Meet Isabela Santos

We were lucky to catch up with Isabela Santos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Isabela, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

TV and movies have always been a lifeline for me, since I was a kid, so it was always very clear what I would do for work. But I think every human being’s purpose is to just be happy. I’ve always done my best to achieve that by following my intuition and doing what I feel is right. It has never failed me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m currently getting my MFA in screenwriting at the American Film Institute as a Fulbright scholar. I’m fairly close to graduating and it has been such a journey. I’m working on a second feature screenplay, a thesis film and a TV pilot. They’re all dark comedies and I’m so proud of each one.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Ambition, adaptability and resilience. Without ambition, I wouldn’t have worked as hard as I did. Resilience and adaptability carried me through the rejections, which were many. It’s easy to lose hope when things don’t go your way, but being resilient is about acceptance and the willingness to keep trying. My advice is to always do what your heart tells you to and hope for the best. But if it doesn’t happen, adapt and keep trying. When I applied to MFA programs, I really wanted to study in New York. It didn’t happen and I was sad about it. Now, I see that being in Los Angeles was the best thing that could have happened. I didn’t understand it at the time but I kept moving forward. I aim for that to be my approach to every curveball that comes my way.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My mother has always supported me in pursuing filmmaking, even if she doesn’t fully understand what I do or how it works. There’s no history in my family of people pursuing careers in the arts, it’s quite the opposite. But she has never wavered in her support of me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clippings.me/isabelasportfolio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isabela.santos.351/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelasnts/