Today we’d like to introduce you to Vita Esperança Amore.
Vita Esperança, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey with filmmaking started in 2013 in the jungles of the Darien Region of Panama. I went there for a Spring Break trip with USC’s Global Brigades Club, during my year off from my alma mater.
Riding along rocky and dirt roads, I peered through the window of the dusty 15 passenger van that we rode in from the Panama City. The lush green plants and trees, it was all so beautiful. Peaceful. Mostly untouched.
During our ten days there, we did sustainable agriculture and planted native plants and crops alongside the indigenous Emberá people. Their skin was gorgeous — so pure and flawless, most likely from the most natural resources. They mostly spoke Emberá, but some also understood Spanish. I interviewed several of them about their intimate connection to nature and their gratitude for the resources that the Earth provides them. And the food was so fresh — papaya, melon, fruit nectar; the most tender chicken I’ve ever tasted…And I recorded all of it. With my small digital camera by my side each day, I did my best to capture the beauty and sounds of the world around me.
That same year, I had a similar experience in Italy. I went on a ten day historical tour around the country — from Venice (Venezia) & the island nearby where glass was invented; to Florence (Firenze) & Umbria to Rome (Roma), Sorrento, and Capri. Each city was so spectacularly different. And every tour guide we had had a different perspective and story to tell. Every couple of days, we drove to a new city, and again I got to peer out of the window at the stunning countryside all the way across the world from my home.
These two experiences were monumental in my inspiration to become a filmmaker. To know that the world and the people in it are so beautiful and unique, and not everyone gets the opportunity to experience this moment of revelation with their own eyes. So, I turned to filmmaking as a way to share my experience with the world, especially with the people who look like me who don’t have the same privileges to travel the world as I have.
Since then, I have returned back to the United States to explore more on set. I have produced numerous projects, and I am equally passionate about them all. I love the idea of helping a writer and/or director bring their story to life. Often stories have been hidden in someone’s mind for years, and I am the person to help encourage and give confidence that this dream is possible.
My story regarding event curation and creative direction/consulting lead all the way back to my early childhood. My family has always hosted events for our family, the community, and beyond. I think interacting with so many different personalities from a young age helped my socialization and personal development. One of my youngest memories of hosting an event at my childhood home was for my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary, for which we rented a large tent, tables, chairs, and place settings. I was charged by my mother to help set up and to help escort guests to their seats. It was back then that I realized that I was good with people and loved bringing them together for a good time.
In terms of my creative roots, I have always been a visual and mixed media artist, and I am drawn to collages, color palettes, patterns and shapes of all kinds. This pure love has evolved into my gravitation to modeling, directing photo and video shoots, and doing artist branding consultations.
Great, 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?
Booking freelance work is not usually consistent, until, that is, you become a local household name. So, the journey to getting there is definitely a process. There are slow and heavy seasons, depending, and it can be tough living in a big city like Los Angeles. Therefore, it is so important to stay mentally steadfast, dedicated, and faithful to your crafts. When you put the work in, it will eventually pay off, and you will become known for your strengths. And then comes the greatest gift of all – referrals! 😀
It is also so important to be selective and to surround yourself with people who believe in you and uplift you (and vice versa) — people who remind you of your vision when you falter or have a moment of doubt.
Another important lesson I learned is smart networking. When I say “smart”, I mean like: work smart, not hard. For example, if I go to an event and meet several new people, I do my best to be myself, maintain my humor and personality, and let things flow or connect naturally. That being said, there is an art to understanding body language and relating to people through empathy. It’s about finding the balance so that all of my interactions are authentic and long-lasting.
VITA Visions – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My name is Vita Esperança Amore, and I am a Film-TV Producer, Event Curator, & Creative Director/Consultant. My overall brand is entitled V.I.T.A. (coming soon), and my event curation service is entitled VITA Visions. I am most proud of the VITA Visions brand’s focus on creating experiences for our guests (i.e., music & art installations, brand partnerships, & more). We want people to leave our events or activations and say: “Wow, I’ve never experienced something like that before!” and for it to somehow strike a deeper thought or conversation.
My personal mission is: I aspire to powerfully impact the masses with thought-provoking subject matter via multimedia, experiential, and interactive spaces. I seek to inspire people to change their lives through love and positivity.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Hmm. I have many proud moments because I am so grateful and blessed to be alive. But, if I had to choose a tangible moment, it would be when a project that I produced, USC Graduate Thesis Film, MASKS (inspired by the Pulse Nightclub Shooting in Orlando, FL), became a Finalist for the 45th Annual Student Academy Awards. It made me so humbled and emotional to know that a story that we created through so much focus and passion, finally came to life, touched so many hearts and that it was also considered as a valuable story on the highest level of filmmaking.
More broadly though, I can say that I am proud of every risk that I take to get out of my head and try a new venture or project. Even the ones that are typically considered “failures”, are not to me — there are no mistakes, only lessons.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lvfjdxei47p86gz/Event%20Production%20Highlights_final%20-%20Vita%20Visions.pdf?dl=0
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitavisions/
Image Credit:
Khoren Lawson, Edgar Medina, Alex Toderica, Gabriela De Cos, Sid Ziesman
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