California Lutheran University students, first-year Kimmy Aguilar and senior Valeria Lupercio, were the two guests selected by Film Director Evelyn Belasco to join her at the annual Directors Guild of America Latino Summit on Oct. 7.
“To see a room full of people that had made it this far and being able to make a living out of it was just refreshing. It gave me more reassurance in myself and what I’m studying and what I’m going to do for my future,” Lupercio said.
Last month, Cal Lutheran held a Latinx Film and TV Summit and Panel, where Film Directors Carlos López Estrada, Carmen Marrón and Belasco were invited to speak on their experiences in the film industry as members of the Latinx community.
“Valeria is a fantastic student,” John Fitch III, associate professor and director of the Cal Lutheran Film and Television Program, said. “She’s always very interested in going the extra mile and taking on extra work to get more experience so that she can be more, even more qualified when she goes out into the field.”
Fitch said that Lupercio works well with others and has high expectations for her in the film industry.
“I met Kimmy when she was here in the spring visiting as a high school senior,” Fitch said. “She came to one of the orientations for events for the film and television department and was very enthusiastic and interested in what we were doing.”
Fitch said that Aguilar has been very active in her short time at Cal Lutheran, and even though Aguilar is not a film major, she has participated in events and auditioned for student films.
“After the panel, Professor Fitch called me down along with a couple of other students, and he introduced us to all of them,” Lupercio said. “I told Evelyn I was the first gen, and we exchanged likes on social media.”
Lupercio and Aguilar said they were immensely grateful to have received such a fantastic experience and said attending the Directors Guild of America event was surreal.
“A lot of directors, producers, and a big name there was Guillermo Del Toro. He was there, and he talked for a bit. And so that was surreal. It was one of those things where I was like ‘wow,”’ Lupercio said.
According to Lupercio, one of the most important topics during the Directors Guild of America Latino Summit was to focus on the artistic aspect of film, and money will soon follow. The industry, Lupercio said, is very competitive; therefore, enjoying your profession will reflect in your work.
“I’m still kind of taking it in because it was just so interesting, and it was kind of eye-opening because as a first generation, you don’t see a lot of representation and opportunities for you specifically,” Lupercio said.
Lupercio said that being first generation is challenging since she has had to pave the way for her younger siblings and make her family proud of her sacrifices.
Aguilar said she felt very inspired after the Directors Guild of America Latino Summit; she realized that she wanted to be in the film industry in the future.
“I called my dad right after, and I just left him a voicemail thanking him for his sacrifice coming here,” Aguilar said. “I want to thank you for coming here to America for that. I know that’s why you came, and I’m following my dreams, which I already have. I already got one great opportunity, and there’s going to be so much more to come. He listened to that voicemail like seven times.”
Aguilar said she hopes to make her family proud of her accomplishments. Like her family, she said she has made many personal sacrifices to find success in her future.
Lupercio and Aguilar said they felt much pride for being two selected students to attend the Directors Guild of America Latino Summit, and hope for a brighter future and shared opportunities for all first-generation Latinx students.
