We were lucky to catch up with MJ Garcia recently and have shared our conversation below.

MJ, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you signed with an agent or manager? Why or why not?

Yes, I have both an agent and a manager. My experience with this is that signing with an agent first begins with you. It’s very important to understand your brand, who you are and what you’ll bring to the casting offices. This will help you explain to the representative that you’re meeting with what you’re adding to their team. They might have in their roster someone that looks like you, but you might have different abilities, different essence, a different brand and this is what they’re interested in knowing and understanding for them to send you out to the right castings. Networking is vital in this (and every) industry and I learned the especially because every representative that I’ve met with or worked with, was connected to me through a recommendation from a friend to me and me to them. Know who you are, then talk to the right people and come prepared to show them what you got in those meetings!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I went to school for acting for film. Acting has been my passion since I was a little girl and upon graduation the door of makeup artistry opened wide for me at the same time as I keep consolidating myself as an actress in LA. I’ve had the pleasure of being a makeup artist for over 5 years now. This side hustle of mine keeps me creative and keeps me on set.
A couple of years ago I decided to team up with my brother (a video editor) to start our own film production company. This has been one of my biggest achievements in the latest years. Thanks to our production company I’ve been able to tell my own stories, and work with my some of my favorite creatives. It has also given me the opportunity to wear a film producer hat, which I didn’t really foresaw but it made sense when it was time. Learning a new set of skills and doing something I had never done empowered me to keep growing as a creative in the film industry and I encourage everyone to go out and try scary things!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely yes. My biggest mission is to keep amplifying female latinx voices. We all have a unique perspective on the world and a very important shared experience as women of this culture. For years we have been stereotyped, ignored and patronized, but the time to keep telling our story and keep enforcing our voice is now. My main goal is to keep upflifting the latino community in the film industry. I want to be one of the leaders that provides creative solutions and resources to keep strengthening the community, the economy and, as I said before, the voices.

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

When people tell me that they feel identified or connected to anything from my creations. Being a line in a film, a look in a performance or a photograph- it fills my heart. All creatives have different reasons to create, mine is to connect with this life and this world, so when someone likes my work because they felt seen… it’s the only thing I need to hear to keep going.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mjgarcia.jpg
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mj-garcia-199791294/

Image Credits
Antonio Zapiain Luna Mira Rae