Today we’d like to introduce you to Tati Barrantes.
Tati, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up with a father who would come home with films by Bunuel, Jarmusch, and Antonioni when I was still a little girl. And while I didn’t always understand everything I was watching, I was always left with a feeling and it was profound enough to stick with me. So when it came time to define a major at Hampshire College in Western Massachusetts, I chose film and focused specifically on documentary film. It felt like a clear union between the social justice issues I was interested in and the artistic. After college, I was living in SF and saw my first Cassavetes film and freaked out. Woman Under the Influence completely shook me – I felt absolutely compelled to make narrative films after seeing it. I applied to NYU Graduate Film at Tisch and shockingly got in without much of a reel. NYU was the best decision I ever made and my the people I met will always be in my life artistically, professionally and personally. I made several short films at NYU and a couple of them did really well at festivals. This gave me the confidence to keep pushing but I needed to work since I wasn’t being supported financially by family. I ended up at Vice Media soon after NYU and became a director at their branded division. It was an awesome experience because we traveled, made films, and had lots of artistic freedom. I credit Vice and the folks I worked with for allowing me to start making money doing something I loved. After Vice, I’ve been freelance and am currently repped by the incredible women that run TinyGiant.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Of course, there have been struggles. You can’t grow without them. Discovering how to adapt, how to collaborate and when you should fight for a creative choice or compromise is an ongoing learning process. As a commercial director, they are hiring you for your voice but they are also selling a product. It’s important to understand the bottom line while also sticking to your instincts. Also, as you grow your career, you sometimes have to take jobs that don’t creatively always align. But more and more, I’ve realized how important it is to commit to things that you know you can try new ideas with, learn from and push creatively. There really isn’t any reason to do it otherwise if you are thinking long-term.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a director of short films, music videos and commercials. I recently directed a commercial for Children’s Aid of NY with my team at TinyGiant that I’m super happy with. Working with children and non-actors can be challenging but also sometimes the most rewarding and surprising. As a director, I’m interested in stories that connect audiences to our humanity, combining genres and visually always trying to find exciting ways to explore them.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
That what happens to you personally, your life and experiences, are just as dramatic, vital and crucial to exploring in your art than anything else you might think is more important.
Contact Info:
- Website: tatibarrantes.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/tatsbarats
- Other: https://tinygiant.tv/directors/tati-barrantes/
