Today we’d like to introduce you to Yara Estrada Lowe
Hi Yara , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a large Latin family in Northern California. I knew at the age of four while acting in a church play that I loved show business. I got use of my first video camera at the age of 11. I would film everything. During middle school, my cousin and I would audio tape reenactments/create commercials and talk shows. I went to San Jose City College for theater arts in the early 2000’s. In 2008 I moved to Los Angeles and began furiously working as an extra and also fine tuning my craft as an actress. I studied at Play House West acting studio and became a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
But then I realized that trying to make it as an actress in Hollywood was a long shot. That’s when I began focusing on producing, writing and directing. In 2013, I co-produced and was the second unit director on over 100 episodes of an internet soap opera. At this point I would work on any project that came my way in whatever capacity I was hired including script supervisor, or assistant director. I learned the ropes on how to make a movie. Then I started writing. In 2016, I wrote, produced and acted in a trailer for my first screenplay, Epic Love, as well a tv pilot.
Finally it all came together in 2020. I wrote DEMISE, a feature film, during the pandemic. It was soon green lit as an independent film. I directed the film with an incredible cast and cinematographer during a period of 17 days in April 2022. There was magic on set; everyone got along great and when I reviewed the footage after we wrapped, I realized that I had an amazing film on my hands. I spent almost a year editing the film with a veteran editor and working closely with my composer and post production team. We did our cast and crew screening in July 2023 and before the year ended, we closed a deal with Gravitas Ventures to distribute the film. The movie was released on February 27th, 2024 and the reactions to the movie have been wonderful.
Alright, 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?
The road has been anything but smooth. I remember during the first ten years after I moved to LA in 2008, while I was pursuing my career as an actress, the constant frustration of getting a new manager and/or agent and then never getting any work. Also as an extra (the only work I was able to get), you are generally treated as a second class citizen on set. Then, when I began working behind the camera, the money was minimal. There were a lot of days when I thought I was never going to make it in the entertainment industry and I considered giving up. But I knew in my heart that I was talented and that people would enjoy my work product if I could just get something produced and released. Even since I wrote and directed DEMISE, it is still difficult for me to get people to take me seriously perhaps because I don’t look like an archetypal director.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My husband says that my biggest strength, whether its in a noir thriller like DEMISE or a romantic comedy like my new screenplay Merrily We Go, its my ability to make my work accessible to everybody. For example DEMISE has been reviewed positively by Art of Cinema (“New voice in Hollywood. Yara Estrada Lowe, creates an immersive and messy world in new indie film DEMISE”) as well as the average movie goer. What I think sets me apart is that I can wear many hats including writer, director, producer, and even, music supervisor, and my primary goal is to entertain. I’m not trying to advance any deep political or philosophical viewpoint. I just want people to enjoy themselves.
I am most proud of my film DEMISE, which I think showcases my strengths as a filmmaker, and I hope it will lead to many more projects including DEMISE 2.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I love music, film, theater, live concerts and being with my husband and my family. I think I probably felt most completely in my element during those 17 days in April 2022 when I was directing a cast and crew of over 30 people. I absolutely love writing, directing and producing, and I still love acting too. I’m also very happy when I am at the beach with friends or cooking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.demisethefilm.com
- Instagram: @yaraestrada_lowe
- Other: @demisethefilm on instagram
Image Credits
Photo with blue velvet pants, photo of script, black and white photo – photography by Easton Schirra
