Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Embrace the Chaos: Marcela Barrientos discovered that the pressure of a tight deadline can be liberating, allowing for a creative freedom that overthinking often stifles.
- Small Teams, Big Impact: A lean team can achieve remarkable things. Marcela found that her experience in nonprofit leadership translated seamlessly into film production.
- Fail Gloriously: For new filmmakers, Marcela advises embracing the process, allowing for mistakes, and treating each challenge as a learning opportunity.
Marcela Barrientos, a dynamic storyteller hailing from Honduras but raised in the hustle and bustle of New York City, is making waves with her latest project, "Sixth Time's the Charm."
An actor and now a filmmaker, Marcela has crafted a charming comedy about determination and spirit, drawing from her own experiences in Los Angeles. Her film, which recently won the CFA Quarterly Film Challenge, is a testament to the power of diving headfirst into new creative waters.
Q&A Interview
Your film 'Sixth Time's the Charm' is such a delightful concept. How did it come to life?
"When thinking about ideas for my script, it felt natural to draw on my lived experience," Marcela shares. "I moved from New York City to Los Angeles, and needing to drive meant a trip to the DMV.
The CFA 72-Hour Film Challenge was the perfect push to get the idea out. It was my first screenplay, so I couldn’t afford to second-guess myself. That freedom to be a little messy was actually energizing."
Writing, producing, and acting in your own film sounds like quite a challenge. What was the biggest risk you took during this project?
"It was my first time acting in something I’d written and produced myself," Marcela admits. "I wanted to focus on my acting, but I was constantly worried about the logistics and my inner writer kept questioning the script.
Although it felt chaotic, it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I learned a ton and it paid off, making me eager to explore roles beyond acting."
"That freedom to be a little messy was actually energizing."
Your team was quite small. How did that impact the production?
"I was amazed at how lean a four-person team was for a film project," she reflects. "My background as an Executive Director taught me to do more with less, but seeing other CFA films really put our effort into perspective".
"I’m grateful to my teammates for their commitment, even when things went awry, like getting kicked out of our first parking lot. It was a vivid lesson in adaptability."
"We’d already won by creating together."
Were there any moments when you thought you wouldn’t finish the film?
"Absolutely," Marcela nods. "When we got kicked out of the parking lot, our mics stopped working, and we were editing just hours before submission, I was nervous. But I told my team at breakfast that we’d already won by creating together. That mindset helped relieve some pressure."
"What advice would you offer to someone tackling this challenge for the first time?"
"Have fun and stay open to learning," she advises with enthusiasm. "There’s so much happening in the world, and storytelling connects us. Don’t overthink it. Allow yourself to be messy and fail gloriously."
Marcela's journey with "Sixth Time's the Charm" is a testament to the power of creativity under pressure, and her story is sure to inspire other filmmakers to dive in and create, despite the odds.
"Forcing myself out of my creative comfort zone paid off."
This piece was shaped from an original conversation (recorded, written, or filmed). Using only the source material, editing tools powered by AI helped refine structure and flow under close human guidance. All ideas and details reflect the voices of the original speakers.
