Meet Geneva Faye

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Geneva Faye a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Geneva, 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.

I watched an interview with America Ferrera where she challenged the idea of imposter syndrome and it shifted my perception of it. She says that what is deemed a syndrome, a problem that I have, is not a problem at all – it’s an appropriate response in spaces where I have historically not been included in or invited to. Things are changing now, and spaces I haven’t been allowed in might be opening their doors, but it’s not MY problem that I feel like an imposter. It’s the environment that still makes me feel like despite all the work I’ve done, I am still an outsider and I’m lucky to be there. For many women, BIPOC, and queer people, the have done MORE to get into those spaces, it’s just not recognized as such. When I start to feel imposter syndrome, I remind myself that I am in this space because I worked hard to get there and that I may be a stranger, or the first, or the only, but I am not an imposter.

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

I am a mexiamericana artist based in LA and originally from Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. I primarily work with visuals as a filmmaker, and I’m also a linguist and a writer. I’m most interested in how language shapes our world, and the power of story to create empathy, understanding, and connection. Present in all my work are themes of identity and belonging. Over the last eight years, I’ve worked as a producer in various mediums, creating content for brands, agencies and original narrative work.

I’m currently finishing up two experimental films, one that I made with my film collective JUNTAS, and the other that I created during a residency in Oaxaca. I’m also developing a feature documentary and writing my next short.

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?

Stay curious. I know it’s cliche, but it’s true. The world is so much bigger than Los Angeles, or whatever big city you might inhabit. Leave the city often, go to nature, talk to people outside of your industry, really listen when someone is talking. And even more important – there is so much more than filmmaking (or whatever your ming focus is). Take a ceramics class, learn how to sew, learn how to paint, get outside of the mindset that you have to excel at one specific thing because all those other practices will only inspire you and make you a better artist.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

They moved to the US (and support my decision to leave it one day).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.genevafaye.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genevafaye_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevafaye/

Image Credits

Michelle Alanis, Marissa Alanis, Paulina Rubio