Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Diaz.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Julie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
For starters, my mom calls me her “out of the box kid”, which could sum up so much. I’ve always been a creator. Anything to keep my hands and/or mind busy is what I gravitate towards. Film and music were the two things that interested me most from a young age. Combining Disney as the cornerstone of every 90’s childhood and my dad’s love of having music of all genres constantly playing; my brain was instantly wired for some sort of “artsy” career path. I picked up instruments (huge band nerd), took art classes (just to be covered in paint mostly), and soaked up as much visual content as I possibly could. Once high school came around, I always thought I would go to college to pursue a career in music education and even started applying to programs but that all changed when I took an “Introduction to Music in Film and Video” class in my last semester. We learned everything from composing to audio recording, and sound design. I was hooked. With my newfound passion for discovering and designing new sounds I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA and graduated with my degree in Sound Design in 2016. I then moved back to Atlanta to join in the booming film/tv/and commercial industry here.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh man, I’m going to be really cheesy in all of this.
The road is somewhere between smooth and rocky. It’s hard to break into and even harder to stay in. The Sound/Audio industry is also heavily male-dominated so that comes with its own challenges to be heard, seen, and even respected. Even though it shouldn’t matter -as a queer woman, in the South- I was fortunate to be hired into a production company that is very progressive and it only matters if you show up and have the skills to do your job. Outside of my 9-5 work, I also try to keep learning new skills and challenging myself as an engineer, designer, and musician. To find the balance between work and play and not getting burnt out is a very fine line. Recently, I’ve had to slow myself down. The “hustle” may never sleep but I definitely will when I need it.
It’s very easy to doubt yourself in this industry. Imposter Syndrome is incredibly real and it’s awful. But regardless as long as you stay true to yourself and the passion, you’ll be unstoppable. KNOW YOUR WORTH AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY ASK FOR IT. Someone way cooler than me once said, “Do no harm but take no shit”, so go forth and kick ass.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a Sound Designer, Audio Engineer, Production Mixer, Foley Artist, Sound Editor. An Audio Swiss Army knife of sorts, my job is to help to tell stories and evoke emotion with sound and music. It’s insanely cool.
Unless The Silent Era is your thing, and no judgments, I too enjoy a good Charlie Chaplin film every now and then. Imagine watching “The Incredibles” with no superhero sound effects, or “Sorry To Bother You” with no witty dialogue, or maybe any of the Avengers movies with nothing for the epic fight scenes. Pretty boring, right? Not many people realize how important sound is to a film, it makes up more than half of the viewer experience.
I love designing and editing for any type of media; film, video, animation, motion graphics, and music. One of my proudest moments was returning to The SCAD Savannah Film Festival as an Alumni and showcasing my work on a documentary series. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of watching an audience connect with a story on screen that I designed or mixed for. It’s so rewarding. The more tears, laughs, or provoked thoughts I can get from a soundtrack the more it solidifies my passion for what I do.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
First and foremost for my sound and music inspirations, Leslie Ann Jones. She is the multiple Grammy Award-winning recording engineer working as Director of Music Recording and Scoring at Skywalker Sound. Just that last sentence is so many goals. Another is Kay Rose who was the first female sound editor to win an Oscar in 1985, she is the reason I do what I do.
My Mother. Raising four wild kids and working full time was no easy feat. Her strength and resilience have inspired me to be who I am today. (Thanks, Mom.)
Frida Kahlo taught me to embrace my Mexican heritage and femininity through art.
Ellen DeGeneres for unapologetically being herself on and off the screen. Plus, we have the same birthday.
Georgia O’Keeffe
Cindy Sherman
Agnès Varda
Mary Oliver
Michelle Obama
Gloria Steinem
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Malala Yousafzai
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
All of the women out there who are constantly pushing for equality, demanding acceptance, and breaking barriers. I see you. I hear you. We’re in this together.
So so so many others, I can make lists for days but I’ll leave it on that note.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jlzsound.com/
- Email: JLZsound@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julez_diaz/
- Other: https://www.thedvigroup.com/the-dvi-team/julie-diaz/
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