We recently connected with Glorivette Somoza and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Glorivette with us today – welcome, and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I get my work ethic from my mother! She’s been the prime example in my life regarding work ethic and blinding generosity. She was a single mother and immigrant, and I am the first generation in the US. She had me at 16 1/2, so she had to grow up quickly. She couldn’t complete college and has had to return as an adult. I’ve seen her do everything in her power to make sure my brothers and I didn’t have to work as hard as she did, but she ended up being an example of how to be instead. My dedication doesn’t waver, and I know it’s due to her commitment to being a good example of how we should treat each task and opportunity in life. It isn’t lost on me that women, especially WOC, need to work three times as hard to be seen, known, and fostered, especially in the entertainment business that I have been so lucky to be a part of.
My mother often took us to work on the weekends and set us up in the back office with a TV and McDonald’s while she made calls and assisted clients. She was a loan officer at the time. We would help her with her marketing gifts every Christmas for her clients and deliver them ourselves. I’d often go on house calls with her, as she’s extremely personable and would meet her clients. I learned very early on that relationships are all that matter. I often think of that Maya Angelou quote.”People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”. This is real. It is not just a quote.
When I had my first gig as an executive assistant at a VFX company, I was fortunate to find mentors and people who believed in me. My work ethic and desire for more, which my mother had passed on, helped me quickly elevate myself in this space. Within 6 months, I was promoted, and within a year and a half, I worked on my first show at Paramount, and I’ve been working for the last 12 years. I never completed my collegiate studies, but I have been able to carve out a career for myself, supporting myself, my family, and my mother. My goal is to retire my mother in the next few years.
I learned from my mother a work ethic, generosity, ability to listen to others, and a general sense of who I want to be in this world. I am so grateful to her for this lesson, which has taken me further than I could have imagined. My mentors have also taught me so much, mainly how to move within the entertainment space. I’m forever grateful for all of these lessons. I’ve worked successfully for the last 12 years and love what I do. It challenges me in every way, and a 14-hour workday is normal. I am working on the “work smarter, not harder” part, but it’s a learning curve. Sometimes, the work just needs the hours.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a visual effects producer for film and TV. I am fortunate to hold this incredible position. I am freelance, so I am always on the hunt for my next show. However, it’s worth it once I’ve completed a project from start to finish and helped creatives realize their dreams.
I come from a banking and finance background, but I have wanted to work in the entertainment industry ever since I can remember. I never knew in which capacity, but I clearly realized in my early thirties that I no longer wanted to work in finance and that it was the easiest way to find work after High School. I randomly applied for a job at a VFX house and was oddly hired due to my finance/marketing background. I had just finished supporting my friends who had started a mobile food truck business. I was shocked to be given this opportunity but took the leap of faith, found a few good mentors, and never looked back. My dedicated work ethic and ability to work well with others helped me get to the position I am currently in.
I am fortunate to foster creativity and find ways to bring the creative producers, directors, and showrunners’ dreams to the big screen. I’m not creating the effects, but I am close enough to feel like I am. We are good as long as I can deliver what has been asked within the budget and deadline. It’s a delicate balance. Sometimes, my diplomacy is what I am best at, but it comes with the territory if you want to do this job well.
My goal in the future is to produce at a higher level, where I choose the project and take it all the way. We shall see. I am grateful for what I’ve been fortunate enough to do so far.
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?
Knowing how to work with all different types of personalities is a valuable trait in life and commerce.
Your unique dedication and passion will define you from anyone else.
Kindness. Simple. If you aren’t kind, then you aren’t doing this right.
My only advice is to be persistent, find a mentor if you can, and work hard. What will define you and what you bring to the table? Figure that out, and do it.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mother held me accountable and taught me generosity. It’s hard to be held accountable as adults because, at this point, we are adults and can choose to do whatever we want. My mother always held me accountable for any mistakes I may have made and taught me early on about the power of generosity. Generosity isn’t always money or gifts; sometimes, it’s giving your time to someone. Mostly, it is that. A lot of my job is talking people down from “creative cliffs,” I’ve been well versed in waiting and standing and getting those people down from the said cliff. It’s valuable to care for people and costs nothing.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
I took all of these photos on my personal camera.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
