Conversations with Yumiko Hilasaca

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yumiko Hilasaca

Hi Yumiko, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi , my name is Yumiko and I’m 24 years old. I moved from the beautiful country of Peru to the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas, when I was just 8 years old. Growing up I enjoyed watching lots of Youtube videos and began to secretly film “hauls” on my dad’s Mackbook webcam, which thankfully never made it on to Youtube. On my 16th birthday my parents gifted me a camera and finally when I was 17, I posted my first Youtube video.
My first video was actually the Bean Boozled Challenge, which if you remember you know how insane those flavors were. From then on I started posting vlogs, hauls, more challenges and it became something I really enjoyed. Its then when I realized that really I enjoyed editing. I then decided that I wanted to study, and maybe, possibly turn into a career.
I ended up attending Walla Walla University in Washington state and majoring in Film, TV, and Media since that was the closest thing to what I liked at the moment.
I truly did enjoy my degree, I got the chance to edit some more, direct, write, and even produce my own things. I made some of the most amazing people, that until this day I get call them my friends. A special shoutout goes to Mallory, who was the only girl in my classroom, I know, silly, but she was, and I now get to call her one of my best friends. Stevan who became like a brother to me and gives great advice, and Zach who I thought was scary at first but turns out he’s a actually a sweet person and is so so smart.
After graduating I came back home, jobless and with no idea what I wanted to do. When they say, its hard to find a job in the film industry, they mean it. I took back my cashier job back so that I could at least have some income. During this time I helped a friend doing with social media ideas, I helped a friend create social media content for his clothing brand, and I interned at a small food company. I also went back to doing photography, I had always done it here and there but never really pursued it, This summer I finally decided to go back into photography, more especially concert photography. Music has always been a form of therapy for me and being to combine two of my favorite things like music and editing, just makes sense. I have given the opportunity to photograph the famous duo Jack & Jack, as well as bands like Pleasure Pill and Flamingos in the Tree.
I think little by little with my love for music I realized that I wanted to sort of change my career path, just a bit, from Film industry to Music industry. My goal by next year is to move to LA and be able to work in the music industry, wether that be doing social media or more on the management side.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, not at all. I mean I practically changed my career path and don’t really know how exactly I’m going to get to where I want to be. I assumed that just like any other person, I would graduate, find a job right after and move on with the life? It’s safe to say, I’m a planner, so not knowing what’s going to happen next is scary and stressful. I have been applying for jobs, talking to artists managers, asking questions, but I know nothing in life is easy so I know its going to take while, I simply have to continue honing my skills and collecting any drop of knowledge I can so I can hopefully apply it in the future at my dream job!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think if you were to ask my friends, they would definitely social media and/or photography, which to that I would say, yes 100% correct.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think the most important characteristic that I feel is the most important is communication. Wether that was in school or outside, I have learned that making connections is key to almost everything. Being able to make conversation with someone and ask questions can help you either level up or find a job.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yumikoemily.myportfolio.com/work
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ablazecolor/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yumikoemily2958