We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rafael Maiolino. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rafael below.
Rafael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
To achieve success, we can never stop learning and improving ourselves daily, as a creative person this is something that I wholeheartedly believe in and am heavily inspired by. Our jobs rely heavily on understanding the human mind, exploring its wonders, and constant change; thus, it feels impossible to fully master, it should be a never-ending learning experience and that’s how I approach my career. I started by majoring in marketing and taking acting classes at the same time, both giving me pivotal experience and serving as a foundation not only for me as a professional but also as a human being. Once I graduated from university, I decided to pursue an MBA and grow further into my professional career; during that time I met people from the industry who were meaningful in developing my vision of what it truly means to be a creative person, as well as gain a deeper working experience within the field. Once I graduated, I found myself in a really good job and a career set ahead of me.
And that’s when I decided to challenge myself once more and completely change my life by moving to a foreign country. I came to the United States to improve my English language skills and to study Business Management of Entertainment at UCLA. Before long I started to work as a producer for a couple of film festivals, including the Beverly Hills Film Festival; I had a stable career and was working on my dream job, despite that I chose to go back to school and learn a new skill, today I am a certificate film director.
As a result of these experiences in my personal journey, I learned that studying not only gives us knowledge but also helps us evolve as human beings. If you ever get the opportunity to study, travel, and experience new cultures, please do. It will change your life.
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.
As an immigrant from Brazil trying to make it in an industry mostly composed of Americans, I have to work extra hard to prove myself on a daily basis. Like most things in life, it wasn’t easy, we have to take extra steps to make people trust us; I realized that to overcome this I’d have to make sure to always be friendly, polite, be helpful to my coworkers and work extra hard without putting myself or my personality to the side. I want the world to know that I am always ready to be an asset to their projects in whatever they need every step of the way, from creating a concept all the way to wrap day. It is an artist’s job to make art and try to shine a light on things close and important to them, for that reason I always aim to talk about Latino stories, focusing on Brazil, in my projects. I like to dive in and explore culture, society’s reality, and the struggle minorities face on a daily basis. Of course, I try to not only talk about these things but also act towards solving these problems we face in our society in every way I can, such as giving work opportunities to minorities.
I am in my fourth year of working as a producer at the Beverly Hills Film Festival and have worked on more than 30 projects for both television and film. I also faced one the biggest challenges of my career, but also a dream come true when I directed “Recharging”, a short film about a Latin woman suffering from PTSD, due to both her childhood trauma as well as moral abuse she suffered whilst a member of the army, almost giving up on life until supernatural forces give her a new perspective on life.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My journey as a Brazilian immigrant in the USA, with a background of graduation, an MBA, and two certifications from UCLA, reflects a strong commitment to my passion for the film industry. My mission is driven by a desire to break barriers and contribute with my unique perspective to the American film landscape. By combining my academic achievements with my creative aspirations, I aim to tell compelling stories that bridge cultures and offer fresh insights. My mission is not only to succeed in the film industry but also to become a voice for diversity and inclusivity, showcasing the rich tapestry of experiences that immigrants like me bring to the American creative world.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
In my point of view to best support artists, and creatives, and foster a thriving creative ecosystem, society can take several steps. First, invest in arts education and cultural programs to nurture talent from a young age. Encourage and fund initiatives that provide affordable studio spaces, grants, and scholarships to emerging artists, helping them sustain their work. Promote diversity and inclusion within the creative industries, offering equal opportunities for artists from all backgrounds. Additionally, society should acknowledge the economic value of the creative sector, supporting policies and institutions that protect artists’ rights and income, such as fair compensation for their work and robust copyright protection. Ultimately, fostering a vibrant creative ecosystem requires a collective effort to appreciate and sustain the arts, recognizing their cultural and economic significance.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafamaiolino/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-maiolino/