Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernanda Films.
Fernanda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I fell back in love with filmmaking during my junior year of college at the University of Miami. I didn’t know much about the art then but the second I got a taste of it, I knew it was going to be with me for the rest of my life. Like every new filmmaker, I quickly found myself at the classic Ira Glass crossroad, where creative taste and technical skills don’t align. With no crew, no equipment, and no film knowledge, I didn’t know where to start. Three years later, I’ve grown into an editor and cinematographer in the commercial and narrative industries in Miami. Not only have I helped bridge that crossroad between taste and skill, but through my experience, I have found a need in the industry that I am determined to help fulfill. There is currently a significant divide between industry professionals and independent filmmakers when it comes to project scope and content quality.
This divide stems partly from lack of access to equipment and limited budget but the absolute greatest contributor to this gap is knowledge. Knowledge that seems to get more difficult to obtain the higher up in the industry you go. For this reason, I have focused on sharing my own growing knowledge of filmmaking through a series of online workshops for those who are artists-in-the-making. I have partnered with local organizations to allow these courses to be free and fully accessible for the student. I know too well that Filmmaking is all about teamwork, so my ultimate goal is to keep developing the art I am passionate about by helping others like me do the same.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have not been on a single set where there wasn’t a major unforeseen problem to be solved. There have absolutely been struggles that set me back, but if you want to be successful in this field, you have to learn to become resourceful. Instead of going into all the struggles I’ve run into in my career, I rather leave you with this takeaway: struggles in filmmaking are not a matter of “if” but of “when” so plan for the worst but hope for the best! Problem-solving will get you very far.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m in the business of helping people share their passions, ideas and memories with the world. Whether it is a commercial for a small business, a feature film, or someone’s wedding I aim to use my cinematography and editing expertise to create videos that capture the essence and personality of my clients. My work includes commercial advertising, narrative filmmaking, event coverage and online teaching. The Covid-19 pandemic has also created a new environment for people to connect with one another and collaborate remotely in a way that wasn’t seen before. I believe that my value proposition and unique process of working with clients allows me to continue to deliver the same quality content despite social distancing limitations. Out of all the areas I cover, teaching has to be the one I am most proud of. Being able to help fellow filmmakers continue their learning journey has made these online courses a learning opportunity for me too.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Yes! There are a lot of exciting changes coming up! This November, I look forward to getting back to work producing a feature film that was put on hold during the pandemic. I also plan to expand my business to Latin America next year, grow my online teaching platform and continue to pursue my love for narrative and documentary filmmaking in the process.
Contact Info:
- Website: fernandafilms.com
- Email: fernandafilms5@gmail.com
- Instagram: @fernanda_films
Image Credit:
@fernanda_films, U&S Productions
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
