Meet Kayla Yllana Lei Alonzo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Yllana Lei Alonzo.

Kayla, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in a little province called San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur, in the country of Philippines. At the age of one, my family and I immigrated to the states and moved to the island of Oahu in Honolulu, Hawaii. Growing up, I was surrounded by so many cultures and traditions. Ranging from my own Filipino roots, to even Hawaiian practices. At a young age, I learned the significance of celebrating diversity and the importance of appreciating cultures.

As I got older, I found myself behind the camera more often than I realized. In elementary I joined the broadcast team, in middle school, I was in film club for after-school programs, and in high school, I took Digital Media and Digital Design. From making videos with my childhood neighbors to filming my journey with my high school friends. From then on, I realized that I had a passion for capturing stories and showcasing the beauty of other individuals.

As an aspiring filmmaker, I chose to continue my education, studying Digital Film with an emphasis in Production. Embarking on my endeavors, I hope that one day I will pursue my goals in film. It has always been my dream to be able to fabricate a seemingly “high-end” film on a low cut budget production; influencing aspiring artists like women, poverty-stricken individuals, people of color, or any disregarded people who are looked down upon in this industry and giving multiculturalism a name in film.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Although I am very fortunate to be studying something I am passionate about, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. As the youngest of my family, I was brought up surrounded by incredible intellectuals who studied criminal justice, mathematics and business administration. Therefore, studying arts was something that was foreign in my family and even some of my friends. “You’re probably gonna change your major” or “You should major in something that will actually make you money.” Hearing words that discredit your dreams definitely caused self-doubt and discouragement. However, I was fortunate enough to have parents that supported my goals fully. Despite this being something foreign to them, they encouraged me to follow my dreams nevertheless. My mom once told me “If you believe in yourself, then I believe in you.”

We’d love to hear more about your work.
As of right now, I am focusing on film production. Most of my work consists of freelance or passion projects. I also enjoy taking up photography with my Instagram called “urmugshot”, showcasing a variety of individuals and their beauty. Alongside that, I am currently in the works of a passion project with my colleagues, Matthew Fajardo and Jason Arrocena called “AS I AM”. The idea of “AS I AM” stems from “AS” for Asian and “AM” for American, and overall embracing Asian-American culture. I am proud of this project because it is one of my goals to represent Asian-Americans in the film industry, giving them a platform as collaborative creators.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
A quality that has always been important to me is passion. Passion is such a significant aspect for a creator or anyone in general. I truly believe that if you have a passion for something, it’ll make what you do that much easier. Even when some people may discredit or discourage you, going against the grain to do what you love because it makes you happy ignites a spark in yourself that only you can experience. Being passionate about something can create beautiful things, whether it’s in your work or in yourself, passion develops success.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 8084692894
• Email: kaylaleialonzo@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/urmugshot & instagram.com/kaylaalonzo
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd1wL-8zM6DgKrhx5IMhQw?view_as=subscriber

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