We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jorge Xolalpa-Vazquez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jorge, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Quite frankly it’s a self-confidence thing. You have to remind yourself that you are in fact unique. Yes, you could be and sometimes will be the only one that looks like yourself, in a room-full of “saviors” but never allow that to take away your power. My biggest self-advice is to always believe in myself the same way I believe in my idols. It’s a complicated concept because others will find it somewhat arrogant, but if you stay true to yourself and your mission, what others think of you becomes background noise. And that right there is what will separate you from being the only one in the room to being the ONE in the room.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Jorge Xolalpa and I’m a film director. I started my career back in 2016 after a failed attempt of ending my life. Since then, my mission has been to tell stories that resonate with my community. Stories that empower those who don’t see themselves represented, but that have the imagination to believe that they can. As of today, I’ve written and directed 7 feature films. Some of them are currently streaming on AppleTV+, Amazon, FlixLatino, and soon Netflix.
I also have a production company: Mighty Aphrodite Pictures, an American Motion Picture company founded in 2014, Specializing in film production and finance. Its main goal has been to create high quality films that might otherwise be deemed risky by Hollywood studios, because at the end of the day, at Mighty Aphrodite Pictures we believe and understand that diversity is universal!
In 2016 I had the great fortune of directing my very first feature film titled Blue Line Station (2016), starring Summera Howell and Leo Ramsey. Blue Line Station (2016) was filmed entirely on an iPhone 6 PLUS and an anamorphic adapter, in eleven days and with a budget of only $100. Without any experience, I took it upon myself to grab my iPhone and fearlessly went out to shoot the film, a film that successfully made its way into 46 film festivals.
In 2017 I directed my second film Valentina (2022) starring Victoria del Rosal, Estela Garcia and Eduardo Roman. This was my first film entirely in Spanish which was also shot with a budget of $500 – Valentina went on to play in more than 40 film festivals, won several Best Pictures, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actress awards.
In 2019 I had the honor of directing my fourth feature film Your Iron Lady (2020), once again starring Victoria del Rosal, making Your Iron Lady my second film entirely in Spanish. Your Iron Lady is based on an unpublished memoir written by Teresa Ramirez, my mother. I have publicly admitted that Your Iron Lady is a love note to my mother and siblings. Exploring the early years of their arrival to America in 1998. The film received high acclaim that it made its way all the way to the 202 Golden Globes in the Foreign Language category, with LA TIMES calling it “A love letter to all mothers in the world.”
In 2020 I found myself directing my 5th film MELANCOLíA (2021) starring Mexican stars Alessandra Rosaldo, Plutarco Haza and Laura Flores, finishing the film two days before the COVID-19 stay at home order was issued. Despite the struggles during the pandemic, the film found itself premiering at Cannes.
Now, as I come back into the spotlight after taking a yearlong break, I prepare myself to premiere my latest film “Union Station” coming summer 2024. Stay tuned!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Discipline, forgiveness and resilience.
You must have discipline in order to forgive yourself for all those things you wish you had done in the past, so that you can start building your present.
My best advice is the same: believe in yourself the same way you believe in your idols. PERIOD!
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
Bring me to this world!
Contact Info:
- Website: mightyaphrodite.pictures
- Instagram: officialxolalpa
- Facebook: officialxolalpa
- Twitter: officialxolalpa
- Youtube: Mighty Aphrodite Pictures
Image Credits
Mighty Aphrodite Pictures
