“Go ahead and pursue your dreams, you never know how things will turn out if you don’t try. "
— Abigail Mesa
The Interview Q&A
How long have you been working in the film industry? Where did you get your start?
“I started when I was a freshman in high school and I got my start after I graduated high school in 2019.”
Who is your biggest inspiration? What have they taught you?
“My biggest inspiration is my high school film teacher Jon Palardis, he has always pushed me to be the best I can be in my craft. One thing that he has taught me is to always network with people and build long-term relationships with people in the industry.”
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
“I draw my inspiration from other young people that are in the same industry, we are used to seeing older people creating films, and seeing other filmmakers my age is motivating.”
What are some of the biggest things you’ve accomplished in your career so far?
“One of my biggest accomplishments is landing my first film internship the summer after I graduated high school. The film was named, “Marcus” and was directed by J.R Poli. Another accomplishment is that I have also started a Photography + Video business where I do freelance work. These accomplishments have opened a lot of networking opportunities.”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? (No dream is too big!)
“Five years from now, I see myself working for a company as their videographer and working as a DP for films and creative projects.”
If you had one piece of advice for a woman who wants to get started in the film industry what it would be?
“A piece of advice I’d give to other women who want to get started in the industry is to go ahead and pursue your dreams, you never know how things will turn out if you don’t try. Even though this is a male-dominated industry, women can be successful too.”