Today we’d like to introduce you to Joselyn Fernandez Avila.
Joselyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Everything started back in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, my hometown. Since I can remember, I always had a passion for art and humanity. I was first fascinated by theater and started writing and taking acting lessons when I was eleven years old. I used to write short stories, build characters, and make my friends from my neighborhood perform; it was all fun and informal.
Over the years, I started to realize that I had a real commitment and connection with theater. I acquired my first camera when I was fifteen and rapidly evoked a fascination for street photography, which transitioned into short videos, and little by little my interests for the visual arts began to expand.
In Venezuela, Cinema is still a niche, especially in my city Barquisimeto, where being an artist was such a mystery. When I was seventeen, I decided to go to Caracas, to explore more of the real cinema/TV industry. But even then, it seemed like an impossible career to pursue in my country. So I started a degree in International Relations, simultaneously I applied to scholarships in different film schools in the USA. I was fortunate to get a scholarship at Full Sail University, and with the unconditional support of my family, I decided to give it a chance.
My experience at Full Sail University truly unfolded the depth of my love for cinema, and my desire to create appealing stories that could inspire and influence others. It certainly made me realize the power of visual storytelling.
Due to the pressure of the visa, I was involved in all the projects I was able to and in numerous internships, which developed more work and opportunities, and in the same way allowed me to graduate with some professional experience.
In September 2017, I graduated from Full Sail University, and two weeks later, I was boarding a flight to Los Angeles, California! It was terrifying to start from scratch, and as every beginning, it wasn’t easy. I was lucky enough to have a mentor and a little community of friends that were my fundamental support. During my first months in Los Angeles, I checked all the boxes that we are told we will do when we move here: Couch surfing, working on a juice bar, cleaning dishes, handing resumes, dropping all the tears while driving in traffic; the rollercoaster of La La Land.
Eventually, I got introduced to various amazing people in the industry who introduced me to other fantastic people, and through those relationships and hard work, I found myself working in Los Angeles. As time went on, I started working with Studios such as Rebl HQ, D’ Avant, and Skunk Productions, and for brands like Walt Disney concert Hall and Coachella. I kept getting as much experience under my belt as possible. At the beginning of 2018, I was introduced to Pablo Croce, a Venezuelan director, who gave me the chance to produce and coordinate some of my first music videos. Along with Pablo, I coordinated and produced several music videos for influential Latin artists such as Mana, Sebastian Yatra, Karol G, and Gloria Trevi.
In February of 2018, I joined HBO, to be a part of the Media and Production Services team. HBO was a beautiful chapter, my door to the studio world, and what a new world that it was, undoubtedly very different from my experience on set. I was at HBO for two years, where I grew and met exceptional people.
In February of 2020, I decided to pursue a new adventure at Netflix, in the department of Original Series Production. It’s genuinely fascinating to learn every day and to be surrounded by talented and brilliant people that challenge me to be the best version of myself.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it was certainly not an easy road. To be completely honest is still hard sometimes.
The hardest part for me was to leave my country to be away from my family and friends. Starting a new life with all challenges that are involved, learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, and solving all the visa/ immigration paperwork, all at the same time…
Also, it took me a long time to feel comfortable expressing myself in a second language, especially in this industry that relies heavily on communication.
However, I do have to say all those obstacles have made me stronger, and in a way, have helped push harder for my goals.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I currently work in the Original Series Production team at Netflix.
I am beyond proud to be a part of a company that serves as a platform for so many artists, giving them the possibility to expose their masterpieces to the world. No, that is easy, but I certainly believe there is a bigger space for their stories to come to life. We are exposing all types of productions, shorts, animations, documentaries, sci-fi; different, fresh and exciting content. We represent so many stories through our movies and TV shows that have been underrepresented for so many years before. It is beautiful to see my sister, and my parents in Venezuela being able to practice English and to learn more about other cultures through this platform, but also see themselves on the screen and empathize with those stories. I always wanted to work for a company that created appealing stories that could provide meaningful content, and I feel honored to be a part of it, especially during COVID-19.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
It’s hard to pick one; my top four are perseverance, courage, enthusiasm, and hard work.
The meaning of success to me has been continuously evolving; success looks so different now than when I was in my early twenties. Success to Joselyn of today is feeling excited about what I am doing, being challenged, and in that same way being in a constant learning environment.
Success, to me, is to have space to create something that I believe in; to be a part of appealing stories that I am proud of.
Success is to collaborate with good people and make something bigger than us.
Success is to be amazed by the simple but beautiful things, like a sunset, sunrise, and by nature. Success is to believe in me and trust my intuition.
And lastly, but very importantly, success looks like having a work and life balance.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 321-318-1127
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Stephy Perea and Charlene Sanchez
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