Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Martinez.
Sofia, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I directed a feature-length movie about eating disorders because I was determined to tell a story.
I’ve always wanted to be a filmmaker. When I was younger, I used to love writing short films while my friends acted them out. I got my first camera by winning a playwriting competition in middle school. The first prize was $500, which was more money than I’d ever had before. I spent it on a camera and lighting kit so that I’d have my own equipment instead of borrowing the ancient cameras that lived in my middle school.
When I got to high school, my mental health declined, and I was hospitalized for an eating disorder. I would spend the next two years in and out of hospitals and treatment facilities. Meanwhile, my passion for cinema only grew, and I became fascinated with directing my own feature film while still battling an eating disorder of my own. When I was 16, I was in a Plano hospital, and I began the first draft of my script for ‘May I Be at Peace.’ This would go on to become a complete movie that I would direct at age 17.
I had auditions for cast members, months of filming lined up and a whole production binder that I was very proud of. We filmed after school and on weekends while I balanced my junior year of high school. There was a lot going on at once, but filming always made me happy because I got to see the people I worked with on set every week for about three and a half months. We filmed in free locations and camera equipment held together by duct tape but still prevailed. Since then I’ve been happy to have completed a movie about something I’ve experienced first hand.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I make film because I like to tell stories. Cinema is something for your eyes and ears to enjoy but also for your mind to think. What we see on the television and in theaters influences the way we see the world. Because of that, I don’t think of storytelling as just an art form. Cinema is the art we use to tell the stories of who we are. For as long as I’ve been alive, I’ve believed that cinema is the most beautiful way to tell these stories.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
I think the best part about production on a movie set is that you’re never alone. During filming, we had a ton of bonding and fun times between takes. I’ve made a ton of friends just by having people on my set, and that makes me really happy.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My feature film ‘May I Be at Peace’ will be on Amazon Prime April 27th. You can watch the trailer on YouTube by searching for my production company ‘Martinez Films.’
Contact Info:
- Website: mayibeatpeace.com
- Email: mendiolamartinezfilms@gmail.com
- Instagram: @mayibeatpeace
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayibeatpeacemovie/
- Twitter: @mayibeatpeace
- Other: mayibeatpeace.tumblr.com
Image Credit:
On personal photo of me: Amy Otnes
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