Paula Cajiao shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Paula , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day routine all depend on what I’m working on, but usually I wake up around 4 a.m. on a good day. I make coffee, I pray and meditate for 10 min, and then I begin to write for the next two hours. After I’m done writing, I take my dog on a long walk. It helps me to stay in a routine, and at least I’ve written for two hours already. I do my best work in the morning.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a writer, award-winning director, actor who is an immigrant from Colombia and served in the US Army on active duty with one deployment to Iraq. New York City is what I call my home. Now I live in Los Angeles, where I just shot the proof of concept (short) of my first feature called “Let There Be Light.” It’s a narrative film about a female veteran’s journey towards Ibogaine, a psychedelic that has helped many veterans begin healing from PTSD. I received the Excellence in Directing award from the New York Women in Film and Television alongside the SoHo Film Festival for my film “Shell Shocked.” I am also adventuring into the theater world. Last year I wrote a solo show called “The Return of the Rock,” which received a partial reading at the Labyrinth Theater Company intensive in LA, and now I’m working on a new play called “Mama Julia,” which is set in Colombia in the 1950s, where a matriarch uses religion and control and will stop at nothing to protect her son from the free-spirited woman he loves. To me, storytelling can take many forms and I use it in a way of sharing what is going on inside of me.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My dear friend and collaborator, Jeven Wagner, is a brilliant photographer and was also part of the great musical group Mamajuana, with hits like “Tomando Mamajuana” and “Tu Amor.” When I was first starting out, no one believed in my dream. Many people laughed, but not my friend Jeven. She saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself back then. She saw this raw talent and hunger for creating art.
She would tell me, “Amiga, keep going,” or like we say in Colombia, “Hágale, amiga, que usted es muy talentosa.” She encouraged me, introduced me to people, and to this day, she continues to support and uplift my work. At times, she comes to my set to take photographs. It was Jeven who gave me the encouragement and kind words I needed back then.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely, I think it’s just part of being a creator. We hit many walls on our journey, but those are the tests that either make or break you. Many times I’ve said to myself, “I wish I could just walk away.” The pain can get rough, but when your mission is bigger than you, you simply can’t.
My films are stories that I believe society needs to hear. I write and create to show others different ways. That matters to me. It’s about being of service. And yet I am human, and I get tired. But I’ve learned to rest, to be gentle with myself, and most importantly, to keep going. Giving up is not an option in my book.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
God and family, which includes my chosen family and, of course, my gorgeous and beautiful dog, Rylance Cajiao, named after one of the greatest actors of our generation, Mark Rylance. Those are the most important things in my life. They fill my cup.
Shout out to my baby niece. She’s two years old and already knows how to FaceTime. Her calls always brighten my day.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I don’t know, it’s currently in the making. We’ll see what happens, but it doesn’t truly matter what people think about me or my work, that is their perception. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As long as I do right by others, I’m able to sleep at night, and look at myself in the mirror, I’m good.
A good friend of mine always tells me, “You never have to defend the truth.” I like to say that I do my best to always speak my truth.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: artistic_ninja_1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paula.a.cajiao/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/pcajiao
