Conversations with Daniela Jimenez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniela Jimenez.

Hi Daniela, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey towards filmmaking began at a young age with a love for storytelling. Like many young kids, I crafted my own fantasy world with my dolls, inspired by the moments I came across in real and unconventionally fueled by the telenovelas I would watch daily with my mom. Whether it be with my toys or through myself, I was recreating dramatic monologues but I was also adding on my own “scenes” and acting out what I wanted to see on the screen. I didn’t quite know what it was about watching these shows and any other visual media that captivated me, all I knew was that I wanted the spark that came with being a viewer to never end. Of course at that time I had no knowledge of what directing or screenwriting was, all I knew was that I wanted to put on a spectacle.

Like many filmmakers I wore many hats to make most of my early works, acting as the writer, director, actor, cinematographer, and many more. It wasn’t until I joined my high school’s film club that I actually began to learn about the actual practice of filmmaking. To put on a show you first have to come up with an idea, and then write a script, and then find funding, and so on. All these concepts were intriguing to me as my world opened up to an entire industry dedicated to creating that magic I enjoyed viewing. Initially I had believed that I wanted to be an actor, but the trajectory from being a charismatic young girl to a self-conscious teenager made me favor the comfort of hiding behind the curtains. Through this club I was able to step foot into the different roles of filmmaking and started building my portfolio. I found a community and great friendships in this space, eventually becoming the co-president of the club.

The impact of the pandemic deterred a lot of projects that our club was working on, but in times of solace we thrived on the idea that a story can be told in any format and through a plethora of ways. I made a short film at home during that time where again I was utilizing what I had on hand, a little sister who could hold my phone and family that could act as extras. It was during that time that I realized that I truly thrived when I was directing.

When I enrolled into California State University Long Beach I stepped into a new world where I no longer had my club or the community I had built throughout those years. It felt difficult inserting myself into this community because it seemed like there were others that had knew more and done more than I had. Along the way I was able to meet new people that helped this environment become more inviting, and also step my foot into the sets of other filmmakers. Most of the early set experiences consisted of me working in the sound department, which taught me so much about the importance of this craft and how it can make or break a film. During those first two years I was gaining so many knowledge from each set I was on from the technical side since I wasn’t involved in the creative process, but once again I was building a community. I was trying out many things and through one of my peers I was also able to work on the Super Bowl LVI halftime show as a field team member, partaking in physically setting the stage for the performance.

During my second half at Long Beach I began to have more opportunities to create my own films, learning the ropes once again of what is needed to bring a film to life. With the support of the university I made my first official short film where I followed industry standard steps, acquiring permits, insurance, etc. Here for the first time I was directing and working with a crew that wasn’t made up of family or friends that were lending a hand, here each department had its dedicated person and I was actually working with actors. “As The Sun Sets” was a film of many first for me, but I will always cherish that it made me realize why I loved storytelling, because it is a way of connecting with others. In my last year at CSULB I had the opportunity to pitch a film for the possibility to receive funding from the Golden Globes Foundation. I pitched a film named “El Jardin de los Colibries” about the relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter connected through their built garden. The film was selected to receive funding and was shot in November 2024. This film was made up of all the things that shaped me as a young filmmaker, my Mexican culture and my desire to build a world of my own without boundaries of what others thought.

Currently I am continuing to share this film through various film festivals, most recently the Newport Beach Film Festival, and am developing new projects that focus on women lead stories and spotlight my Hispanic heritage.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road hasn’t always been the smoothest because as I’ve mentioned creating a film requires a lot of planning and most importantly funding. Of course you can always utilize those connections you have to help you make anything, but once you begin considering all factors needed to get rolling it’s better to have the funding to obtain those resources needed to make everything smoother. As an upcoming filmmaker who is continuing to build their portfolio, it can be a struggle to get your foot in the door since you haven’t reached that credibility to your name quite yet. During the making of “El Jardin de los Colibries” I initially struggled to find people who were interested in participating because of the small budget of the production, but luckily I meet amazing people who believed in the story and wanted to support me in bringing it to life.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a writer and director who specializes in women-lead narratives through a Latino lens. I am extremely proud of my most recent film “El Jardin de los Colibries” because it is a film that I feel has been most reflective of my voice as a filmmaker. The main thematic of the film revolves around the idea that we have to speak out to grow, and that is an idea I keep learning to fulfill myself.

I think what sets me apart from other filmmakers is that a lot of my knowledge and filmic inspiration is made up of watching telenovelas growing up. I am a first generation American and the way in which my parents raised me was based on the way they were raised in Mexico. I grew up with a lot of experiences based on 70s-90s Latino culture that my parents lived through and that is reflected on the stories I make and visually reference. In the filmic space it’s often that media such as soap operas are viewed upon negatively because of the emphasizes on melodrama, but I believe all stories are impactful and shouldn’t be deemed unsubstantial because of their audience. I drew a lot of inspiration on those telenovelas I watched for the argumentized structure of some scenes for “El Jardin de los Colibries.” The film has characters with strong personalities and I knew the arguments had to reflect the intensity of the characters, which is why I rewatched some iconic scenes from my childhood favorites to see what they did to impact me as a viewer.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The film industry is vast and when I was younger my eagerness for stepping into it made me apply to many opportunities, such as mentorship programs, which I believed would catapult me into the career I wanted. There were many moments in that early stage of high school and now as well where I was faced with the reality of rejection, but I continue to persist like to think that one door closing only leads to another one opening. Rejection is hard, and sometimes I find myself struggling to take risks because of that fear of failure, but that feeling on unfulfilling potential is worse.

Another important lesson I’ve learned along the way is that community is the most powerful thing you can have. Building a community takes time, but once you’re able to form a bond with someone you are able to aid each other in your journeys.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniela_ji21/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielajimenezc
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/eljardinfilm/

Image Credits
Gabriela Jimenez
Eliam Weinstock