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Meet Lena Báez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Báez.

Lena, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a film director from Ecuador and the first time filmmaking caught my attention was when I was a child. I was probably 11 years old when my sister took me into a casting call, she was making a short film with her friends, and I was there auditioning for one of the parts. From that moment, I knew that filmmaking was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I just simply felt comfortable in the environment like I was meant to be there.

Later on, I got my first video camera and thanks to the teachings from my sister, an experienced journalist, I learned from scratch how to document my surroundings and how to structure a story. Thanks to my parents, I got to Los Angeles, and my art started to developed even more since I began to make my own short films, commercials, and music videos. I studied in New York Film Academy for three years, and I met incredible teachers who helped develop my skills as a filmmaker.

I love telling stories, and I use psychology as the basis to create my new worlds and characters. Directing is my passion, but I love cinematography, and photography and the idea of capturing the moment. In all my experience as a filmmaker, I realized that every story starts with a vision. You can have many ideas, but how you portray it, that’s what matters.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. While I am here, my family is in Ecuador and France making their own dreams come true. No matter the distance, I believe that we are a very united family that supports each other completely and unconditionally, and I think that’s the most important thing, and I am grateful for having them.

Filmmaking is a challenge, but every experience in the field and every project is a new adventure. I know there is still many steps left on the ladder and that I have to keep climbing, but I think that’s the beauty of it.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a freelance filmmaker, but above all, I am a director. Directing is my passion because it makes me a visionary, it helps to see pass through the obvious and go in-depth into our emotions. There are so many stories out there that are still hidden from our eyes, many feelings that need to be shared and I am in the look for them. I strongly feel my art will always resemble the psychology of our humanity because I believe that our nature is worth telling.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I learned this from home: Success is not about the highest rank you can get at your career or how well you are known. Success is about you, and if you are the best person, you want to be. Are you surrounded by the people you love, family and friends? Are you happy in the way you look at yourself? Are you where you want to be? Doing what you want to do? If yes to all, then you are successful because everything else just comes and goes.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Ivanna Báez, José Luna, Jade Yusi

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