Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Ayala-Alonzo.
Hi Jacqueline, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a filmmaker based in Inglewood, CA. I was born in West LA and up until the age of four, I grew up in Culver City with my parents. My mom is from Guatemala City, Guatemala and my father is from Mexico. When my parents got separated, my mom and I moved to Mesquite, NV and we lived there for 10 1/2 years. Growing up, I was not the most outgoing person in my grade, but I loved going to the movie theaters with my mom almost every time there was a new movie out. The funny thing about going to the movies is that we would always stay for the end credits, just reading every name as they scrolled up and wondering how many people were involved in creating a film. At the time, I did not realize that filmmaking was my calling, but those were the early signs that filmmaking was going to be my career.
In 2015, when I started applied to colleges, I was not sure what I wanted to do, but since I had always enjoyed writing, I decided to study journalism at Cal Poly Pomona. I would say after my first semester of my undergraduate, I decided to check out the theater department and made theater my minor. I took acting, directing and even a filmmaking class. It was in my filmmaking class that having a career in film was something I wanted to pursue. I graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. in Multimedia Journalism and a minor in Theater in 2020 right at the peak of the COVID pandemic. A little bit before the pandemic started, I had started looking at graduate schools in order to attain my master’s in Film, Television and Photography. Ultimately, I decided to go to Mount Saint Mary’s University where I got my M.F.A in Cinematography. It was not easy to learn a very hands-on career and my first year I was learning from home. I felt I was not processing the information as good as I would have hoped. However, around the end of my first year, we started going to class in person by small groups, so I was confident that things would start going back to normal.
Even though my emphasis was in cinematography, I was open to trying out different departments. Throughout my time in the film program, I was an assistant camera, assistant director, production assistant, writer, director and producer. Every set I have been on, I always learn something new and as someone who enjoys learning new things, I am eager to know my next lesson.
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?
Definitely not. As I mentioned before, I was not outgoing growing up, so I definitely think that made me lower my self-esteem and I started comparing myself to those around me. Up until recently, I learned that each of our paths are going to be different and there is no right way to make it in the film industry. It was intimidating at first being in this industry, especially as a female Latina filmmaker. The biggest struggle was my self-confidence on my film, “La Siguanaba.” As someone who is used to receiving orders rather than giving them, it was difficult to step up to the plate. It took a lot of self-reflection to realize what went right and wrong and when I returned to set a few months later for reshoots, I was confident and ready to direct my team. I think it is very important to step back a bit, reflect and be ready to take charge.
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 producer and director. I have worked on many short narratives, two feature films and two fashion shoots, As of right now, I am in the pre-production stages of producing a web series with a couple of friends and we are very excited to share this project once it is finished.
However, I am most known for my directorial debut, “La Siguanaba,” which is currently in its festival run with four official selections and one honorable mention across Southern California. Similar to the legend, La Llorona, “La Siguanaba” is cursed to roam the earth forever, always searching for her next victim. I am still waiting to hear back from more festivals, so I am excited to see how far my team and I can go with the film.
Obviously, I am most proud of “La Siguanaba” since not only is it my first film, but it also showcases my Guatemalan heritage on the big screen. There were many times throughout the whole thing where I was not sure if I could pull it off. During this time, my family lost two aunts and when we lost our first aunt, I was in the process of writing my script and it took me over a month just to get back in the groove. When our second aunt passed away, it was difficult to fly back from Guatemala and continue our lives back in LA. I do think that they would have been proud of me if they had gotten the chance to see my film.
Another project that I am proud of is the first film I produced called “Guilt,” which is a western about Sara Delano who attempts to find a new life and to be someone she’s not until she meets Billie August who changes her mind on it all. Typically, I am not a big fan of Westerns, but I liked going through the process with my classmates and the film turned out beautiful.
In my short time in the film industry, I have come to realize that I love collaborating with different people. As a producer, I am always on the lookout for potential contacts for future projects for myself or other creatives. There has not been a set where I do not know at least one person, the film world is a small one and we are all part of the same family.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Before my big move to Nevada, I was very outgoing because I would always speak my mind and at parties, I was pulling teenage boys to dance. However, when my parents divorced, I think it affected me mentally because I became a completely different person when I started kindergarten.
As a child, I was very imaginative because I loved acting out scenes from different movies whenever I was alone in my room. I also loved singing my favorite Disney songs at home or on long road trips.
In school, I was always considered one of the smart kids of my grade, getting straight A’s and one of few who actually enjoyed math. Most people knew me as being the quiet one. I’ve lost count to how many times I was told: “You’re so quiet.” I did not really stand out. I have always been one to not speak unless spoken to and I was so quiet that I vaguely remember a few times in group projects where people would forget I was even in their group. Yeah, it was pretty bad. It was hard making friends, but the few friends I did make have become my best friends.
Up until about my first semester of graduate school, I started opening up more and I constantly push myself to interact with others. It has not been easy, but I take it day by day and I am proud to say that I am definitely less afraid of speaking up and of how far I’ve come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jacquelineayala943.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacqueline_ayala/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-a-085980117/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13349851/?ref_=tt_ov_dr
Image Credits
Steve Escarcega Roman Zenz Jerley Jean Ocean Ker Matthew Alexander
