We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Paloma Quintanal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Paloma below.
Paloma, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
I find the question about success really intriguing because, you know, we often judge success based on our professional achievements. But, in my opinion, what it means to be successful is a bit different for each person. For me, success is about doing what I love, being around people I care about, and just being happy overall. To get there, the first step is figuring out what you really want. You got to know your life goals, dreams, the kind of people you want in your circle, the type of person you want to be, and most importantly, what happiness means to you.
Being genuine is also a big deal when it comes to personal success. Staying true to yourself, sticking to your principles and values, even when there’s pressure from the outside, lays a solid foundation for your success. When your actions align with your beliefs, it builds integrity and makes you more resilient in tough times.
Success isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. The journey to success is super personal and unique for each of us. It’s all about self-awareness, planning things out, staying determined, having a good support system, and, of course, keeping it real. By setting your own goals and taking your own path, you can find success in a way that really means something to you.
These days, success for me is pretty much the same as being happy. I’ve come to realize that no matter how much money I make or how many work accomplishments I stack up, it doesn’t mean much if I’m not feeling happy in my day-to-day life. For me, success is all about finding satisfaction and joy in each day.
For me, success goes beyond external accomplishments and social appearances. It’s more about creating a life that’s meaningful, where I appreciate what I have and feel personally fulfilled. Every day is a chance to learn, grow, and find happiness in the little things. So, for me, success is an ongoing journey to find genuine happiness.
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?
I was born and raised in Mexico City, fortunate to have parents who always supported me in everything. In their own way, they made me believe that I was born into a world where anything is possible, and the only limits are in your head. I believe this greatly shaped my personality and, above all, my character. From a young age, I knew what I wanted and what I didn’t, and as the years went by, I discovered how important it was for me to achieve professional success, my professional success.
I have always been a lover of entertainment; cinema and theater are among my favorite things in the world. From my earliest memories, I would secretly watch Mexican soap operas in the afternoons, much to my parents’ unawareness, of course. I enjoyed putting on theater productions with my friends or cousins and presenting them at family gatherings, Christmas, etc. On Fridays, my friends and I would gather at someone’s house to make movies. We would literally grab a camera and recreate existing films or improvise and tell our own stories. I remember that during adolescence, when Twilight was a thing, it was our go-to remake every time.
I think growing up with so much creative freedom and surrounding myself with people who shared similar interests and encouraged my creativity was undoubtedly key in becoming the person I am today. I discovered my passion for being a producer in the last years of high school when I realized my interest in fields such as business, administration, and project management. Even in my personal life, I behaved like a producer, always taking on a leadership role in any given circumstance.
I always explore, find, and implement solutions for every problem using my organizational skills, ability to calculate risk and opportunity, and attention to detail. Combining my passion for entertainment with my control-freak personality, I arrived at the result: a producer. Without a doubt, I wouldn’t be here in Los Angeles, living my passion and sharing this story, if it weren’t for everything I experienced, learned, and grew through in Mexico, both personally and professionally, in the years that followed.
My journey into the world of professional production began when I was 19 years old back in 2015. I was just a third-semester Communication student, and although I was there because I wanted to produce Mexican soap operas, out of curiosity, alongside my university classes, I took a theater production course. As I have always been in love with theater, I was curious to know the behind-the-scenes, how the staging of a play was made possible and all the in-and-outs of the production process. There, one of my classmates was working as a producer for a small theater production, and he invited me and my best friend, who was also taking the course, to work on that play as stage managers. We had zero experience, but saying no was not an option, and we ventured into the unknown. That play was called “Sucia y muy chingona historia de amor” (Dirty Great Love Story), and it truly changed my life. I remember it today as one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The play was much more successful than anyone thought it would be and ran in various theaters in Mexico City for about 5 years. I worked there until mid-2017, and in the meantime, I ventured to produce two plays on my own and worked as a stage manager on two other productions.
In 2017, I had the opportunity to work in Madrid, Spain, for a commercial production company, and without hesitation, I left everything behind and once again ventured into the unknown. I took a semester off from my studies and said goodbye to my years in theater, which I will always carry in my heart. I worked for 6 months as the right-hand person to the CEO of a production company called Aproductions, and that was my first introduction to the world of film production.
After those 6 months, I returned to Mexico to finish my degree, and in the same year, 2018, I started working part-time as a production coordinator for a photo and video production company called Latro Films. At Latro, we produced all kinds of videos, from commercials for major brands like Disney or Business Insider to music festival aftermovies or wedding videos. In 2019, I completed my degree in Communication and became a producer at Latro Films. It was then that I reaffirmed my passion for production and decided I wanted to take it to the next level.
In 2021, I started my master’s in film and television production at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles. While studying, doors opened for me to work with Black Valley Films under the mentorship of Oscar-nominated documentarian Scott Hamilton Kennedy. Following my graduation in 2023, I joined a renowned Academy Award-winning film director as a creative executive and production coordinator.
At the same time, I am embarking on a film festival circuit for two shorts that I recently produced. A documentary short titled “The Party is in the Kitchen,” directed by Laura Medeiros, and a dramedy short film named “Have you ever wanted to kill somebody?” directed by Sebastian Berenguer, which just premiered at the California Women’s Film Festival.
I take immense pride in my journey and the hard work that has brought me to where I am today. As a female Mexican filmmaker, I understand that opportunities didn’t simply fall into my lap, I had to actively pursue them. I’ve put in the hours, made tough decisions, and willingly paid the price for my success.
What sets me apart is not only my dedication but also my approach to the industry. I’m a risk-taker; I believe that the people we know by name took big risks at some point, and I’m not afraid to do the same. I embrace failure as part of the process and a learning opportunity. In this town, designed to beat you down, I’ve found that perseverance is key, and those who keep getting up are the ones who make it.
Being an expert in my field is crucial. I believe in holding my own in conversations, constantly learning, and honing my skills to stay at the top of my game. Additionally, reliability is a core value for me. If I say yes, I do it. If I can’t, I say no. My word is my bond. Loyalty is another aspect that I hold dear; when someone helps me, I make it a point to help them back. We’re all in this together, and fostering a sense of unity and collaboration is essential in our industry.
I believe that it’s not just my work but also these principles that set me apart in a competitive and challenging field. With hard work, dedication, and a passion for storytelling, I am confident in the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.
My belief in the power of storytelling as a means to inspire reflection and empathy drives me. I aim to infuse my stories with sentimentality and depth, creating a profound emotional connection between the audience and the characters on screen. I draw on universal themes that people can relate to and am committed to taking risks, challenging conventions, and pushing boundaries to produce innovative, authentic, and impactful content.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
As I mentioned earlier, the first years of my professional career were spent working in theater, undoubtedly some of the best years of my life. I enjoyed them to the fullest and met incredible people who took the time to teach me and assume the role of mentors. I learned a lot about being a professional, the importance of teamwork, taking initiative, and understanding that my voice matters and holds strength and great value. Undoubtedly, those years were a second school for me where I developed crucial skills for any profession. The importance of perseverance, adaptability, and the need to face challenges with creativity became part of my personal and professional philosophy.
As I progressed in my theatrical career, I realized that, while immersing oneself in the world of theater is a truly magical experience, the business side of conducting theatrical productions in Mexico presents significant challenges. Despite the passion and dedication that artists and teams put into each performance, they face economic challenges, lack of financial support, and a society that does not have a deeply rooted theatrical culture as in cities like New York, London, or Buenos Aires. Although theater remains an invaluable form of artistic expression, the complex business reality in Mexico prompted me to explore alternative paths to continue developing myself as a producer and creative.
It was at that moment that I decided to take the leap towards new projects and embark on a different path in my career. This change not only expanded my perspective but also allowed me to uniquely apply the skills acquired in theater to my new professional environment. I discovered that creativity, empathy, and the ability to think on the spot, fundamental characteristics of theater production, were equally relevant in film production.
Although my career has undergone significant changes, the essence of what I learned in my early years in theater remains the compass guiding my career and a fundamental part of my identity. Those early years in the theater were not just an initial phase in my career but an invaluable toolbox that I continue to use daily. The ability to tell stories, connect with the audience, and face the unexpected with grace are skills that transcend professional boundaries.
I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and I am sure that I would not be half the producer I am today if I had not lived through everything I experienced during those years when I learned from theater, came to love it even more than I already did, and it taught me lessons that have undoubtedly shaped my professional career.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I think the cool thing about being creative, especially when I’m bringing my ideas to life, is how it helps me connect with all kinds of people. Creativity is like this awesome force that breaks down barriers and lets us create this shared experience.
When we turn our ideas into reality, we not only produce tangible works but also cultivate a shared experience. Whether it’s art, writing, music, or any other form, each creative piece becomes a meeting point where emotions, stories, and different perspectives all come together. It’s like a language everyone can understand, no matter where they’re from or what their life has been like.
So, creativity isn’t just about expressing myself, it’s a way to build connections between people, communities, and even whole societies. When we express ourselves creatively, we can inspire others, challenge what they think, and make them feel things by sharing our own unique stories. It’s like telling stories that anyone can relate to.
In the end, creativity is like a guiding light that shows us what we all have in common. By really connecting with others through our creative endeavors, we’re part of creating this social fabric that’s richer because of all the different experiences and creative expressions that bring people together. It’s a powerful way to build connections and make life more interesting in a world that’s all about being real and connecting with others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paloma_qe?igsh=YzVkODRmOTdmMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/paloma-quintanal-897b10120