Meet Mia Bazo of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia Bazo.

Hi Mia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hello, my name is Mia Bazo, thanks for having me! I grew up in the Bay Area in Northern California. My whole life I’ve been a California Girl from elementary to college. Currently, I go to USC for Film and Television Production and I plan to be in LA for a while after I graduate in the spring.

I was always extroverted and loved trying new things! I did so many extracurriculars and activities like: soccer, waterpolo, Girl Scouts, musical theater, and so much more. Through it all, I would always gravitate towards all things involving creativity. The arts were a place for me to have fun and be expressive. This is also where I found my love for story telling and connecting with people.

With trying new things constantly, my friends and family all have recognized I’ve mastered the art of failing. I’m never afraid to try something because it’s a new experience! You never know what it’ll teach you or what you’ll learn about yourself. Another lesson as a result was mastering perseverance. I’m very persistent in what I want and more often than not I’m not afraid to say it. With school for example it took me 3 rounds of applying before I made it into my program. (Third time’s a charm!)

When it comes to my career, my goal in film is to tell stories that need to be told. For me, this always includes bipoc, queer, and diverse creatives in front of and behind the camera. I want to give and be the representation I never saw growing up and inspire empathy in people. I truly believe that’s what makes people want to be and do good.

I wouldn’t be here doing what I do without my family like my parents, sister, grandma, and of course my best friends. They all have helped guide me down this path of love and support.

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?
Some struggles along the way were the typical growing pains of realizing who you are and how it may not perfectly fit in but I go back to learning to embrace who you are. Navigating being a mixed queer kid was an interesting experience. I was very lucky that I found my people and community at such a young age. The arts, in particular, were a place where I developed my individuality and voice. I started in musical theater and loved performing. I quickly realized it was a community that really embraced all of the uniqueness in everyone which quickly taught me to use within myself.

I’m here today because I kept making the effort to be unapologetically myself. I was definitely a little dorky as a kid, a bit of a tomboy, and felt a lot of feelings, but those pieces ultimately make me who I am. It’s definitely easier said than done, but I surround myself with those who embrace those aspects of me and they embrace those aspects of themselves, which is beautiful.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a director, writer, and actor! Some would say I specialize in comedy but I have an appreciation for all genres, and more importantly a good story. More recently I’ve been more courageous about horror/thrillers and am working on writing my own. I’m definitely known for naturalistic dialogue and a more discussion based approach to directing. I like asking questions and giving people an opportunity to do their best which comes with trust.

As of now, l feel I have so much more growing to do and am proud of the pieces I’ve pushed out so far. I’m most proud of declaring that I will write a feature because I know it’s a big feat. I’m excited to implement the skills I’ve cultivated so far in my film journey and write from a more marinated mindset than before!

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Silence isn’t necessarily a sign of weakness. At the end of the day it’s your work and character that is the proof. This isn’t just in a creative sense but of course a personal one. Actions really do speak louder than words and I keep seeing that on repeat as each year continues.

Another big one is that, it’s okay to remove someone from your life who doesn’t fit in it anymore. You don’t need to defend someone’s negative perception of who you are and you don’t owe anyone an explanation. The people who truly care about you will talk to you from a place of love and others simply won’t.

Finally, above all choose love. Super simple and a bit cheesy, but it’s really true. This can mean making a hard decision you don’t want to, choosing to forgive, or calling your mom, but at the end of the day it’s a necessity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miabazo
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@miabazo