Meet Tatiana

We recently connected with Tatiana and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tatiana, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

I was the shy, nerdy kid who never fit in, bullied for my short hair & androgyny. I often felt like an outsider at school. I sat alone almost every day at lunch, but I wasn’t the only one who was bullied for being “different”. One day in 6th grade, the kid in front of me was getting harassed in class, it made me angry. I stood up in front of my entire class, looked a bully in the eye, and said, “This is not okay, stop.” Then I marched straight to the principal and asked if I could start an anti-bullying club.

That was the first time I realized my voice could make a difference, not just for me, but for every kid who felt invisible or outcasted. As the years went by, I ended up carrying that same conviction into filmmaking. I used storytelling to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. I made many stories across a variety of topics, such as sexism, disability, LGBTQIA+, etc. These ended up leaving a mark big enough to be recognized by NBC Universal, Telemundo, Warner Brothers, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, all by the age of 17.

Now, as a 1st AD, I carry that same boldness into every set I step on – speaking up when it matters, standing tall for my crew, and making sure no one feels invisible on my watch. I know firsthand that one voice can change the room, the story, and sometimes even a life, and I’m determined to keep using mine to do exactly that.

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

I’m a 1st Assistant Director, the film set’s logistical brain, and the chaos coordinator. My job is to take a director’s vision + the production budget and turn it into a precise, on-time plan. All this while juggling everything from insane stunts, VFX setups, to full-body special effects, to managing dozens upon dozens of personalities. It’s fast, intense, and every challenge i meet in the day lights me up trying to solve.

Growing up, I spent 8 years in robotics, overlapping 4 in engineering, so my brain is wired for solving complex problems under pressure. That background gives me a unique edge in breaking down big-picture chaos into clear, actionable steps. I work as an 1st AD across various platforms from music video, feature film, commercial, vertical, etc. What excites me most about being a 1st AD is the adrenaline rush of turning complex ideas into reality. A standout moment was being the 1st AD on Kesha’s latest music video, “Boy Crazy”- a project packed with wild energy, fast turns, and big production challenges. Lately, I noticed a hole online for 1st AD educational content so I started up @TottalyTatyFilms, my new YouTube channel. Im stoked to help the next generation of assistant directors & filmmakers level up their craft!

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?

The three game-changers for me? Adaptability, communication, and raw curiosity. Film sets are pure chaos in the wrong hands; being flexible means you are ready for anything. On film sets, things rarely go as planned, so being adaptable helped me stay calm and pivot fast without losing momentum. Aside from this, communication is everything. prevents confusion, mistakes, and stress. Beyond logistics, it’s about respect – listening actively, understanding others’ perspectives, and making sure everyone feels heard and valued. That kind of communication builds trust and teamwork, which is the secret sauce for any successful production. But the wildcard? Curiosity. I’m always diving into new topics, from film techniques to random fun facts, because expanding my knowledge keeps my creativity fresh and my problem-solving sharp. For anyone just starting out, my advice is this: don’t just focus on the technical side – lean into taking bold risks. This is the true key that helped me turn some of the biggest challenges into opportunities to grow.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

When it came time to choose my college major, I asked myself one simple question: If money wasn’t an obstacle, what would I do with my life? The answer was clear – I’d be a storyteller.

As a passionate filmmaker, I’m doing exactly what I would be doing even if I weren’t getting paid. This is my dream. If I can make a positive impact on even one person, I’m willing to work as hard as I can to put more positivity into the world.

The media landscape today is overwhelming. There’s a constant battle for attention across endless outlets from news, entertainment, social media, and now with AI making content creation faster and easier than ever.; it’s hard to know where to look or what to trust. In this chaos, I want to create work that cuts through the noise, authentic stories that inspire, uplift, and remind us why connection matters & that our stories matter.

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