We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natasha Soto-Albors. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natasha below.

Natasha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of my priorities as a screenwriter and producer has always been to align myself with projects that I feel great personal resonance with. In 2018 I had the opportunity to collaborate with director Pam Nasr on the screenplay for her short film “Clams Casino”. The goal of the film was to explore the phenomenon Mukbang, which is a type of online broadcast where a host eats large quantities of food on camera while interacting with the audience. When Pam and I first met for coffee to discuss her idea I had zero knowledge of or context for Mukbang but what instantly stood out to me were all the incredible humanistic themes it exploded with. The desire to be seen, a yearning for connection, and the universal search for our identity within the greater context of society. We set out to take this very large idea and frame it within characters and situations that were close to us as women and individuals. The resulting film featured four complex Latina characters whose lives were interconnected by the act of Mukbang. The film went on to have tremendous festival success, screening at Slamdance, New Orleans Film Festival, and more. To this day it’s one of the screenplays I’m proudest of. Each step of the creative process allowed me to bring so much of myself to the work. And Pam was an incredible director to work with because she approached the work with such clear vision and ingenuity while welcoming my creative contributions to the story. I think as an artist there are some rare projects where you get to hook into something both deeply personal and undeniably universal, and that’s where the magic is.

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’ve been a wearer of many hats all my life, both figuratively and literally. No joke – my third grade report card actually commented on my “cute hats”. I’ve always been positively obsessed with storytelling in all its infinite forms. I was a ballet dancer, singer, and actor from a young age. You could also find me constantly scribbling poems, stories, and scripts. At home I forged sets out of cardboard boxes for plays that took over my parents’ living room. Admission to these extravaganzas was via homemade tickets which I asked (forced) my family to buy. I was producing well before I even knew that was a profession, like I said – many hats.

I studied Drama (specifically Musical Theater) at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and post-graduation I boarded the roller coaster of life as an actor in NYC. To keep sane and fulfilled in the midst of auditioning, I began creating content myself. With a group of friends and colleagues, Rotimi Paul, Mallory Gracenin, and Maggie Fine, I co-wrote, co-produced, and acted in my first short film “Ship of Fools” (Beaury Productions, Director: Mike McGuirk). Something warm and fuzzy and ferocious lit up inside me – I was telling stories on my terms again and I was hooked. Soon I was writing and producing a wide variety of film projects, not just for myself but being hired by others to help bring their vision to life.

In 2017 I founded my own production company Night Spark Pictures. The guiding principle for my work is simple – “from imagination to ignition”. I’m passionate about bringing creative concepts to fruition through meticulous planning and execution. In 2021 I embarked on my first feature film project thanks to writer/director/executive producer Alexandra Spieth inviting me on board as producer. Her debut feature film STAG is one of the projects I’m the most honored to have been involved in. STAG is currently rounding out a robust festival journey, having screened at the Brooklyn Film Festival, Female Eye Film Festival (winner of “Best Chills and Thrills Feature”), Portland Horror Film Festival, Soho International Film Festival, and many more.

I’ve also produced numerous short films and web series which have screened at film festivals worldwide. Recent films include “Oso” (Writer/Director: Mateo Márquez) and a special learning film project for the School of Visual Arts Masters in Directing program titled “Goodbye Jonathan’s Soul” (Director: Bob Giraldi, screenplay co-written by myself and Jake D Williamson). A particularly unique project I undertook recently was for the Drama Division at The Juilliard School. For two consecutive years I had the pleasure of being engaged by the division to oversee the production of narrative short films featuring their 4th year drama students. This set of projects was a brand new addition to Juilliard’s drama curriculum and I was thrilled to support its inception.

My journey as a writer has grown alongside my producing career, and for several years now I’ve been a proud adjunct faculty member at the School of Visual Arts Masters in Directing Program where I teach screenwriting. I also currently have a feature film script in development with my frequent writing partner Kate Easton.

As I continue to grow my vision for Night Spark Pictures and my career as a whole, I’m beyond excited for the myriad of adventures and collaborations that lie ahead. My hat rack is at the ready.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m a firm believer that the power of storytelling lies in its ability to mirror our own human experiences. We infuse ourselves into the stories we weave and in doing so we create space for others to see their own reflection as well. As such representation isn’t just important, it’s essential. As a Latina creator and producer I’m driven to build projects that emphasize diversity, not out of obligation but because of the tremendous beauty and strength that type of inclusion brings to the work itself. As a screenwriter I recognize that I hold the power to incite change with every character I craft and that thrills me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

To me the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that moment when, after viewing, witnessing, or reading your work, someone says “that made me think about…” or “that made me feel…”. Art has such an incredible impact on my life, my imagination, my sense of self, and my perception of the world around me. So to think that art I’ve created might help foster that same spirit of inquiry or wonder in another person is truly inspiring.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nightsparkpictures.com
• Instagram: @natashasotoalbors @nightsparkpictures
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5470774/

Image Credits
Champion Hamilton Alexandra Spieth Caroline Mariko Stucky