About me
What was the first film that made you fall in love with Cinema—and why?
The first film that made me fall in love with Cinema, I would have to say, is probably Peter Pan. I vividly remember, as a kid around 6 or 7 years old, going to video stores like Blockbuster and buying both versions of Peter Pan. I love both. I would play it on my TV and also have my stuffed animals nearby. I would have them reenact Peter Pan while the movie is playing it's been a staple in my life for so long and every time I watch it it just takes me back to being a little girl sitting on my living room for wishing I was in Neverland and singing this songs and enjoying the colors and Tinkerbell and the idea of never having to grow up it's still stays with me all this time.
Do you watch movies differently now than you did in the past? How so?
It's still the same, but now more in-depth. I look at symbolism more, and I put the dots connected more easily, but still, the same feeling.
What genres feel most "like home" to you, and which challenge you the most?
Horror, for sure. I grew up going to Blockbuster on weekends, buying all these horror movies that I had no business watching at such a young age. Still, my parents allowed me to do so as a way of expressing myself, and it made me cheerful. So, if I could stay at home and watch Saw or The Final, I was at peace. However, as I grew older, attended middle school, and fell in love with the genre, I also developed a fondness for rom-coms. It's cozy, heartbreaking, yet also light, and it's the Perfect Blend of romance and comedy, making me feel secure. I love love love romance movies; they are spectacularly beautiful. I never tire of romance; I am a hopeless romantic, so I especially admire them. The genre that challenges me the most is definitely sci-fi. I have said numerous times that I am not an expert on Sci-fi. I don't watch Sci-Fi films at all; it's always been difficult for me. It really depends on the movie. Still, sci-fi is what challenges me because I really have to pay attention and see what exactly is going on every second, and some of the things that happen in these movies I am not privy to.
When reviewing, do you prioritize emotional impact, technical craft, or Storytelling—and why?
I mainly prioritize emotional impact and Storytelling. I always valued Storytelling as a young kid. You know what a movie does for you while you're watching it, but what it does after is what makes a film so powerful - the one that stays with you and lingers for days or weeks. I value that emotional impact more than any technical craft; it's the power of Storytelling that makes us viewers so tuned into a film.
What's a popular movie everyone seems to adore that you just can't connect with?
It's so funny bc I have this conversation all the time with my friends, and it's definitely Interstellar. I tried it back in high school, and it took me weeks to finish. I couldn't connect with it. I'm not sure if I need to see it again, but it just wasn't doing anything for me.
How do the films you watch influence your lifestyle, Outlook, or creativity?
Inspiration stems from considering a variety of different characters with diverse upbringings and personalities, and the way they perceive life and situations is genuinely intriguing. I value variety. I don't like ordinary or anything that's the same; it's tiresome to me. Hence, I draw inspiration from a wide range of characters in multiple films. It's essential to keep things fresh.
What's a performance that completely changed the way you see an actor?
Timothée Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name, that's the first person who pops up in my head. Still, I would also say that Brittany Murphy's performance in Girl, Interrupted is fantastic and very compelling, and it feels authentic; it feels so natural. Especially for Timothee, and it feels like I'm in the movie. I understand him. I think many people can resonate with Timothee in that movie, and I think your heart breaks for him in the ending, especially since there's no real closure; it's just over, which makes it all the more unsettling.
How do you define happiness for yourself right now?
It just goes back to Simple Things. I love spending time with my cousins and Good friends, surrounded by good company, and always watching a new movie, going to the movies, reading a new book, or being outside in nature. I'm figuring it out daily, lol. I also really love a Paloma or tequila sprite.
What piece of art, poem, or lyric do you come back to when you need grounding?
Poets such as Sylvia Plath, Tupac, or Patti Smith; their books always bring me back to where I need to be and help me gain a better understanding of things that I don't always comprehend.
Which artists (musical, visual, literary) feel like they "get" you the most?
Many different artists have shaped me into the person I am, and I don't want to go off on a tangent, but to keep it brief, I will mention Michael Jackson, Ariana Grande, Nirvana, Lisa "Left Eye", and Kendrick Lamar. I don't want to go too in-depth about it for now (stay tuned, lol)
What belief or perspective have you changed your mind about recently?
I would say to stop trying to control everything and let go. It was influenced by watching Fight Club, and it's a real thing. Stop trying to control everything, especially because I can control what I can control, and there's only so much that I can do about that, and why waste my time trying to focus on things that are not in my control?
How do you measure whether you're being true to yourself?
By my actions, by how I talk and who I hang around, I don't be around people that I have no likeness to that's a waste of my time, and I never listen to what anyone has to say about me, and I think I know myself well enough to know when I am being myself, and I don't participate in anything that doesn't align with me :)
What scares you about being misunderstood?
Nothing at all, in fact, I'd rather that than anything else. I never lived to please or satisfy other people. I don't care about what people think of me; let them believe whatever they want. You can multiply that for all I care. If I wished to have an opinion, I'd ask for it. All I can be is me. I know myself; there's nothing anybody can tell me about me, so I never cared to be misunderstood. Thrive off that, instead.
What values or principles do you hold onto the most, even when life feels unstable?
Loyalty and Trust, I want to know who supports me when I'm not in the room. Trust is everything to me. Trust means more to me than love ever could; or, to put it another way, I love a lot of people. Still, you can't say I trust you with that many people; that's the difference, and that's always been super important to me. It always will be, that's just me, that's how I've always been, and I've had a lot of situations that triggered that to be so prevalent in my life, but I'm glad because it really shaped me to be more firm on my stance.
What's something you've outgrown that you once thought defined you?
Comfort, I think that often, we all do what makes us comfortable and what we know. However, I'd rather be in my solitude than be aligned with things just because they're comfy and I've known them. That's beyond mundane to me, and I hate boredom more than anything.
