America Gallardo
We recently had the pleasure of catching up with America Gallardo and are excited to share our conversation below.
Thank you for sharing your story with us! Could you start by telling our readers a bit about your background and how your journey began?
Hello! My name is America Gallardo, and I am an aspiring film and TV producer. I attended California State University, Los Angeles, and graduated with a bachelor’s in Television, Film, and Media Studies with an emphasis in production. During my time in college, I was eager to be on a set and gain hands-on experience, so I began searching for people who would give me a shot. After months of sending out emails and resumes, I was lucky enough to hear back from Skye Film Studios. They immediately invited me to their Erasure premiere, which was the next day. Being surrounded by the cast and other film crew members, I got to ask and talk with others throughout the night. As I sat in the movie theater watching Erasure, I knew that I wanted to be a part of and work with these people. Luckily, over the next year, I would be invited to become a production assistant and behind-the-scenes photographer for their short films and music videos. Through this opportunity, I got to ask questions and learn more about the workflow on an actual set. Since then, I have continued to grow in my field and take every opportunity that comes my way.
What challenges have you faced along the way, and what lessons have you learned? Looking back, would you say the journey has been smooth or full of obstacles?
My journey has definitely been a bit rocky. Coming from an immigrant family, I don’t think this is what my parents had envisioned for my future career path. It wasn’t difficult to convince them that this was the path I wanted to take because they have always supported me in every decision I make. It was definitely hard at first to find opportunities for myself because I didn’t know who to reach out to. As I mentioned, I would reach out to multiple production companies every day and send my resume, but I would never hear back from them again. It was very frustrating for me because I wanted to show not only my parents but also myself that I could succeed in this path. Through this, one of the biggest lessons I have learned is persistence, because while everything might not go as planned, you need to keep pushing towards your goal.
In your opinion, what has been the key factor in your success?
A key factor in my success has been an open mind. I have been given opportunities in different roles that I knew nothing about at the time, but I was open to learning the positions. While I did struggle with self-doubt at first, I took every day as an opportunity to learn and prove that I could do the job. Since then, I have taken every opportunity with an open mind to learn new skills and immerse myself in each position.
Let’s shift the focus to your work for a moment—can you tell us more about what you do and what sets your work apart?
Yes, of course! As an aspiring producer, my role is to bring directors’ visions to life by overseeing pre-production, production, and post-production. Something that sets me apart is my ability to create an inclusive environment where my team feels heard and respected. As a woman in a field dominated by men, I strive to find stories that are woman-led narratives and work with fellow female directors to tell them.
Do you have any advice for those who are just starting out on a similar path?
Take any opportunity that comes your way because you never know what it can lead to. Every event you can attend, do it, because you will get the chance to network and meet some amazing people. Don’t be afraid to send that email, resume, or text—it can lead to something great.
What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned throughout your journey?
The most valuable lesson I have learned is flexibility. Things are never going to go according to plan, no matter how much you prepare. Something always happens that you couldn’t have predicted, so don’t let that change the end goal. Just take a step back and adapt to the situation.
From your perspective, what’s the most fulfilling part of being a creative?
https://americagallardo11.myportfolio.com/work
Instagram: @america._.gallardo
