Meet Mariana Gómez of Mar Gomez Films in Midtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Gómez.

Mariana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in a small town in Mexico, called Queretaro. When I was five years old, my brother was born, who turned out to have autism. Having him has influenced my life to where I want to tell stories and raise awareness around the world. I want to not only give my brother a voice but to fight for all the silenced and the marginalized communities and groups around the world. I started acting when I was 6 years old in musical theatre and I kept going from then. I shot my first short in Universal Studios NYFA when I was 12 and continued in NYFA Harvard University when I turned 16. I went to a Swiss school for six years, so my second language after Spanish, was German and then I returned to English in High School and after that, I learned French. I always kept doing small videos and collaborations with filmmakers back home, until I finally came to the US two years ago to pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker at SCAD Atlanta. My way of telling stories is through film, acting, and singing, however, last August, I published my first book “This Is Not A Love Story”, which was inspired by the path teenagers go through when they start college: drugs, alcohol and sexual abuse. Last December, I signed an alliance with my hometown’s government to help raise the film community and make it more achievable to people. I am excited to see what’s coming next. Today, I see myself as a free and happy soul. I am always jumping and singing and making people smile. We all deserve it.

Has it been a smooth road?
I went through bullying in middle school and then through a violent relationship with physical abuse, which led me to self-harm and depression for a very long time. Thanks to professional help, I was able to stand up and get all the strength I needed to focus on the outside first. I started wondering: what can I do for the world? How can I stop this? How can I help other people? I developed a need to share stories and to change people’s lives and make the world at least a little better. Sadly, when I came to the US I had to leave my family and my brother behind, which hurts me every day a little, but I know I am fighting for him and making a better world for him. As far as being Mexican in a society where it is not well accepted and encouraged politically, it has been very scary and hard to feel accepted and safe in general. I have experienced racism for my physical appearance on set while acting. This is why I made my documentary “Latinos+Film+USA.” As for my book, I have been through challenges, since the printing costs are high and the art in it has a very particular taste, it has not done very well, which makes me incredibly sad, because I know it could help and entertain so many people out there struggling through drugs and alcohol and just the weird problems of being a teenager.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am passionate about those stories that make you think and wonder if you could do anything differently. Today, I do my own independent shorts and documentaries as well as production design for other films, music videos, and commercials, and I try to act as much as I can. Currently my documentary “Latinos + Film +USA” has reached two film festivals, including the Latino Film Market, and my short “Por Ella” has five official selections so far. I will be heading to NYC soon to do production design for an indie short about boys struggling in lower classes that completely touched my heart. I worked for SCAD Atlanta’s first TV pilot as the art director and we are aiming to submit for the student Emmys, but let’s see what happens.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
I love Atlanta because it has the best of a small town and a large city. I love tall buildings, they make me feel like there is a huge world out there that I have not met. I do not like that is far away from my family and my culture, which I truly miss, but I love finding little Mexican restaurants and stores. The Latino community is big here and I love that.

Pricing:

• Bound Cover- 39.99
• Hardcover- 41.99
• eBook- 7.99

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10637396/?ref_=rvi_nm
• Phone: 4047172146
• Email: mar_gomez.r@hotmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mar.gomz.mx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariana.gomezruiz
• Other: https://www.thisisnotalovestory-marianagomez.com/

Image Credit:
Sabrina Fattal, Shawn Garrett, Rocco Shapiro, Jeremy Rock, Rocco Shapiro, Jeremy Rock, Devario Shan

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