Documentary Films
Storytelling is one of my biggest passions. As a child I remember the stories my mother and grandmother would tell me growing up. My experience in documentary began with my indigenous culture and has continued throughout my college years. Throughout my years in this field I have gained valuable experience in production, video editing, cinematography, audio editing, and script writing.
The Feathered Warriors
In the Spring of 2016, I had the opportunity to travel to Mexico on a research grant on behalf of the Anthropology department in order to learn more about Mexica dancers who gather to celebrate earth day in Mexico City. As a student, I learned about Mexica culture as well as ethical journalistic skills when it comes to documenting and interacting with people from different cultures. I was fortunate to interview 3 individuals by the name of Tahila Mintz, Lisa Hernandez and Clarissa Farrell.
De Oaxaca a Oregón
(From Oaxaca to Oregon)
In Spring of 2018, I took a class called Latino Roots, in which we were tasked to pick an individual in the Latino community of Eugene OR, in order to document and archive their story for the University of Oregon. Since the theme of our stories centered around learning about the diversity amongst Latinos within the state of Oregon, I decided to do mine on a very close friend named Diego Vasquez. Diego Vasquez Martinez is a Senior at the University of Oregon majoring In Digital Arts. At the age of nine, Diego moved to Oregon from Santiago Apóstol Ocotlán de Morelos, Oaxaca, Mexico. Throughout this film we learn more about Diego’s journey adapting to life in the United States as well as understanding how his cultural influence has shaped him into who he is today.
Paola Lopez; A Dreamer
At 6 years old, Paola immigrated to the United States with her mother and in order to be reunited with her father. In the current political climate, the debate of immigration has been a huge one. With various parties and organizations voicing their thoughts and opinions on the topic, without fully knowing the concrete reasons why immigrants leave their homes. Paola is a Dreamer, but this is no dream. This is her reality. Fighting for her own version of the American Dream.
Día de los Muertos
(The Day of the Dead)
In 2013 I took a film class at my local high school. This was the first time that I had ever been exposed to a camera as well as the editing program; iMovie. Although this is not my best work, this was the first video I produced, filmed and edited all on my own. In this film, I interview my mother, father and uncle in our indigenous language, Zapoteco, on the topic of Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead). This film is very dear to my heart as it opened the path for my love and appreciation for film and its access to various cultures, traditions, and people.