Today we’d like to introduce you to Paula Iglesias Perez.
Hi Paula, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I would love to say that the film industry has been what I have always wanted to do from the beginning, but that is not the case. Living in a country like Spain, the options in this industry are pretty limited, and it could be seen more as a hobby. My future aspirations were to be a biochemist, a career that my parents accepted. However, without telling anyone, I talked with my father about what I wanted for my future, I applied to a film school. Throughout those four years, my interest in filmmaking took another level, and I found in my father a great fan of Italian 70’s cinema, who helped me along with my career. You could say that I was fortunate when I finished college because I got an internship for a Spanish production company that did projects for Netflix. I worked for three and a half years on projects like “Cable Girls,” “Morocco: Love in times of war,” and “High seas” in the costume department. Then I decided to move to Los Angeles and study filmmaking again. In this opportunity, I met my current boss, I did many movie projects learning how the industry works in the USA, and I have also been promoted and create a network of contacts for my future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think anyone who works in filmmaking has a smooth path. As I mentioned, my parents were not very happy with my decision to study film, and I had to push through this decision. One of the most critical problems I am grateful for today because it brought me to LA is working in costumes (a department I admire and had learned a lot). Still, I didn’t see my professional growth and being honest with myself; it wasn’t what I wanted for my future. Producing has been my ultimate goal since I entered this business. The leap from Spain to the United States has meant a change in my lifestyle and work. I have to learn a new language, a new way of life, new schedules, a new work style. I arrived in Los Angeles, full of classes, meeting new people, and ready for new experiences. Everything seemed like a dream, but only two months after, we were all put in quarantine. You could say that my Hollywood dream was coming to an end. I decided to stay in the country. Being 5965 miles far from my family, in a situation as complicated as the one we were living in, and we are living. I got my act together, volunteered to participate in many short films to have more experience and more contacts, and finally, here I am doing what I love. That does not mean it will be a bed of roses. I still have a lot to learn, overcome and improve. That’s life!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently work for Quiet On Set, a production company founded by my boss Michelle and I thank her for everything she does for me. I feel like I’ve grown a lot personally and professionally. I work as hard as I need to and do everything I can to make her proud of me. I consider myself a fortunate person because I also can work with two great friends who also come from Spain and with whom I started this journey. My current position is that of production coordinator, and my main functions are to run the production office, organize the equipment, supplies, and personnel. Sometimes I am also in charge of minor accounting and coordinating meals, travel, lodging, and schedule distribution. In the world of filmmaking, you have to be an all-rounder. You have to participate and help out in whatever you need and at any time. The more you know about everything and every department, the easier it is to solve problems in the future and, consequently, the easier it is for production.
One thing I find that helps me a lot is that I speak Spanish. It is surprising, but in a state like California with many Spanish speakers, I met and negotiated with people who speak the same language as I do in a much easier way. It creates a closeness to share a language, which has helped me from a production point of view.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I can say that the school I went to did not have much faith in my abilities when I left, and this is something that always pushed me to say, here I am, and you are not going to predetermine my destiny. But I think that the most significant merit besides my boss Michelle, as I have already mentioned, and my friends Ines, Irene and Clara, is my family. Luis and Rosa, my parents, could not agree with what I was studying because they saw a very complicated future for their daughter. However, they are the ones who have given me everything, not without complaining. I have had financial and emotional support at all times. They gave me the necessary push to do what I want. And I hope they are proud because, despite the turbulences, I live where I want and work where I like.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulaigleperez/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9306791/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_4
