40 | FORWARD

The ability and desire to consistently be moving forward in life is both a blessing and a curse. 
Listen now to here successful filmmaker, Giovanna Sarquis, tell both sides of her story moving forward.

Who is Giovanna?

Giovanna Sarquis is a filmmaker, who is eager to inspire people and touch people emotionally through her films – much in the way her favorite films have impacted her in her youth. Born in Mexico and educated in the U.S., her cultural background impacts how she looks at film as a medium for storytelling and the way she uses the camera. Giovanna refers to her typical genre as “magical realism”, which connects mysticism and sci-fi with humanity. As a gay female Latina, Giovanna hopes to humanize diversity and help viewers relate to others who don’t match their norms.

Giovanna has worked on many films and series, including the web series “Before I Got Famous” and the short films “Lately” and “Submerged”. Giovanna’s 2015 short, “Crayons” was nominated for “Best Short Film “ and “Best Director. Most recently Giovanna has been working on two scriptwriting projects, “Ascensions” a sci-fi/thriller feature film and “Lipstick” a television pilot. She is also currently writing a full-length script for her 2016 short comedy “Cupcakes” that is being developed into a feature film.

What is feeling Successful?

Being able to do what you like everyday.

Sometimes, when Giovanna is writing and doing her job, it blows her mind that it's real. She doesn't ever feel like her job is a job! She gets to live her passion.

What is feeling Burnt Out?

It feels like a lot of things... In the beginning it feels like frustration for Giovanna.

Also, the need to make things work and find the answer when things are working out. It's not rejecting no for an answer, but it's more like needing the why behind the answer in order to move forward.

Giovanna has had to carve out her own path in life and while that gave her the mindset of always being able to find a way forward, that experience is also extremely exhausting.

The Burnt Out Experience Giovanna's Story

She first came to the United States for her undergraduate degree in filmmaking. She felt like that experience wasn't quite enough though. She needed more training to be able pursue her passion, she didn't have much time to figure out the next step due to the immigration processes, and she was filled with anxiety.

Giovanna didn't qualify for the artist visa because she did have enough projects yet. She thought, "Maybe this would just be easier back home..." but it wouldn't. She said, "There's just not as much freedom as there is here. You can write about so many things and you can reach so many audiences." Going back home wasn't the option for Giovanna; she wouldn't be able to write the way she wanted to.

It really felt like all the odds were against her.
Language barriers, immigration, school processes, etc.

Advice for you Easier said than done

Work on and move past your anxiety.

Grab a pen and paper and write down all the options. What did you do and what were the results?

Try not to take it personally

There are external factors to life. Always.

When things don't work out how you want or how you expected, at least you tried. Life isn't against you, it's just that not everything works out ALL the time. Take what you can from those experiences where it wasn't a total win, and learn from them.

Listener Questions

These are questions you all have submitted for me to ask my guests!
If you have any others to add, please share with me: [email protected]

What does leadership mean to you?

Leaders lead from behind.

You don't get to tell people to follow you, they do because they make you feel part of the whole.

Who do you look up to?

Barack Obama

What is the next book we should read?

Abducted: How People Come to Believe They Were Kidnapped by Aliens

 

Where do we find out more about you?

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4850736/c