We were lucky to catch up with Sharon Vélez Figueroa recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sharon, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity comes from the community I grew up in. Having been born and raised in Puerto Rico, I was exposed to a very strong sense of community. Everyone back home is always willing to lend a hand and help even if the person is a stranger. I grew up with and alongside my neighbors who in times of need that the country has gone through such as natural disasters or political turmoil, everyone was there to assist one another despite needing the help themselves.
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?
Currently, I work as a freelance filmmaker. Particularly for independent short films and with occasional feature films. My work ranges from producing, all the way to video editing. Being open to working different roles in the filmmaking process has given me insight into what I enjoy doing the most and the kind of work I thrive in. With the wide range of positions I’ve worked in, I’ve currently narrowed down to those positions I enjoy the most such as being an assistant camera and video editor. As I’ve gotten more exposed and familiar with the industry, I am allowing myself to have a voice of my own and am in the works of directing my first short documentary. What’s most exciting about my work as a filmmaker is getting to experience the stories of others and getting to know people in a very intimate way through their art. Being such a collaborative job, it’s also another way in which you get to grow close with a group of people and get to know them. It’s a rewarding job scratching that itch of seeking a sense of community outside of my home.
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?
Three skills that were most impactful in my journey as a filmmaker have been organization, punctuality, and being able to work under pressure. Although these skills aren’t artistic, they’re very relevant when it comes to succeeding as an artist in the filmmaking industry. By practicing these skills in everyday mundane tasks, it can easily be applied to working as a filmmaker.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
A particular challenge I’m currently facing is standing up for myself in the workplace. Although I’m not as experienced as many people working in film, this industry is very used to expecting free labor. I’m slowly realizing my worth and being a woman working in film, a lot of people don’t expect you to give pushback so when you do, it’s an issue.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sharonvf08.myportfolio.com/film-work
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trstn1_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-v%C3%A9lez-figueroa-a773a6186/
Image Credits
Paula Muñoz
