Today we’d like to introduce you to Anny Castillo.
Anny, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I want to start this story by telling you that I am Anny, a woman with a calm spirit who one day decided to travel to the United States with the purpose of taking a break after hectic days between persecutions, police, stones, and a country that was fighting for its democracy. but unfortunately, there was no way to achieve peace and security. Yes, imagine that days before boarding the plane from Venezuela to Dallas, I was trying to pass a mountain of tires stacked like a barricade, and my son and I experienced a police ambush, where the military tried to kill civilians. Max, 4 years old, scared, just told me, after witnessing a harsh and cruel scene: Mommy, isn’t there a country where there is peace and beautiful trees? This moved my apartment and I decided to take a few days to breathe fresh air and feel safe. What we didn’t know was that we couldn’t go back. My whole country got worse and the risk increased. So out of nowhere, I became a migrant when that was not my plan.
We began to pave the way with the tools we had at hand, our knowledge and experience, and so I began to take photographs and set up a small studio in the living room of my apartment. We began to relate to each other and seek to differentiate ourselves: our banner is to build stories from the love and respect shown to each person who comes to the studio. I love to encourage others, so in my mini photography lab, I dreamed of doing something different, of growing, teaming up, and presenting an alternative that increases the possibility of integrating cultures.
After almost 3 years of hard work, good relationships, and great faith, Plano Studios arrived, a space to grow together. An ideal photography and video studio to produce and also to develop educational projects. We have only been open for 4 months and we are already dreaming of installing the area for radio, podcast, audiovisual production, in short, a space for the visual arts where we all fit.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are many waves surfed, in some we have fallen and others we reached the shore unharmed. Yes, learning a new language, understanding the culture, accepting that all food is spicy, taking on the legal processes to set up a business as an immigrant, each ingredient involves multiple challenges and learning, but I still think that Dallas is an open and wonderful city that welcomes us. encourages you to move forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am proud to continue growing and to be building a team of creatives willing to contribute. We are doing what we are passionate about in design, scripts, creative guidelines, audiovisual, and multiple alternatives.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson has been to be constant, investigate and relate to people who can drive us.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@planostudios.com
- Website: www.planostudios.com
- Instagram: @planostudios
- Facebook: @anny.planostudios
