Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Bascope.
Tatiana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Sometimes it really does feel like yesterday that I was standing on the lawn of the Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico learning how to turn the Mic on to do my first interview at a Reggueaton conference. It was 2005, I had dropped out of my final year of college to become a TV Host for a channel I had never even heard of at the time. I had just been cast as the new host for a Latin show called Viva America.
This was when BET was trying to go Latin and Latinos were all the rage. I didn’t know a thing about anything but I knew I wanted to ride the wave. By some stroke of luck, I was in! I was flown to my favorite place in the world, Puerto Rico to interview some of the most talented artist of the decade! I remember I was so green!! I had no clue what anything was but I wanted to learn. The first time I interviewed Daddy Yankee, I remember I was so embarrassed to call someone Daddy specially on national television, that I never actually said his name once during the entire interview. That wasn’t the only cringe-worthy moment I’ve had. I’m sure there have been millions! Like when I spilled soda all over Don Omar or when I kicked Andy Garcia during an interview. Luckily people were always kind and willing to help and laugh at my clumsy moments. I was embraced and taken under so many wings that I was able to really grow artistically. I was able to learn and truly find my niche and my passion. Through my years as a Tv host, first on Viva America then on Latin Beat, I was able to really use my creativity and improvisation skills. I was able to write my own monologues and questions. It was during this time I found my first real love; writing and creating interesting stories.
I started writing in journals and keeping track of all these crazy stories in my mind. Slowly those stories came to life through short films and pilots and series I started to writing and developing.
In 2014 my dream of writing my own movie became a reality. I went back to my favorite island, Puerto Rico, to begin filming and working on one the toughest and most mentally draining projects I could have ever dreamed of. My first feature film as a writer, actress and executive producer; El Guardia. Inspired on a true story, El Guardia Tells the tale of a man who many had counted out. It’s the story of what happens when determination, hard work and the power of your words and thoughts align. It’s the story of a man with a 9th grade level of education, who dared to dream and set fire to his vision. A man who is now one of the top entrepreneurs in the country. A man who changed his future.
It was during the making of this film that I realized how much I truly love this industry. The sleepless nights, the aching headaches, trying to resolve the millions of problems there were, the anxiety over delivering a worthy project, the sleepless nights. It was the best. I mean everything that could go wrong went wrong. Like EVERYTHING! But we never gave up. I may have lost my way and stumbled a bit but I never stopped creating. And then one day the movie premiered at The Marche Du Filme at The Cannes Film Festival. That feeling, that moment was such a delicious feeling. Whenever things get scary or hard, I go back to that moment and feel it all over again and remind myself I got this.
I’m not sure when exactly I went from being a writer/ producer to an entrepreneur. Probably somewhere between panicking about where my next job would come from and my desire to constantly create.
I think all writers/ actors/ producers will tell you that to survive in LA you need like three jobs and two side hustles… let me tell you….. FACTS! In between auditions, production meetings and consulting I found some time to start two business that totally exceeded any expectations I ever had. What started as something fun to do turned into two solid business that I can now intertwine freely between each other.
In 2018 my best friend, SaCortney Bullock, and I got together and decided “we need to make some money” LOL !! After some brainstorming we came up with three things we Love. The Moon, Crystals and Healing.
Soon Coco and Karla was born; a jewelry line that focuses on healing crystals for your mind and spirit. Not only do we want you to look cute and fashionable but also help you heal, grow and manifest. It’s been two years and there’s no one else I enjoy creating with than my best friend and business partner. Best part is I can wear my own jewelry on red carpets and even include some pieces in my films.
A year later, I saw another opportunity and I decided to jump on it. I was lucky enough to have a boyfriend who was just as crazy as I was and we both decided to start a business. To say our love for Cannabis bonded us at first is the understatement of the century but to say our love for creating and learning about how Cannabis and herbs heal would be completely accurate. I found someone who was just as passionate about Cannabis and helping others. Truly seemed like the perfect combination and thus our organic, vegan and cruelty-free Cannabis Wellness Line was born; Tarzan and MaryJane.
We create our products under the moonlight surrounded by Coco And Karla Crystals (here’s where the intertwining comes in). All our products are completely organic, vegan and cannabis-infused.
We have anti-aging oil, anxiety spray, pain sprays and happy drops. My favorite part is when people text me or message me to tell me how much these products have helped them. Those are the moments that make all the hard work, money invested, risky decisions worth it.
But no matter what I can never leave my one true love behind…. filmmaking. I’m currently working on a Docu-series about the passive protests that lead to Bolivian president Evo Morales to resign after 13 years. Always looking for a story to tell or someone to help and I’m lucky enough to have managed a way to make it all work where all my business’’ support and fund one another.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wouldn’t even know where to start honestly. It’s been such a long road. I think some of my biggest struggles were in my own head and trying to figure out the next step while trying to please everyone along the way.
When I first started working as a TV host in NYC my mom stopped talking to me (she thought eventually I would give it all up and go back to school) and when I moved out she didn’t let me take any of my clothes or things, so I literally left my house with a backpack and the clothes I had on. We’ve since then totally reconciled and her and my dad are my biggest supporters.
I’ve learned to live off $10 the same way I’ve learned to turn that $10 into a $100. I’ve literally paid for things with quarters and at one point had four different jobs.
My love for creating and telling stories was always so much bigger than the struggles around me. I’ve started over so many times, I’ve built business and walked away from them when they were no longer aligned with my vision. I’ve let go of projects, colleagues and friends that were no longer serving my growth. Those were hard lessons to learn. I think now when I look back I would have been more lenient with myself. Allowed my self to change my mind more often and to have said NO quicker.
I’ve lived in so many magical places and learned to adapt and rebuild. I went through Hurricane Maria and drank pool water for 26 days but I can honestly say l learned what real love and resilience was during that time.
I got divorced shortly after that and walked away from a business I helped create, artists I had helped develop and a dream I helped craft.
I drove from Dallas to LA with the clothes I had on, my two dogs and $200 in my pocket. Literally took nothing with me and I started over. I really had no clue where to go from there.
Less than a year later, my niece passed away and everything changed. Life got very still. I re-evaluated the decisions I made, the projects I worked, the people I engaged with. I slowly started healing on my own and learning about herbs and crystals. It slowly turned into this magical life I live now where I get to work on projects I’m passionate about and help people heal through crystals and herbs.
I don’t think I knew it back then but everything did work out the way it was supposed to. I was able to continue working, to continue creating. I wish I could give you some magical secret to all this but I can honestly tell you, the only secret is to just keep going. Grit your teeth and put one foot in front of the other. Before you know it you’ll look back and the road will be long and worth it and all the problems and complications will seem so far behind.
Please tell us about Tarzan & MaryJane, Coco & Karla, BasPar Media.
Tarzan and MaryJane – is an organic, vegan Cannabis Wellness company. All our products are Cannabis Infused with natural healing herbs.
We have:
• Anti-aging skincare
• Cannabis tinctures
• Natural & organic teas
• Immune boosting powders
• Pain spray
Our products are all made under the moon surrounded by crystals and so much love. We work with THC, THCA, CBD and the most organic delicious cannabis.
•Coco & Karla – is energy-enhancing jewelry handmade by women made with natural stones. It’s a 𝙾𝚗𝚎-𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚙 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙼𝚊𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕.
We have:
• Crystal crowns
• Body chains
• Crystal chokers
• Pendulum
• Crystal bracelets
• BASPAR MEDIA – focuses on creating content that challenges, inspires and motivates. Our first project is a docuseries about the strength of a country that stood up broke the chains of a narco-dictator. The story of how Bolivian people changed their future.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I think I would probably not listen to every one around me so much. Something I’ve been working on probably my whole life is not trying to please everyone so much. I’m still learning it’s okay to say NO and that I can speak up and use my voice. I spent a big portion If my life saying “yes” and over extending myself and working on things I wasn’t passionate about or was inspired by just because I didn’t want to miss “the opportunity” If I could go back I’d just give myself a hug and say “You’re doing fine. Speak up and Don’t waste time!”
Pricing:
- Tarzan & MaryJane – Unicorn Tears (CBD , THCA) $39
- Tarzan & Mary Jane – Dope Mist (Anti Anxiety Spray) $25
- Coco & Karla – Gold Filled Body Chains $140
- Coco & Karla – Crystal Pendulum $40
- Coco & Karla – Crystal Bracelets $25
Contact Info:
- Website: Tarzanandmaryjane.onuniverse.com
- Phone: 747-214-7301
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @tarzanandmaryjane
- Other: @cocoandkarla @tatianabascope
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