You may have seen her in countless television shows and films. Colombian-American actress Paula Garcés has a long list of credits to her name built over a three-decade career in Hollywood.
And while many may remember her as Maria from the Harold & Kumar movies, or her recurring TV show roles as Officer Tina Hanlon on The Shield, Flora Hernandez on Devious Maids, and more recently, Geny Martínez on Netflix’s On My Block, those reflect just a small fraction of the many characters she has portrayed.
While acting has been her life-long passion, the entrepreneurial Garcés was itching to do more. So she started thinking outside the box and creating her own opportunities. That process took her on a journey of exploration into other aspects of the entertainment industry that could expand her creativity, potentially open new doors and pave a path to bolstering female empowerment in a space largely dominated by men.
Investing in herself paid off. And now the actress has become a director, first making a splash on Netflix’s On My Block and this month, on season 3 of the hit series The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Manuel García-Rulfo, premiering globally on October 17.
Directing Lincoln Lawyer: Dream Come True Amid Impostor Syndrome
“The Lincoln Lawyer is literally a dream come true. It has changed my life in many ways. It was a show that I was watching as a fan and getting so obsessed with it that I was like, I have to be on that show in any capacity, but I must work on that show,” recalls Garcés. “It was that feeling that drove me to contact people that were working on the show and ask do you think there’s an opportunity for me?”
She was determined to make it happen. The turning point came when she was accepted to the inaugural cohort of Netflix’s Series Director Development Program, which typically takes place over an 8-10 week period.
“Not only did they give me the tools as far as teaching me technical aspects of directing, and really giving me hands-on opportunity to talk to experts, they guarantee that if you went through the directors program and you did well, you would get your own episode on a running show on Netflix,” she explains, emphasizing the value of this experience. “You would have your short film or episode that you can show other prospective show runners so that you can be hired as a real director.”
It was an opportunity that arrived just as the world – and film and movie production – stood still due to the pandemic. Despite the setback, the training started via Zoom and then, with in-person classes. That led to her shadowing director Ben Hernandez Bray during the shooting of season 2 of The Lincoln Lawyer, and gaining invaluable insights for her turn behind the camera. But securing that role came with its own set of challenges.
“There were a lot of moments where I had this imposter syndrome, like, Oh my God, I have definitely convinced some people that I should be here, but I think I’m going to mess this up. But very quickly, I got over that fear when I encountered Manuel García Rulfo, because he was so invested in this character and…doing the best show possible. I really wanted to work with an actor like that because he was completely unselfish.”
Garcés says they clicked. She also thought all the actors and the entire crew were very collaborative, making her feel more at ease.
“Since she was an actress, she knows what an actor needs.” Lincoln Lawyer star García-Rulfo praises Garcés’ directorial style. “Some directors are just concerned about putting the camera and telling the story through the lens. I like to work with directors that are concerned about the needs of the actor, of their journey, and she has that.”
That is exactly how she wants to be perceived.
“I hope that when people work with me as a director that they come away with wow! She was a very collaborative director. She heard me. She saw me. She took care of me. And really, I had a great time. Honestly, that’s all I could ask for as a director.”
Directing Journey Began with the Birth of Aluna
“I’ve been an actress for more than 35 years and have been very, very lucky to have worked with some of the best in the business. People like Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. I have worked with showrunners, writers, creators like Shawn Ryan, with female showrunners like Lauren Iungerich, and really have been inspired by all of their work. But funny enough, I just didn’t see an opportunity as a woman, and less as a Latina woman, to get behind the camera and direct,” recalls Garcés.
That changed when she co-created comic book superhero character Aluna, a 16th Century Incan demi-goddess. Through her DigiArt Interactive company, she turned the comic book into the Aluna: Sentinel of the Shards role playing video game.
“During the making of that game, not only did I voice the character, produced it, co-created it, but I had the wonderful opportunity to direct the cut scenes for the video game,” Garcés explains. This experience opened her eyes to the possibilities of directing.
Looking to the Future: Acting, Aluna and Beyond
“I’m in this space where I’m trying not to limit myself and just be an actor or just be a director or just be a producer,” says Garcés. However, she remains committed to continuing with her on-camera work, and nurturing her own company. “I would love to also be extremely collaborative with other production companies and streamers like Netflix to create, produce and direct content.”
Her journey from actress to director is not just about personal achievement, but about opening doors, changing the landscape of the entertainment industry to be more inclusive, and paving the way for the next generation of Latina filmmakers and storytellers.
“I invite other women who are watching me fumble sometimes and not be perfect, that if I could do it, they can definitely do it,” she says, encouraging others to pursue their goals. “I’m sure there’s very capable, fabulous women out there and I would love for female empowerment to really be at the forefront of this.”
As Garcés continues to make her mark as a director, interested in helming her first film, she hasn’t forgotten about Aluna.
“I would love to turn her into a series,” she shares, hinting at the possibility of pitching the project to the company that provided her big directing break. “Whether it’s for Netflix, of course, that would be the ultimate dream.”
Read the full article here