Hello, my name is Stefanie Garcia. I am a photographer turned writer/director. I have been pursuing my dream of writing screenplays and directing movies for almost a year now. I am still very much in the learning process and that’s the exciting part.

When did you fall in love with filming (your defining moment)?

I have always wanted to work in movies ever since I was a little girl in second grade. The movie that most inspired my love of film was the Color Purple. For whatever reason, it was the movie that spoke to me. I remember very vividly, it making me feel like I could make a film like it.
How did you learn to direct?

A lot of what I have learned has been self taught, but I am always expanding, growing and learning from as many sources as I possibly can.
What do you love about directing? 

I love being able to capture the visual and emotional heart of a story.
You are a collaborator. How have you discovered members of your team and how do you keep the relationship with them strong? 

I think the most important thing about working with a team is remembering that your ideas are not the only ones. Being open to hearing someone else’s idea and perspective is SO important because you never know what will come of it. I think it is also REALLY important to find a community, online or off, to support you. You can find alot of team members there too. Right now, that online community for me has been ScriptBlast.

What female directors have been the most inspiring or influential to you and why? 

To be honest, I haven’t really been inspired by or influenced by many female directors. There just hasn’t been that many that I’ve connected with. If any director has influenced me it has been Steven Spielberg. However, I will say Bryce Dallas Howard is one to watch for. I love how personable she is.
I often wonder why anyone would want to direct. Why would you want to always have 100 decisions in front of you and have over 100 people waiting on your answer?

That’s funny, I really don’t know why. I just feel like I am in my element, and when I think about it, it makes me smile. It’s something I feel called to do.
What do audiences want? And is it the filmmaker’s role to worry about that? 

As a filmmaker, I feel that my job is to pay attention to the story. The heart of the film. Because I feel, as the audience, we love a good story. It’s a great means to escape and the worst thing is to get invested in one and it fall flat.
What do you look for when looking for a project?

Story, hands down. It has to have a good story.
What’s next for you? 

For me, I’m looking forward to shooting my first short film.

How can we connect with you?

My personal website where I share my journey is   Voice A Dream or follow me on Instagram 

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