Daily Inspiration: Meet Vera Amaya

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vera Amaya.

Hi Vera, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My heart has been ebbing and flowing for a long time in this city.
I’m an LA native, and I often find myself witnessing the act of starting over, again and again, from many perspectives. I’ve seen a lot of changes through many lenses, literally, since I’ve worn glasses since I was eight. I grew up mainly in the hills of Silver Lake, and I remember running around with my sister, pretending we were part of the circus with our friend. We’d jump in and out of trees and pretend we were walking tightropes on what was most likely a small animal path. Haha.

I always had a wild imagination. I still do, but now it’s a bit more guided. Still, I often reminisce about how free I was to act upon what I saw. It’s still in me—I’ve just been allowing myself to remember.

I grew up in a household with humble beginnings. Both my parents have done their best to make something of themselves. I am the oldest, so escapism was embedded in my time alone. I’d dream up worlds, or read and write poetry to acknowledge what I knew but didn’t yet understand.

It wasn’t easy. There was struggle. But I learned how I liked to see the world. And as I aged, I found that “escapism” was really me collecting ways my environments were speaking to me. I never thought I saw things differently until my dad pointed it out one day. After that, I just leaned in, gently. That recognition allowed me to accept that what I saw in front of me was unique and important.

As an inquisitive and, at times, impulsive person, I explored all different forms of trying to be an artist. I really struggled with accepting this side of me because I dealt a lot with perfectionism, and the belief that whatever I decided was forever; that I needed to leave the best impression. So I limited myself and found myself starting over and over. I started a gallery, made films and animations, did audio/visual installations, and still really saw myself pouring into my loved ones without knowing how to create from within. I was lost. And through rigorous humility, I surrendered, consistently, to what it meant to dream.

Then I started meeting some amazing people who wanted to pour into me. I had never known that feeling before. Receiving it was unfamiliar, and I am so grateful for all who saw me before I could even see myself.

I started saying yes to things that were unfamiliar. I did things, like building my own two-story artist loft, and went on to study film through an architectural vein.
I like to design worlds and share them. Storytelling—sonically, visually, empathetically, and internally. Most artists are world builders, visionaries. They see something and try their best to get it as close to what they were gifted to see and if possible, create.

I started with film, my first love, and really, a forever lover. Structure, leadership, hospitality—writer, director, producer—all rolled into one. I’ve always loved the combination of telling a story two different ways, with sound and image.

I currently have this amalgamation of a radio show and podcast, where I curate a playlist of music to take us on a journey with a guest interview. We talk about deep human feelings. I tend to appreciate a deep conversation over something surface-level. I’ve made films that I’m proud of, and whatever role I was a part of, it’s been an honor.

I currently have two films that I’ve just recently finished, both ends of the spectrum: a digital sci-fi, and an analog love story. I am excited to share them and let these creations live. I’m really grateful for this process. It’s not easy, and most people don’t know or understand why you do what you do, but my faith in God really keeps me going. It keeps me grounded.

I move quietly through this work, and while I’m okay with that, it can make the industry feel heavier with it’s current state. I only hope that people want to read, hear, and see what I make.

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?
Yes, of course. It’s been real. Life, to me, is about functioning within duality. We’re shown that daily. So much of it has become about how you see things.

I’ve spent the past few years navigating restarts and learning to be okay with that. It’s an act of love.
Lots of unknown moments and testing oneself. These were situations that helped me accept myself more and more—to remember how I see the world is valid and important. To build character, discernment, and ultimately what most of us long for —respect for ourselves, trust.

I can look back and remember exciting moments of seasons I deemed difficult at the time. I didn’t know what I was doing, trying to maintain an identity that was ebbing and flowing. Indecision became a struggle because it wasn’t only about self-preservation, but about others too. Remembering, you’re not alone.

So much of my struggle was thinking that I was alone and needed to do everything on my own. Every decision had to be mine alone because I didn’t want to, again, be seen or perceived as needing help. That was hard. Learning how to just ask a question, realizing that not everything is my responsibility, and that I could lean into my faith when I’m in a difficult situation—was a game changer.

This feeling of being lost is so important. And I’ve let go of a lot within my identity and belonging.
I’m still there in certain—actually, many—aspects of my life, but I’m just walking along. I have a friend who said this amazing thing to me recently. He mentioned how that’s the point. There is no final destination, there’s no arrival. (BTW, arrival is one of my favorite films.) And I’ve loved it since. It allows you to accept where you’re at. And that means I get to start again.

When you really want to change your life, everything really does change. You change. Life presents some really difficult moments to show you more—not only what you see as beautiful, but that sometimes we want to go back or run away because we’re remembering something that meant a lot.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have a strong background in producing and have had the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented artists. My films have been recognized for their bold storytelling, which I take great pride in. I love helping others and engaging in creative problem-solving. Coming up with ideas, building worlds, and collaborating to bring a shared vision to life is something I deeply enjoy.

Some films you might know me for include Tecata, an eight-time award winner for Best Short Film, including honors at WorldFest Houston and the Los Angeles Film Festival; The Burning Plain, a Frieze Los Angeles Film Award nominee; and I Once Fell in Love with You, an official selection at both the Berlin International Art Film Festival and the San Diego Art Film Festival.

Most recently, I completed two short films: First Born and Almost. I wrote and directed both, and I’m excited to share them soon—whether through festivals or more intimate, local screenings.

I also host a monthly radio show called Ventilate with Vera. Each episode features a guest conversation paired with a curated music journey inspired by our topic. Its structure is unique, and I love the freedom it offers. It’s a space to be honest and tender—to explore what it means to feel, reflect, and be human. I’ve found it surprisingly healing.

Landscapes are my muses. When I think about poetry or world-building, it always begins with the earth—the environment. It’s the first element I see, long before the story begins.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Currently, I see a lot of shifts toward a new way of communicating. The industry I consider myself a part of has been expanding for a while, but I do think it’s in a recalibrating state. I was fortunate enough to do something wild and impulsive—go to SCI-Arc and study film within architecture. I learned how to use modern technologies as tools, rather than approach them with fear-based thinking. I became curious enough to question and highlight which technological algorithms are destructive versus those that are truly beneficial. This process will require a lot of trial and error.

I see the stability of authenticity always being a strong foundation. And even though we’re inundated with screens and computer love, there’s still a deep yearning for the natural—and that always wins. How we combine the two is part of our personal creative gift. Trends come and go, but I’m really into how people just want to be out and about, letting things unfold in their own time.
I’m also really into romanticism being on repeat—simply enjoying the things we get to do.
Jobs and the economy are in transition, and things may get harder. So it feels more important than ever to be kind—especially when we’re all processing difficult news through different ears.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://veraamaya.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_veraamaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veraamaya/
• Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/moonglowradio/ventilate-with-vera-may-24-2025/

Image Credits
Francisco Tejeda
Michel Alanis
Jojo Reyes
Vera Amaya