“ Being a part of The Women in Film Project allows me to not only see how we are thriving in this marvelous artform but also feeling like I myself matter in this industry. ”
— Karla Sarai Caviedes Aguilar
The Interview Q&A
Where are you primarily based out of?
While my now projects will continue to be based in New York City, all of my previous work has been based out of South Florida.
What role do you typically play on set?
Cinematography and producing
How long have you been working in the film industry? Where did you get your start?
I started to be surrounded by film in August of 2022 at G-Star School of the Arts and as time has progressed I have had my experiences within the actual industry since being a student there.
What are some of the biggest challenges you've encountered and how have you overcome them?
When I was a year and a half years old my father died due to suicide which meant that the rest of my life was going to be dictated hugely by this aspect of my life. While the grieving happened very early on, a lot of what I do with my art is inspired by him or the support I know he would give me. Aside from that I have struggled with a disease called Endometriosis which gave me a lot of problems in both my personal and professional life. Because of woman's healthcare even getting diagnosed in the first place and being treated like a human was a big challenge but through resilience and hope in my art I've been able to get my diagnosis and mentally accept it.
Who is your biggest inspiration? What have they taught you?
My mother. While this is a very standard answer she has been my hero throughout my life. She has showed me that a Latina woman, and single mother, is able to do anything we want to do and as she wants to follow her own dreams of artistry she has inspired me to do so myself too and I want to be able to make films with her in our future.
What does it mean to you to be an inspiration/mentor to someone else?
Being and inspiration or a mentor is not about power, it's about creating an example to someone that will make them greater than and different from you. When you inspire someone you are not telling them what to do, you are showing them how you are living your life which causes them to think about how they want live theirs. Once you move into a mentor role, you are helping them thrive and allowing them to create their own path by proposing moves that have worked for you.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
All my inspiration comes from my own experience and the life around me. Every second I live creates creative ideas that could possibly be used in a story I may create, and every thing I live will probably appear to be represented in a film.
If you had one message to share with the world, what would it be?
My one message would be of not being alone. Most of us tend to feel like we're the only ones because of our experiences, and because I have lived through so many different things that has made me feel that way multiple times, my message will be that those experiences do not make you an alien to this world.
What’s are some of the biggest things you’ve accomplished in your career so far?
My biggest accomplishments within my career all happened during my senior year of high school. I was nominated for the Key West Film Festival "Florida Student Short" category, I produced, DP'd, co-directed, and co-wrote by biggest film as of now, I got accepted into the NYU Film and TV Program, and I won the Burt Reynolds Scholarship (3rd woman to win it).
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? (No dream is too big!)
In 5 years from now I would have graduated from college and I would hopefully be living in London working either with my own production company or alongside an Independent production company. I do see myself working on a masters so doing that in London would be great. Hopefully with my films I would be able to communicate stories of womanhood, immigration, being Colombian, struggling with reproductive health, being a child who has lost her dad through suicide, as well as many other stories of others that need to be told to the world.
If you had one piece of advice for a woman who wants to get started in the film industry what it would be?
Do not pretend to be someone you're not. Easily said but not easily done. If you want to be a filmmaker and you're pretending to not be yourself you might move forward in life but you're not going to be the artist you deserve to be. Stories that are meant to be told come from your experience. Your style, your voice, and your experiences are what make you, you. Without that you won't stand out and being a woman already makes it hard to be appreciated and it isn't until you show that you are special in your own way that you are going to be able to thrive in this man-dominated field.
What kind of projects are you currently working on that you can share? (Feel free to leave links to the projects to view)
I am currently working on a mixed media project that is in its very starting stages. While I can't say too much about it, I can say that it aims to bring awareness to Endometriosis and the experience we who have it have when seeking and receiving a diagnosis.
What does being a part of The Women in Film Project mean to you?
Being a part of The Women in Film Project allows me to not only see how we are thriving in this marvelous artform but also feeling like I myself matter in this industry. This Project that you guys have been able to construct has been an inspiration for me while being only in high school. This means that if I am now a part of it I can also be an inspiration to young filmmakers in the future.