We recently connected with Anthony Alvarez and have shared our conversation below.
Anthony, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
As I sit down to write this, I realize imposter syndrome isn’t something you conquer once and for all. It’s something that resurfaces at different stages of growth. A familiar foe (or friend). Every time I’ve pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, whether by working on bigger productions with more experienced filmmakers, or by reaching a new stage of growth in my company, that familiar doubt creeps in: Do I really belong here?
The truth is, I usually know just enough to have earned my spot, but not nearly enough to feel like I always have full command of everything. There’s always more to learn. And that’s where I’ve found two things that help me move through imposter syndrome: joy and faith.
Joy, for me, comes from embracing a sense of childlike curiosity. I remember shooting a performance with an incredibly skilled gaffer who used a technical term I didn’t know. My ego wanted to nod along and pretend I understood, but I forced myself to ask. As simple as it was, that moment of honesty, of letting my curiosity overcome my insecurity of not knowing, allowed me to grow. There’s something liberating about admitting what you don’t know and feeling yourself get better because of it.
The second pillar is faith. Not just in the spiritual sense (though that’s a big part of it for me), but in something bigger than myself. Faith in art, in collaboration, in the idea that my journey might open doors for others like me. Sometimes, imposter syndrome makes it easy to shrink ourselves down, but I remind myself that if I’m in a space that challenges me, there’s a reason for it. And it’s okay if I don’t know that reason just yet, but I have faith I’ll figure it out along the way.
At the end of the day, I may never fully shake imposter syndrome, but I’ve learned to make peace with it. I view it as a familiar friend that allows me to say to myself: “Oh yes, of course I feel this way, I am growing out of my comfort zone.” And I’ve found that joy in learning and faith in something greater than myself are more than enough to keep me moving forward and onto the next part of the journey.
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?
I’m Anthony Alvarez, a filmmaker, producer, and the CEO/Co-founder of Project Feel, an NYC-based & Latine-owned multimedia production company dedicated to crafting impactful media that fosters creativity and community. My journey into storytelling wasn’t linear—I originally pursued a path in medicine, driven by a desire to help people. But along the way, I realized that while medicine heals individuals, art and film have the power to create change on a larger scale. That realization led me to pivot, diving headfirst into filmmaking as a way to tell stories that resonate, challenge perspectives, and build connections.
At Project Feel, we operate at the intersection of film, music, and culture, producing everything from narrative films to documentary shorts, live music sessions, and branded content. What excites me most about this work is the ability to create something that isn’t just visually compelling but also emotionally resonant. We create art that sticks with people, that shifts perspectives, that makes them feel something.
Right now, I’m especially focused on expanding Project Feel’s impact by honing in on stories by and for traditionally marginalized groups, starting with our own latine community. For a long time, we cast a wide net with our projects, but we’ve come to realize that our strongest work comes from embracing who we are and the communities we come from. We’re also in the early stages of launching a short film program designed to uplift these emerging voices in filmmaking, creating opportunities for new talent to tell their stories in a meaningful way.
As a filmmaker and creative, my goal is to continue building spaces where art and community intersect, where the stories we tell aren’t just entertainment, but also reflections of something deeper and bridges towards something greater. Whether it’s through film, live experiences, or creative collaborations, I want the work I put out into the world to leave a lasting impact.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I’d say three qualities have been most impactful in my journey:
1. Being open-minded to new people, ideas, and experiences. Some of my biggest opportunities have come from stepping outside my comfort zone, being willing to listen, and embracing perspectives different from my own.
2. Honest self-evaluation! Taking a hard look at where I can improve and where I need to be more disciplined. Growth requires self-awareness, and the more I’ve been able to assess my strengths and weaknesses objectively, the more I’ve been able to level up.
3. Knowing how to seek and use resources, because there will always be things I don’t know (I am reminded of this often). The ability to find the right people, tools, or information has been just as valuable as any skill I’ve developed.
For those early in their journey, my advice is:
1. Define your purpose. Know your WHY: the thing that will keep you grounded when things get tough. Passion alone won’t always sustain you, but purpose will.
2. Stay open to learning. The more you acknowledge how much you don’t know, the more room you create for growth. Openness to new ideas and honest self-evaluation go hand in hand.
3. Keep your ego in check. Your ego can hold you back, whether by convincing you that you’re already doing enough or stopping you from asking for help when you need it. The moment you think you’ve got it all figured out is the moment you stop growing.
At the end of the day, progress isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying curious, staying honest, and staying open.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
There’s a quote I love from James Clear that I first heard on Brené Brown’s podcast: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” That idea has completely shaped my past 12 months.
I’ve had a relentless focus on improving the systems that keep me organized, energized, and accountable. From refining how I manage my to-do lists to building a morning routine that sets me up for success, I’ve realized that the right systems make all the difference. Dreams are great, but without a framework to support them, they remain just dreams.
If you struggle with keeping everything in order (like I very much did), I highly recommend reading “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. It completely shifted how I approach productivity and structure in my life. The more I fine-tune these systems, the more I find that I can stay on track and actually enjoy the process.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.projectfeel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonys_aura/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-alvarez-4aa32925a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectFeel
Image Credits
Christine Liana (first photo)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
