Today we’d like to introduce you to Savanna Trujillo-Poelma.
Hi Savanna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up, I was taught that storytelling was the original way of communicating. With that mentality, I looked to movies as a way of understanding the human connection and interaction. Ransacking my family’s DVD collection it was clear I always wanted to make movies; to be a part of the ‘BTS Filming’ sequences that I’d watch in the special editions tab on DVDs. I started writing my own tales and showing them to anyone who could try to read them. As time went on I had a plethora of different short stories, larger unfinished ones, and sentences written on scraps.
After graduating from the University of Colorado, Denver (and receiving my bachelor’s in film and television production) I moved to Los Angeles in June of 2022. I didn’t have any gigs in the pipeline or job offers, the importance for me was living in a city that was a major movie-hub. For the first eight months I was constantly looking for production assistant work through the use of Facebook groups, friends of friends, networking functions, and interjecting myself anywhere I could. One of those interjections- I worked with Central Casting as a background actor to get onto set, chat with the Key PA, and try to get on set as a dayplayer PA. It wasn’t until 2023 I started working more freelancing PA gigs with different indie companies I’d built a rapport with.
Then in 2024, I was blessed to be called back for various PA gigs. One of which was Monster(s): The Lyle & Eric Menendez Story and that is some of the most fun on a film set I’ve had. I learned a great deal of what it means to be a PA on the Union level. It’s completely different- certain ways of communicating, thinking, acting, and walking with purpose.
All the while, I’m a huge advocate for production assistants having a union. It was the one question I asked my Film History professor, to which I was met with laughter from the entire class. My professor replied, “Isn’t that the question of the century.” and that was the end of it. I joined Production Assistants United (PAU) in early 2023 before they were affiliated with LiUNA. To this day I am still an active member and still believe PAs need a union for all the reasons that every crew member deserves a union.
When the 2025 fires happened, I saw the first batch of flames driving on the highway and that was the moment I realized I needed to get a regular day-job. Film work was really slowing down and money was needed to pay the bills. Currently, I work in sales and have been taking some PA gigs when asked. Outside the day-job, I’m continuing to write my own stories and searching for funding for an upcoming project.
2025 has been a crazy year. It has reminded me that I need to live life to the fullest and not wait for someone to come knocking. Because of that, I am allowing myself to do the thing that I have always wanted to do: direct and write. Next year, 2026, I will be making my directorial debut.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has defienetly not been a smooth road. The price of what you want can be really steep and what I wanted was to live in LA. To chase my dreams, I have gone into debt; I have sacraficed time without my family; I have sacraficed a steady living and wage; and I have sacraficed my mental health.
When you move to LA no one tells you everytime you leave the front door you will spend $100, whether that is in gas or in groceries. No one will warn you of the scammers or the road conditions that will damage your car’s suspenssion. The fake smiles you have to put on during certain jobs even and the covert groveling to be considered back for another day.
LA did not suddenly become a magical place. The magic was and is still built on blood, sweat, tears, and the ability to not give up after being told ‘no’ a thousand times. The resilience required to move, live, and continue to live/”make it” in Los Angeles is extremely inspiring, tiring, and brave.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a writer, I love stories. I’ve been writing for most of my life but within the last five years I’ve focused on one particular story. It started during the COVID-19 Pandemic as a fall time 31-episodic anthology with each episode written, shot, edited, and released within one day of creation. This spur of the moment idea stemmed from not feeling challenged enough by going to college at home. Five years later, it has blossomed into a monster series now in the early stages of pre-production.
I am a PA, coordinator, assistant director… basically anything in production. I have a wide gauge of everything that has to do with physical production and events. I’ve worked on commercials, live events, short narratives, feature films, documentaries, film festivals, and within the realm of company offices. (While going to college, I was a full-time EA to a founder of an international real estate firm.) So I have a lot of experience with business organization and operation, no matter the type of business.
I specialize in communication, organization, structure, and a positive attitude. From offices to sets, I like to make sure that people have what they need in order to succeed. While also, maintaining and knowing that their mental health is balanced (as much as possible). On set or in the office, I always carry chocolate around and hand it out if I see someone having a difficult time.
I am most proud of living in LA for four years, a lot of people told me I’d be leaving within the first year. Or even before the first year was up. Having the privilege and ability to chase my dreams with only myself to fallback on has been one of the most rewarding and difficult experiences of my life. I’m very proud of that.
My determination, tenacity, and skill is what sets me apart from others.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Monique Salas – Actor
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trulysavanna/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savnna.poelma/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savanna-trujillo-poelma/
Image Credits
Nick Giggans-Hill (black and white image)
