Meet Angeline Abrera

We were lucky to catch up with Angeline Abrera recently and have shared our conversation below.

Angeline, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by collaborating with other creatives, discovering new artists, and watching new movies! It’s true when people say that you can’t truly grow and create without taking risks because stepping out of your comfort zone allows you to explore other ideas, which can spark inspiration. It’s all about meeting new people and opening yourself up to new content and experiences, whether it’s a new song, movie, show, etc. that helps you view your project and art from a different lens, literally!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I would describe myself as a multidisciplinary creative and storyteller – specializing in film, photography, producing, content strategy, and creative direction. I’m currently the Chief of Staff at a music and tech organization, The Digilogue, and the Chief Activations Officer and Co-Founder at Fourth Industrial Pictures, a film production company based in Austin, TX! Throughout my college career, I became fascinated at the intersection of the arts with philosophy, activism, and storytelling. This led me to earning a B.A. in Media Production, a B.A. in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, with a minor in Creative Work at the University of Houston in Spring 2022.

All that said, folks often ask me, “Angeline, what do you do?” And I’ve gotten to a point in my career where I can comfortably, and confidently, say “I do everything!” (in the arts and entertainment industry at least). I never wanted to define myself and my work in just one box, because film and photography are not mutually exclusive to me. I’ve always wanted to do it all and do it well. I find joy in utilizing the skills I’ve learned and built over the years to tell stories in different art mediums for others to enjoy.

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?

Eagerness to learn – I believe that the number one quality to have in order to be successful and well-rounded, no matter what industry you’re in, is to be curious! Education doesn’t stop after you leave school or graduate, but continues on for the rest of your life. Whether you’re picking up a new hobby, or researching a topic for a new project, being curious and eager to learn widens your perspective of reality.

Listening intently – If you want to learn anything, you have to listen. The foundation of storytelling is actively listening to the people, culture, and stories you’re wanting to elevate and if you can’t do that, then you’re in the wrong business. This doesn’t just apply to the arts, but when creating meaningful relationships with others.

Being kind – Going into any project or situation with an eagerness to learn, and doing so by listening intently, all while being kind, is a mark for success both in your career and personal life.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

One of my favorite books is On Photography by Susan Sontag. She writes, “Photographs may be more memorable than moving images, because they are a neat slice of time, not a flow. Each still photograph is a privileged moment turned into a slim object that one can keep and look at again.” Her text has inspired the way I now shoot and look at photographs because what makes photography particularly special to me is that I’m able to document these irreplaceable slices of time for others. Each captured moment lives and thrives in a single frame, never to be replicated in the real world again. This is why I’ve always been drawn to candid, concert, documentary, and now unit stills photography because I’m able to fully live in the present, letting my subjects and the world around me thrive in their own space as I shoot in real time. In these frames, the story lives on forever.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://angelineabrera.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelinesalbum/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeline-abrera/

Image Credits

@dcqphotos
@ohhryanniceshot