Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Buitron.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Right out of HS I answered an ad in the San Antonio Current for a production office that was looking for office help. From there I started asking questions, doing every position, and helping run the day to day. I started slowly realizing what my strengths and weaknesses were. I didn’t go to film school. Everything I know I learned by doing the work. Little by little I started realizing I enjoyed being behind the camera more than being on camera. Telling someone’s story is what drew me in; continuing to tell those stories is why I stayed. When I moved to LA, I got to work with some amazing people and talent. However, I realized it wasn’t for me. I had already found my community in San Antonio. I’ve been working with some of my crew for close to 20 years. Naturally, I returned to San Antonio. I have since been traveling in and out of SA to document 100s of stories.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This path hasn’t always been a smooth road. I have encountered a lot of ego, mainly others, but occasionally my own. Knowing when to trust my intuition and walk away has been very beneficial in navigating those waters. At the height of Covid I was working on Biden’s 2020 DNC in LA, and shortly after the BET Hip Hop Awards. There was this rush and need to work as much as possible out of fear of what comes next. I began to get burnt out on my own hustle. When I decide to put myself first, it didn’t sit well with those at “the top”. The reward, however, was the greatest thing I could have done for myself. I began to see colors brighter, the air seemed crisper, and the REAL work started flowing more naturally. I became aligned with my values and what truly matters to me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a filmmaker; director and producer, specializing in documentary. I love to tell people’s stories. I am known for documentaries like Going Varsity in Mariachi on Netflix, Plan C on Amazon Prime, and many shows like American Ninja Warrior, America’s Got Talent, and So You Think You Can Dance. I have gotten to do some pretty epic things in film and TV, and in life. Despite having all of these accolades, I am most proud of the smallest project I have ever done, CHALKed. I entered a local film competition to tell a story about a neighbor or neighborhood in San Antonio. I found a local street artist, Lakey360. He kept being arrested and/or ticketed for drawing with sidewalk chalk across the city. I decide I was going to prove a point. You don’t need fancy equipment, a degree, or a big crew. I shot the whole thing on my iPhone 13, edited it myself, and brought in a couple of friends to help with audio. The whole thing is only 5 minutes long, but it is all mine. I made the top 10 out of 30 submissions. I think that what has set me apart for so many years has been my way of seeing things from a different perspective; a genuine child like wonder, if you will. I connect with people on a human level and meet them where they are. And to be completely honest, a f*ck it attitude. I’m not afraid of failure.
What matters most to you?
What matters the most to me in the world is my authenticity. I have this deep seated need to never pretend to be someone I am not. I think I am incapable of being anything other than myself. When I was 15, I was living in Mexico, and I met someone who told me, “I am the imperfection that makes the imperfection perfect.” So why pretend to be someone else when I am a capable beautiful mess? I have lived my life by that phrase ever since. I guess that’s why I don’t like acting. I also like to challenge and encourage others to be as free as they can. I help them step into their power so they can take up as much space as they should. No masks, no filters, no edit.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericabuitron
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erica.buitron
