind to pursue their craft and they should be knowledgable in what career paths they are able to take. The library and museums were great resources for me growing up in Miami. I was part of a drama team in High school and I took theatre classes and art history in college. However, I was never guided in the right direction to pursue my vocation, I had to figure out my journey pretty much on my own. Looking back I feel that signs let the way for me to come to Hollywood and educate myself further in the art of storytelling. I saw a flyer at my community college in Miami that offered Media Arts classes at UCLA and that is what led me to Los Angeles. I encourage you all to follow your heart and your instincts.
Through my non profit organization Latino Filmmakers Network we have been able to become a resource for so many and these past few years more and more resources from studios and other organizations have come about. I wish all the resources that are available now were available when I came to this industry or was in school figuring things out. I am however happy to be part of a positive change by providing more resources and opportunities for artists and storytellers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://latinofilmmaker.org/
- Instagram: @latinofilmmakers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latinofilmmakers
- Twitter: @RoyalLatinicity
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClckLqHEOPHaYf8J_14MF8g
- Other: Email: [email protected]