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Meet Karla Vargas Gastelum

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Vargas Gastelum.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I didn’t always know I wanted to be a filmmaker. I think when I was a kid, I thought I would end up in a science field, as I have always been very interested in science. I was always very academically driven however, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to college.

I was born in Mexicali, a border town in Baja, California, Mexico; I lived there until I was eleven. The conditions I lived under, and struggles I faced there, even at such a young age, would not have allowed me to move forward in the path I wanted to follow. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to go to school if I continued living under those conditions, so I decided to leave my family behind and moved to the United States at age eleven with another one of my family members. I’m very grateful to them for opening that door for me at the time.

Getting to where I am today took a lot of dedication. I’m undocumented, but I didn’t really know what my status meant until it was time to apply to college: I just knew I was not supposed to talk about it.

I had been working very hard to get into the Animation program at San Jose State University, but when the time came to apply and was asked about my status, I realized I wasn’t eligible for financial aid, so I could not apply.

That was definitely a turning point for me: realizing I had to work harder than most people to try to get the same opportunities. I was discouraged for a while but decided to still apply to some Community colleges. I got a scholarship to go to De Anza College and attended for two and half years.

I think that’s where my appreciation for the arts grew even more. I got involved with the art community there and participated in art collectives meant to promote social change. That’s where I decided that I wanted to use the medium of film to expand my audience and tell the stories that I think need to be told.

DACA opened up a lot of doors for me. I don’t think I would have been able to go to UC San Diego for undergrad if it wasn’t because I knew I was in some ways protected.

After graduating college, I didn’t know where I would go next. Undocumented students didn’t qualify for loans or financial aid at a graduate level. I took a year off and moved to LA with the hopes of eventually getting into the UCLA Film School.

It was weird timing though; I almost didn’t apply for the program. The application was due a few weeks after Trump’s election. I was feeling very discouraged and afraid of my situation, but I’m glad I was able to use those feelings to write a compelling story that got me in.

When I got the call saying I got admitted and was asked if I would attend, I said yes immediately, even though I had no money or any idea about how I would pay for it. I just said yes, so I had to figure out a way to make it happen.

Thankfully my writing got me a fellowship that covered my tuition expenses and professional fees. If it wasn’t for their belief in my potential as a storyteller and their sponsorship, I don’t know where I would be right now.

Now I am in my last year in the MFA Directing program at the UCLA School of Film, Theater & Television and I wouldn’t be here without dedication, perseverance, and of course the support of all the people who lifted me along the way. I’m incredibly grateful.

Great, 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?
It has been a rough road. There has been a lot of uncertainty along the way, I think especially because of my status. A lot of perseverance came with that though.

I think I always knew it would not be easy; I knew that I had to work twice as hard to get to where I want to go, but I am ok with that.

I’ve been living on my own since age 14. Having to figure out how to navigate school, college, and life on my own has been very very hard. I’ve had to face things I wish I wouldn’t have had to face, but ultimately I was always able to push through and am still going. That is what matters.

I know there will be many obstacles coming in the future, but I am a determined person, and I know I will get to make the films I want and need to make: that would make all the efforts worth it.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My goal as a Writer/Director is to bring to the foreground stories of underrepresented minorities. As a queer, undocumented, disabled, Latinx woman of color myself, I’ve experienced first hand the obstacles that my identity has put in the way. I am committed to telling stories that promote social change and shed light on the struggles of under/misrepresented groups: immigrant communities, LGBT people, women, people of color, people with disabilities, socially and racially disadvantaged groups, among others.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have done martial arts most of my life. I started out when I was like six years old, doing Tae Kwon Do. I think one of my favorite memories of childhood is my first state tournament. I must have been like 7 or 8. We drove from Mexicali to Tijuana for the tournament. I was really nervous because I was waiting alone; my family was in the audience. I ended up winning both of my fights and got first place.

My favorite thing was getting to eat tacos at my favorite taqueria in Mexicali when we drove back through.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Keili Fernando, Karen Rubin, & Marie Richardson; (Posters created by Karla Vargas Gastélum)

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