Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Luque . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Samantha, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I always knew I wanted to be in the film industry. As a kid, I was obsessed with stories and was always curious about how people brought them to life. I didn’t know how to break into the industry. I wanted people to get the chance to share their story and know it deserves to be told. At the time, I only had my camera and my voice. I started working with different non-profits to help them tell their stories through film. It’s always been so important to me to make sure that a story is given justice and is told in a way that people could relate to. When I kept trying to break in the industry, I constantly got the door shut in my face. I started to realize that the stories that were important to me are never going to have the light shined on them. I wanted to create a place where people that looked like me could tell the stories how they should be told. I created SLlama Productions, my production company, with the goal in mind to get females and minorities behind the camera. So far, we’ve partnered up with local businesses, charities, and minority communities in hopes to give them a platform and voice to share their truths.

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?

For those who don’t know me, I am Latina American who grew up between Florida and Peru. I was raised by a single mother who immigrated to America for a better life. I always felt I didn’t belong in either place. I was either too American or too Latin. I spent my life trying to find somewhere I belong. When I got older, I realized that I may never find somewhere I belong, but what I can do is create a place where creative people can come to and feel safe to tell their story. I started my own production company, SLlama Productions, where we specialized in storytelling through film and photography. What makes my company different is that it’s fully run by females and minorities. I wanted this specific outline because I wanted people who looked like me and came from a similar background to get a platform to tell our stories how we want to tell them. This was extremely important to me because it is time for a change in the entertainment industry. I was tired of not getting my voice heard or seeing stories about my culture being told by someone who isn’t part of that world. Why can’t it be one of us telling our own story in our own voice instead of making assumptions. This year, we created our first documentary, “The Heart of Ybor,” that was fully directed, produced, and edited by the company. This documentary showcases the community, history and evolution of the drag performers in Ybor City. This was a project that was so important to me personally because it was the first time that I got to take complete creative control of a project and make it in a way how I always dreamt of. This was the first project that I got to see my name on the full screen which one of my life goals. All I ever wanted to do was to create safe space where we can create stories that bring joy to people and for someone who looks different can look at the screen and see themselves.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission has always been to bring minorities to the forefront behind the scenes in the film industry. Since this is so important to me, I always make sure to choose projects that align with my mission, and when I bring people on the different projects, I make sure to have a diverse team. One of our latest projects, The Heart of Ybor, focused on the history and experiences of the drag community in Ybor, Tampa. We paid homage to the original pioneers who brought this community to life and created a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community. With these kinds of projects, I want to change the film industry to faithfully tell these stories. When we bring on people that are opened-minded and align with our goals, our mission reminds us that what we do matters.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I started my creative journey, I didn’t know about anything involving the film industry. I have been learning as I go and making tons of mistakes along this journey, but everyday I learn something about my self and my work. I wish people would have told me about the Women in Film Organization and Film in Tampa Bay because they are key resources to expand your knowledge about film in all aspects. Through these organizations, I found people me who are like me, and people who are obsessed with storytelling. When you surround yourself with peers from your industry, you are able to see a story in so many different perspectives. It’s important to see what different communities and organization are surrounding you and get involved.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sllamaproductions.com
• Instagram: @sllamaproductions (business page) @_sammi97 (personal page)
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SLlamaProductions

Image Credits
Images by Samantha Luque Owner of SLlama Productions