Community Highlights: Meet Ruth Zapico of Zapico Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth Zapico.

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
How I started and how I got to where I am today? I feel like the question is so simple when asked, but so vague for the person that has to answer it. How did I get to start my own business, Zapico Studios, and slowly make everything work out and make sense? Truly, I don’t know. I could tell you it is a lot of trial and error, I could tell you it takes a community, or I could tell you it takes lots of patience, but I don’t feel as if any of those really fully encapsulate my trajectory. My path has felt very isolated in the sense of not really knowing where to turn my head and ask for help; it has been hell finding out how to navigate a million things that are the main components of a business. Even registering the business was a big process for me as English is my second language and second culture; therefore, many things regarding paperwork or taxes were extremely difficult and new to me. I’ve had to teach myself many things and not be very tied to certain ideas, specifically when starting I was struggling a lot to find a name and a logo. I felt really pressured to have the most perfect finalized branding and marketing components that were going to take the business very far. It wasn’t until I was talking to my Dad, a fellow CEO and business owner, who told me to do what feels right at the moment, not focus so much on the future sense, to leave everything with the option for change, and that things are good when they change because they have to evolve and grow as the dynamic of our environment, technology and society grows simultaneously. So back to your question, I started Zapico Studios with a lot of ambition and passion, and we got to where we are today with a lot of perseverance and dedication.

Obstacles/Challenges: Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It wasn’t the smoothest road I would say. It was full of sweat, exhaustion, disappointment and tears, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Sometimes the road is less curvy than others with being paved and not so rocky. I have never doubted where Zapico Studios was going to go or what it is capable of. 

Today, Zapico Studios stands as a platform for unique narratives, fostering community and innovation while staying true to its roots: creating raw and meaningful art that moves and inspires. The studio thrives on the belief that every project is a chance to connect and leave a lasting impression. Therefore, I don’t like to turn projects down but instead say “How can we make this work?”. In reality I truly believe that artists are problem solvers with lots of taste. 

Zapico Studios is mainly a FLINTA production company and one of the main struggles at times is not having that community of women and non-binary individuals to engage, collaborate, and create. But that is very much at the same time what keeps me going; being able to create that community and bring closer amazing individuals that are able to create and collaborate with us gets my soul fulfilled. Zapico Studios not only strives for the creation of more inclusive women & queer spaces for artists, but also the diversity of the art that is being produced. 

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
Zapico Studios is a Media and Entertainment production company, a creative hub run by myself, Ruth Zapico, where we are trying to build a community where everyone has a space of visibility in the film industry, in the USA, and within Europe. Our work touches a range of mediums, from visual storytelling to innovative collaborations, but at the heart of everything is a commitment to authenticity and meaning. What sets us apart is our dedication to collaboration and community. We don’t just create for an audience; we create with them. 

Zapico Studios has on the works The Volume of Something from soulsinbox, a podcast that shares not only my personal experiences, but also stories that individuals have shared with us through the website of soulsinbox.com. It is open and we are still receiving stories for new episodes. 

I just got back from Europe where we were expanding Zapico Studios. We successfully shot a short film with a lovely crew of women called Hogaza and a documentary in Spain. For the upcoming year other than the launch of the podcast soulsinbox, we will be pushing out as well Hogaza, and A Yearly Cycle, a photo gallery project. We also have quite a few projects on either the writing table or pre-production stages. We will be working on a feature film, a mini series, an animation and a short film. We are very excited to be working with a lot of diverse artists from all fields that bring various perspectives and insight into the art that we produce. 

We want readers to know that when they engage with Zapico Studios—whether as collaborators, clients, or supporters—they’re part of something bigger. They’re joining a journey of creativity and connection, with offerings designed to leave a lasting impression and celebrate the power of storytelling. Zapico Studios is always looking for individuals to expand our community, from writers with stories to create, to executive producers to believe in the projects, and distributors/PR individuals to locate the works in the market.

How do you define success?
I go back and forth trying to find what success means to me and what success would be for Zapico Studios, and up to this day I don’t really know what to say when it comes to personal success. I battle internally with this question on almost a daily basis as I am not sure what enough is to me. It seems as if I am not able to enjoy the present work because I get too caught up in what future projects we can bring to the table. I never allow myself to be satisfied with what is being done because I expect a lot from myself. – I should probably work on it to tell myself that things are good and I am doing a good job once in a while. Again, I am not sure how to define success, but lately I feel as if the idea of it gets closer and closer to not being so overly critical with myself. 

Nevertheless, I can perfectly describe what success is for ZS, and I know we definitely feel successful when people choose ZS to work on their projects and bring their vision alive. It is a lovely feeling when people reach out because they want to work with us or when actors ask us for help building their reels. 

For ZS, success is about building meaningful connections, and lasting collaborations, fostering creativity in others, and staying true to our vision while adapting to change. For ZS, success also means growth—both as individuals and as a studio. It’s measured in how we overcome challenges, evolve our craft, and continue to push boundaries without compromising our values. Ultimately, success for ZS is knowing that what we create has lasting value, that it sparks emotions, starts conversations, and leaves a positive mark on the world. If we’re empowering others, building community, and staying authentic to our purpose, then I think we are pretty fucking successful. 

Un beso, 

Chao <3 

Contact Info:

Instagram: @zapicostudios. 

Website: https://zapicostudios.com/en/

 

Image Credits
Photographer: Tina Somphone https://www.tinasnapsatl.com Creative Director: Ruth Zapico