We’re looking forward to introducing you to Gabriela Ono. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Gabriela, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I’m currently in New York City working on a documentary, and one moment I felt really proud of myself was when I managed to get a store in SoHo to open early just for us to film. I didn’t have any contacts. I simply walked into the store, asked for their marketing team, and to my surprise, they were more than happy to accommodate us for free.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Gabriela Ono. I’m a filmmaker and producer with a passion for telling stories that connect cultures and explore human emotions in a visually striking way. I recently founded a production company that works both in the U.S. and Brazil, creating films in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. What makes our work unique is our focus on authentic storytelling that brings Brazilian talent to international audiences while maintaining the production quality and creative standards of Hollywood.
Right now, I’m working on several projects, including a documentary in New York City and fiction films in Brazil that explore personal journeys and emotional landscapes. I love finding creative solutions on set because for me, filmmaking is as much about resourcefulness and collaboration as it is about storytelling.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Funny enough, I have always been pretty headstrong about who I am. From a young age, I was drawn to creativity, always making, imagining, and experimenting. Even when I explored other interests, like science projects, I always found myself coming back to the arts, and more specifically, filmmaking. There is something about telling stories visually that has always felt like home to me.
High school was a bit of a different story. I felt the pressure to fit into certain expectations and sometimes felt boxed in, like I had to choose a path that did not fully reflect who I was. Even then, my creativity found ways to show itself through small projects, personal experiments, or simply dreaming bigger than what I was expected to do.
When I started college, I finally found the space to fully embrace my creative instincts. I realized that the world might try to shape me and tell me who I should be or what I should pursue, but I always had the ability to find my way back to myself. That persistence has become part of my identity, and it is what drives me in my work today, constantly pushing me to create, explore, and tell stories that feel authentically mine.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most in my life is the fear of being seen, and it is something I am still actively working on. It is a complicated relationship, because part of me wants to be noticed for certain things, yet at the same time I want the freedom to create and exist in my own privacy. In a world where social media plays such a big role in a creative’s life, it is hard to completely ignore that side.
Even though I am still learning to navigate this, I can already see progress in how I show up, not only online but in real life as well. I am slowly becoming more comfortable with letting people see my work and my presence, while still honoring the parts of myself that need space and privacy. This balance is still a journey, but I am excited to continue exploring it and growing through it.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
That’s an interesting question. I would say yes, the public version of me is the real me. I believe that we all express ourselves differently depending on the environment. For example, I behave differently with my friends compared to how I am with my family. It is not so extreme that people would mistake me for someone else, but I do think that different situations bring out smaller facets of my personality.
In many ways, the public version of me is like a lens through which I share certain aspects of who I am. Some traits are naturally more visible in certain contexts, while others stay private or reserved. This doesn’t make it less authentic—it just reflects that I am multifaceted, and different environments highlight different pieces of me. Ultimately, it is still the real me, just showing different shades depending on the space I am in and the message I want to convey.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing?
I do not think I have regrets, nor do I imagine possible future ones. First, because I tend to go after the things I want, no matter how crazy or challenging they might seem. And second, because I accept the decisions I make. I understand that every choice happens for a reason, and if something did not happen the way I imagined, then perhaps it was not meant for me at that time.
I believe there is no absolute “right” choice, only the choice you commit to, and I try to stand by mine without dwelling on the “what ifs.” For me, life is less about regrets and more about learning, growing, and trusting the path I create along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gabrielaono.wixsite.com/site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriela.ono/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-ono-72838011a/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10120183/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Image Credits
Marcos Daniel Ferreira @mdferreira
