Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Taguilas.
Nikki, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My earliest experience in the world of writing came from reading books and getting lost in the different worlds. In fifth grade, I took a basics skills test, which included a writing portion. Later, I was surprised to hear the piece I submitted was asked to be used in future tests as part of the reading comprehension portion. Hearing that something I wrote was received so well was incredibly rewarding and validating, and I knew from that moment on what I wanted to do with my life. I continued to write throughout school, was one of the editors of my high school newspaper, brought in a small amount of money writing sports for my small town’s newspaper, and then applied to the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas. I then went to Chicago to study sketch comedy and improv at the Annoyance Theater, Second City, and iO. After years of performing and writing sketch comedy, I moved to LA to pursue a career in tv writing. I’ve been lucky enough to write sketch comedy for the National Hispanic Media Coalition, CBS Diversity, and freelance for both The Casagrandes and the new Dora! at Nickelodeon. Writing was my first love, and I’m so grateful I’ve been able to continue to do this with my life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been the smoothest road, but I don’t think this career is supposed to be easy. I had a young daughter when first living in Chicago, which caused a need for strict boundaries between a work/life balance. I was able to pursue my dreams with the support and help of her father, as well as the village surrounding me, babysitting when I needed to pick up extra shifts, take a class, or audition. There were many late nights of submissions following full parenting during the day, and most of the time I was broke and exhausted. I felt I owed it to her to keep going, especially because I wanted her to see that she could do anything she put her mind to, with hard work and determination. I was also suffering with my mental health for a period of time, and managing that while also trying to stay afloat in an extremely competitive career took a toll on me. Once I prioritized my home life and mental health, things really started to fall into place for me career-wise. I truly believe that nothing that is meant for me will pass me by, and my family and self will always take priority above any career goals I have.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Most of my paid writing has been in children’s animation, but my personal projects always gear toward topics that are sometimes considered societally taboo. I write a lot about mental and women’s health, as well as being mixed-ethnicity, using dark comedy to open the world up to the realities that exist for me and people like me. I am most proud of my ability to stay authentic and genuine in my writing, telling my stories from my perspective, without speaking for others in my boat who may have experienced life differently. In my work, I hope to break down stigma and open doors for compassion, with a little laughs along the way.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I do worry about AI, though I don’t think it’s a sustainable option for either creating shows or replacing actors. I see a lot of streamers clawing for money more than creating art, and I worry a lot of people will turn to AI because it is cheaper and easier than sifting through a ton of scripts. There are also so many things being rebooted, without a lot of executives willing to take risks on new work. The audiences’ numbers speak for themselves, though. With shows like Squid Game, Severance, I Think You Should Leave…viewers are looking for something new and exciting. They want something that challenges them, not seeing how well done a remake can be, regardless of what execs think their built-in audience will generate. That gives me hope for the future of art, as the honest, human experience is going to be the one that people are seeking most. I believe art comes best from a lived experience, with the added gift of being able to tell that story, whether it be through performance, writing, drawing, painting, dance, or music. I have been lucky enough to be able to live the life I’ve had, with the talent to tell the stories I’ve created along the way. For that, I am extremely grateful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @nikkitaguilas
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-taguilas-morales/
Image Credits
Daryl Jim Photography (for headshot)
