We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mercedes Garcia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mercedes, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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 so incredibly grateful that being a creative is the life path I’ve chosen. The normal workday is generally eight hours, but in the film industry, it’s twelve hours. I’m personally, especially as a producer and director, often pulling sixteen-hour days when I’m in production. By the end of the day, my feet ache, my body hurts and I’m physically and mentally tired.

But my soul feels so full and happy.

I have worked regular jobs in both the service and retail industries, as well as in an office. Clocking in and feeling like hours have passed only to realize it’s only been twenty minutes and you still have seven hours left of your shift is excruciating. The feeling that I’m not contributing anything meaningful, or I’m wasting my life because I’m not creating, is something I don’t want to have to feel ever again. I love the feeling of getting lost in my work and before I know it, the sun is rising and I can hear the birds chirping. It just feels right.

So in short, yes, I’m WAY happier as a creative.

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?

Growing up, I found inspiration in the world around me, seeing stories in seemingly ordinary moments. This curiosity and my desire to emotionally impact audiences became the foundation of my work.

At Stray Cats Productions, our focus is on creating intimate, grounded narratives that capture the complexities of human relationships and everyday experiences. We aim to produce stories that resonate emotionally with audiences, reminding them of the beauty and poignancy in the world around them. In addition to directing and producing films, we also collaborate with other creatives to bring their visions to life. This includes commercials, music videos and creative consulting. Through our projects, we hope to bring a unique, authentic perspective that’s often missing in mainstream media.

What sets us apart is our commitment to kindness, collaboration, and authenticity on set. I believe that the environment we create while making a film is as important as the film itself, and I take pride in fostering a set culture where everyone feels valued. This approach not only strengthens our work but also ensures that our team members and collaborators are truly invested in the stories we’re telling.

Through Stray Cats Productions, I want our audience to feel seen, understood, and perhaps even inspired by the moments we bring to the screen. For anyone new to our work, expect films that prioritize depth, connection, and a genuine love for life’s quieter moments.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is truly the process. Art allows me to synthesize the experiences of life, pulling from both the profound and the everyday to shape something unique. There’s a real satisfaction in watching an idea evolve from an idea into a fully realized piece of work. Each project is like a journey, with its own challenges and discoveries, and seeing it come to life on screen is an incredibly fulfilling experience.

And while I don’t plan on having kids, I sometimes joke that my films are my “babies.” Each one feels like something I’ve nurtured and shaped with care, and every project becomes part of my creative family. So in a way, I get to experience that joy of creation over and over again – minus the diaper changes!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

One thing that non-creatives might struggle to understand about the journey is just how demanding and unglamorous it actually is. While the end result often looks polished – red carpets and beautiful shots – getting there requires a level of commitment that goes beyond what most people see.

The work itself is all-consuming. There are days of not eating properly because you’re deep in production, long hours that blur together with early mornings and late nights, and a constant need to stay on top of everything. As a director or producer, you’re not just focused on the creative vision, you’re also responsible for the well-being of your cast and crew, both physically and psychologically. That responsibility of knowing that the people around you are trusting you to lead them safely through the journey of creating something meaningful can be heavy.

The creative side, especially in writing, brings its own challenges. It often requires pulling from personal, sometimes painful, experiences to make a story authentic. It’s about tapping into emotions so deeply that you physically feel them, experiencing those highs and lows to ensure that they come through on the page. And yet, sometimes the writing doesn’t quite work the way you hoped. It’s discarded, or reworked, meaning that all of that personal stress and emotional labor can feel like it was “for nothing.” The reality is that this process can be incredibly hard on your own mental and physical well-being, and often the weight of it is invisible to others.

At the end of the day, though, I think most of us in creative fields accept this difficulty because of our dedication to the craft. The satisfaction of creating something honest and impactful makes it worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://straycatsproductions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themercedesgarcia/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@straycatsproductions