Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Bermejo Abellan.
Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my professional career in entertainment in 2017, even though I had been making shorts before that. I studied Film and Media Studies in Madrid, at the University Carlos III, where I first connected with like-minded friends who were as excited about making movies as I was. But when I graduated, finding a job wasn’t easy. That’s how I ended up doing my first Master’s in Producing, MPXA, in my hometown, A Coruña. This program allowed me to learn firsthand from producers, line producers, writers, and directors what it takes to produce. There I learned the basics of budgeting, scheduling, pitching, financing, and the core of putting a project together.
After this Master’s, I had the opportunity to intern at a couple of production companies, and then, that was it. Fortunately, I remembered a story my grandfather had told me about an old acquaintance of the family who had made a career in entertainment. And so, I decided to take a risk and cold-reach out to her. Months later, her answer came through on LinkedIn, unexpected: she wanted to meet for a catch-up. It went amazingly well, and she introduced me to a great line producer who would become my first mentor in production, Anna Cassina. They hired me to help out from the very beginning of a project their company, Bambú Producciones, was developing. I didn’t know what I was doing (yes, I made mistakes with tickets and invoices and took the longest routes when driving important crew members to the set), but Anna and the team trusted me, and she became the mentor I was craving, teaching me along the way. And so I learned, got better, and we became close friends until today.
After that, I got the opportunity to come to the United States, to Texas, but just some months after arriving, the pandemic hit. It complicated things, but on the other hand, it pushed me to step further out of my comfort zone. After sending out hundreds of emails, one of them hit. I got offered a job in production on the set of the 7th season of Fear the Walking Dead, which was filming in Austin. That was an unbelievable experience that opened many doors and allowed me to meet amazing professionals, from whom I learned by doing, experiencing how such big, worldwide famous shows are put together.
I remember those first days on set, cruising around the studio, asking different crew members about their tasks, responsibilities, daily challenges, and professional careers. I loved how available and open everybody was when answering my questions, and how much I got to experience and learn about the production’s daily needs. Just at the end of the previous season, a big atomic bomb had been dropped in the plot, so now, in the new season, every scene that happened on location had to be covered in dust and ashes falling from the sky. Seeing the huge SPFX (Special Effects) team carrying large fans to spread those particles and dress the set to make it post-apocalyptic was fascinating. It made me start wondering about all the decisions made by creative and physical producers to plan and execute such large-scale projects successfully.
This was the continuation of my dream of producing. Getting a taste of what I didn’t yet know made me wonder how I could expand my knowledge. After that, I worked on another show, Walker, and on the independent feature The Long Game, but as I got involved in more projects, my desire to learn more from the decision-makers’ side grew as well. And so, I decided to move to LA to advance my career and finally explore the city and the illusion I had since being a teenager and dreaming of Hollywood. Here, I got to work in VFX (Visual Effects), contributing to the post-production of huge blockbusters such as Mission Impossible, Loki, and Barbie. But the more I dived into the industry, the more I understood that if I wanted to move to the next step, I would benefit from going back to school to pursue a Master’s and learn the process of making films and shows in the United States from an insider perspective, combining both a professional and an academic approach.
I was lucky enough to get an incredible fellowship (La Caixa) from Spain and also to be accepted at UCLA, where I am currently studying my second year in the Producers Program. Attending this MFA has been one of the greatest decisions I could have made at that point in my career. It has allowed me to meet so many talented professionals and to understand the industry and the producer’s craft from the inside. It’s been a fruitful experience that has helped me grow incredibly (as a professional, as a visionary, as an international filmmaker), as I keep searching for my voice as a producer while building strong connections, partnerships, and friendships that I know will keep shining along the way.
I have also been involved in different professional internships since beginning my Master’s. Last year, I worked in Creative Development for Spain and Latin America at Gaumont International Television, and this past summer, I joined the Development department at Valhalla Entertainment. More recently, I discovered how fascinating it is to learn about buying and selling movies, so I was lucky enough to become part of the Distribution and Sales team at Westside Pictures, where I have been for the last two months. This past week, I had the opportunity to attend the American Film Market, AFM, which has been amazing, as I got to experience my first film market from the inside!
Throughout all these years and experiences, I have learned that entertainment is a people’s business, where you have to push yourself to make relationships and build your network. My biggest takeaway in this whole process of meeting others and getting out of your easy zone is to try your best to connect with people emotionally. Don’t be afraid of the word “networking”: get out there, introduce yourself, be polite and kind, smile, ask good questions, and show your interest and excitement to meet others. We are all humans trying to make the best we can in this swirly world, so if I can give you just one advice, it is to trust yourself and be confident enough to try to connect with that producer, director, or writer that you admire. It worked for me on many different occasions, and when it happens, that magical energy is just… beautiful. And if you don’t know how to do it and are new in town or in the US, shoot me a message and I’ll do my best to help out! If I’ve learned something from being a foreigner here working in entertainment, it’s that everything is about community, supporting each other, and showing strong ties… how, if not, could we work collaboratively creating films and shows?
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?
Oh, challenges, of course! If it were easy… well, everyone would do it, right? Being an immigrant working in entertainment hasn’t been an easy road. Moving to the US, finding my people, applying to and pursuing my MFA at UCLA… were all exciting but paralyzing experiences. For me, it meant starting over again and again, rebuilding my safety net, and proving myself outside of my home. But also, what is home, if not the place where you make your life, as it evolves with you?
One of my biggest quests has been finding my lane, meaning, understanding what kind of producer I want to be and where my strengths and priorities are. Over time, I learned that I enjoy the most when I’m working on character-driven stories with emotional depth and social layers, often with international or cross-cultural dimensions. Also, I enjoy the coming-of-age genre a lot, and I strongly believe that mixing the drama of reality with a little bit of magical realism or fantasy elevates the stories exponentially. Film has the power to convey emotionally relevant stories through a whimsical filter, highlighting the sparkling magic of everyday life.
Another ongoing issue has been maintaining balance. Film can be a consuming world, more so when you’re producing. It took me a while to learn the importance of boundaries and self-care. I’ve learned that being picky with your personal time isn’t selfish, but necessary. The more rested and centered you are, the better you can lead and create.
There’s also the uncertainty of what has been happening recently: strikes, mergers, the rise of verticals, and production as we know it moving abroad. It can be overwhelming, but I try to see it as an opportunity for reinvention. The future is more global, more decentralized than ever, and in that sense, being a Spanish producer in Los Angeles can actually be my greatest advantage. I look forward to the possibility of being able to coproduce between the two countries in the near future.
One of my amazing teachers told my class last year something I strongly stand by: to find a hobby outside of film. Don’t let the industry take everything. It’s something I remind myself every day, to be grateful, to live, to explore, to keep growing. If you do that wholeheartedly, the rest will come: your network, your friends, opportunities… Work on your luck and don’t let others tell you what you can’t do. That, for me, is key to being truthful to who you want to be, in and out of work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work as a Producer, and I’ve been lucky to collaborate on projects that explore identity, faith, and resilience through a deep, human lens. Some of the works I’m most proud of include Godhead, a haunting drama short about two women grieving and the complicated decisions that come with growing up; The Heart Posture, a short film on celluloid that explores the intersection between memory and hope; Elysium, which dives into memory and loss; and The Wayward, a feature in development about a woman reintegrating into her small town after being incarcerated for a crime she didn’t commit. I am so excited to share with you that The Wayward proof-of-concept has just premiered in the Centre Film Festival, PA, where it has won the audience award, yes!
I think what sets my work apart is the mix of emotional realism and cultural perspective I bring in. Having lived between Spain and the US, I’m fascinated by stories that live in the in-between, halfway between belonging and exile, love and guilt, freedom and constraint. I’m drawn to contradictions, to the spaces where identity fractures and adapts.
I’m also very proud of building bridges between filmmakers in Europe and the US, fostering creative collaborations that transcend borders. Producing, for me, isn’t just about logistics or finance. It’s about creating safe spaces for stories that matter, stories that might otherwise not find their way.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
A Killer Life by Christine Vachon (book) – One of the best books about production I have ever read. I love it because it’s brutally honest while feeling realistic and transparent. Diving into Vachon’s journey (from Killer Films) through her greatest movies is a masterclass, and it proves that not even with a reputation is it easy to produce independently. So encouraging and key to understanding all the roles (and logistics) a producer has to be in charge of!
Physical Production by Kate Beyda (book) – Kate Beyda is the VP of Physical Production at New Line Cinema, and she knows what she is doing. She was our teacher last year, and it was an absolutely amazing class. Her expertise, humbleness, and kindness are one of a kind, and I am definitely using this book as a main reference when producing.
Gabinete de Curiosidades by Nuria Pérez (podcast) – A Spanish gem full of cultural and historical stories that will inspire you, move you, connect you, and bring you on a journey from the past to the future through anecdotes and beautifully human stories from around the globe.
The Town by Matt Belloni (podcast) – A great, up-to-the-minute podcast about the entertainment industry in the US. Fundamental to understanding the business, decisions, and gatekeepers of Hollywood.
Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurababellan/
- Other: [email protected]
