Life & Work with Helga Fontánez of East Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Helga Fontánez.

Hi Helga, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico in a pretty conventional household, where the only thing we all had in common was a love of film. The first school I went to was a creative child’s dream, where I was exposed to music, dance and theatre, but at the age of 8 I was transferred to a military school that only valued sports and academics and that was that. I excelled in English and Swimming all through Senior year, but I remained singularly obsessed with film and television, and was convinced that acting was my destiny, if I could only get to Hollywood.

But life will do what life does, and after high school I stayed home and went to college. I tried to settle, conform, and contort myself into a corporate nine to fiver, and failed miserably. Then what started as a part time job in a nightclub turned into 9 years of letting the currents take me where they wanted, because somewhere along the line I had forgotten where I wanted to go. Somewhere in between a huge wedding and an embarrassingly quick divorce, I woke up and remembered the little girl that had begged her parents to move to Orlando, FL so she could audition for the Mickey Mouse Club, and I promised myself I would do right by her.

I went on to get an agent, booked a few local commercials, did lots of background acting and stand-in work, and clawed my way onto every set I could, doing whatever was needed. I was endlessly curious about how it all came together, so every set was a lifeline and an education. Finally, at 34 years young, I got that little girl on a plane to the Promised Land.

You always hear that it’s a numbers game and I was no exception. I auditioned for years while holding down multiple jobs, each time getting closer and closer to the goal. In that time, and for the first time ever, I was surrounded by peers, younger, older, more or less experienced, prettier, luckier, more or less connected, the list goes on. But they all had one very obvious thing in common: they all wanted it way more than I did. Cue the identity crisis and send in the clowns!

Not one to give up so easily, I forced my way back to writing; something I had done on and off since middle school but had mournfully given up after losing a manuscript. It occurred to me that I could write my own roles and be in control, so when I found my rhythm, I started working on a comedy short for my actor friends and I to shoot.

Then out of nowhere, during a 3am shower set to the music of Queen, I felt a shock go through me and I suddenly knew what the story was that I needed to tell, and by 7am I had outlined my first feature.

Scared that I wouldn’t follow through, I gave myself a deadline, as well as a way out. But as it turned out, I didn’t need either. Screenwriting became the thing I could never talk myself out of doing, no matter how late, no matter how tired.
That first script was my teacher, and the community and support I had longed for as an actor came to me in spades once I found my voice as a writer. It gave me the confidence to dream even bigger, and to pour every drop of experience I gained along the way into eventually running a set of my own. My stories have blossomed into an intricate web of deeply layered characters that continue to guide me on this path; no longer a current, but a road of my own making.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s impossible not to ask myself what would have happened had I figured it all out sooner, but that can cut both ways. Still, I know my age is an obstacle, if for no other reason than not getting to learn alongside peers my own age, or having access to all the opportunities up and coming young writers have available to them. The challenge was doing it alone and looking for ways to connect with other writers while seeing so many long established relationships. It was daunting to feel like the gates were open for them but you had to scale the wall and sneak in through a bathroom window.
At the same time, I found so much freedom in starting over, at any age. I am one of one, same as everyone else, and no one can tell the stories I can. As creatives, all we can do is let it flow whenever and however it comes.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
One script at a time, I’m creating my own little universe full of grounded, character driven stories, spanning different genres. Whether it be doomed romance, coming-of-age, road trip dramedy, sorority horror, or vampire thriller, they are full of edgy female protagonists who jump right into whatever the world throws at them, with tenacity, humor, and self deprecating charm. I am inspired by music most of all, and the power it can have over the senses. Much like Cameron Crowe or Baz Luhrman, music is the driving force, and always a character unto itself.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I find a lot of inspiration in learning how other creatives found their way and how they came to own their process. In the early days, I devoured both Aaron Sorkin and David Lynch’s Masterclass. Just Kids by Patti Smith is a recent favorite. Anything Maya Angelou ever wrote. The Leonard Cohen doc I’m your Man has stuck with me for years. And while I’m not a big podcast person, I love Marc Maron because he reminds me to stay curious about the people around me. Plus I like knowing a fellow grump found his way into so many people’s hearts.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: helgadenisse
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helgafontanez
• Twitter: highwaytohelga

Image Credits
Brett Baldridge, Kathlyn Almeida, Anthony Lorenzo Garcia, Luis Reyes.