The Light Leaks: An Interview with Kim Hoyos

Or Die Trying executive producer Sarah Hawkins caught up with Kim Hoyos, the founder of the empowering Feminist Film webSite, The light Leaks.

OR DIE TRYING: Where are you from? 

Kim Hoyos: I was born and raised in Parsippany, NJ but my parents are immigrants from Colombia.

 

ODT: What initially inspired you pursue a career as a filmmaker?

KH: I've always been interested in creative writing and the arts as a whole-- but I didn't grow up wanting to be a filmmaker. I discovered film/video as a medium when I was around 16/17. I always watched television as a child and enjoyed films but didn't see their magic until I started creating my own work. I had asked my parents for a camera to capture a family vacation and my love grew quickly from there. I realized that my innate desire to ask questions, learn about others, and capture emotions were all married with filmmaking as a medium. As a child, I loved to be a leader in any environment I was in and when I came to understand that filmmaking meant I could write but also edit, produce, and direct, that essentially there was no limit to how much creative control I could have-- I was in love.

ODT: Tell us about The Light Leaks! What's your big vision goal with your site? 

KH: The Light Leaks is a site for the education, empowerment, and support of female and non gender conforming filmmakers. The site releases monthly interviews with creators in the industry, think pieces by our community, daily inspiration and news via our social media outlets, and the opportunity to have work spotlighted. I am the founder and essentially a team of one. I conduct interviews, research content, and promote the site. I have friends who help me as volunteer editors, social media consultants, and emotional support when I feel drained. 

 

ODT: How can women in the industry get involved? 

KH: The easiest ways to get involved would be by pitching us any writing ideas you may have or emailing us at hello@thelightleaks.com about a work you'd like spotlighted! We have submission guidelines that cover the specifics here. Another way to get involved would be by spreading the word to fellow filmmakers and helping to foster a community of shared knowledge and support.  

 

ODT: You're currently enrolled at Rutgers as a film major and still find time to produce your site! How do you manage a work/life balance? Any productivity hacks? 

KH: I'm a rising senior at the moment, my major is Journalism and Media Studies with a minor in Gender and Media and I recently received a certificate in Digital Filmmaking. This past year, I interned at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as well as Late Night with Seth Meyers, because I had to commute into the city multiple times a week (1.5 hour commute one way), on top of being a fulltime student and juggling my life as a whole-- it was very difficult. It challenged me to learn how to manage my time, priorities, and mind. I did a soft launch of the site (just social networks) in November but the site came to life fully, February 5th.

I can't lie, it's so hard sometimes to manage school work, work, and the site. But often, if I found myself bored with school work, or annoyed with anything at work- I had the Light Leaks and a lot of the time it kept me going. Post election, I fell into a depression- I didn't see any friends for around 3 months, couldn't sleep, eat right, or really think. Knowing I had the Light Leaks to go back to, this site of showing incredible, empowering work, all created by people who were completely slapped in the face this past election (and historically in the US)- that kept me going. This past April, I had a mini breakdown warranted by my stress levels and I realized it was unhealthy to be as stressed and anxious as I was. So now, I try to listen to myself (my body, mind, feelings) and when I know something is not good for those, any of those, I say "no".

For me, the work/life balance wasn't so much about time as it was about how I felt during my everyday life, I never felt like I do too much- it's more about saying "no" to carrying on weight I can't handle. If I know someone doesn't harbor the most positive feelings towards me, I unfollow. If I find myself upset about where I am in life, I regroup and come back motivated and with gratitude. I'm not a perfect person at all but I think it's come to me at 21 that I literally cannot predict the future, control every aspect of my life, or waste my time hating myself. So I do everything I can to keep moving forward because there's too many things I want to do in my life.

ODT: What motivates and inspires you? 

KH: My parents are both immigrants, they came to this country not knowing the language, culture, country. They worked multiple jobs throughout my childhood while taking ESL classes, saving money for my brother and I's catholic school education, and never letting us forget how much we were loved. I'm motivated because my parents moved mountains for me to be where I am, to have the luxury of doing film, following my dreams. I'm motivated because it would be a disrespect to them, their sacrifices, and the lives they've built for me to not work my ass off. They're my biggest role models. 

In regards to creativity and my art, I'm inspired by a lot of weird, random stuff. I really, really love music, places, people, feelings, ideas. I love the work of Wes Anderson, Petra Collins, Lorde, Jack Antonoff, Lauren Tepfer, and so many others, mostly because of their beautiful combination of authenticity and aesthetic. I'm deeply inspired by the way people interact with each other- in friendships, romantically, and otherwise. I really love writing breakups for some reason?? I think there's so many different ways to say "I'm sorry I don't love you" and the beauty of film is discovering how you want to say that (or whatever it is you want to say). I'm also really inspired (and calmed by) random weird things like: the sky, showers, therapists, high schools, teenagers, diners, convenience stores, partying/drinking, silence. 

 

ODT: What do you think is the most effective way of changing the systemic gender gap in the film and television industry? 

KH: I think educating others on how important diversity is by creating really beautiful work, that entertains and teaches, while still staying true to your personal vision is an amazing way to change the gender gap. The film industry comes down to money, upperclass straight white men run the system because it's all about money. But if we as producers, shift the tide towards more diverse casts and dynamic storylines, then the industry will have no choice but to refocus their investments. By creating unique work, you are by default, showing others just how amazing diverse or feminist media can be. Producers shape consumers into making healthier decisions so... create all of the things!! 

 

ODT: Any advice you would give young women pursing similar career paths? 

KH: Don't listen to anyone who doubts you, drink water, don't stop creating. I've met a lot of women my age who really want to do film but their self doubt kills their chances. With so many cards stacked against you already as a woman, the amplification of those microaggressions while in the film industry are brutal. So if you honestly listen to those doubting you, don't take care of yourself, and stop creating- there's virtually no way/reason to pursue it.

ODT: What dream(s) are you most fighting for? 

KH: It's very strange because, I didn't really grow up having dreams. I was speaking to Kat Lazo  (video producer for We Are Mitu, filmmaker, youtube partner) when I was interviewing her for the Light Leaks and she told me she didn't have dreams growing up, or even now because she "was never meant to be where she is now". Both her parents are Latino immigrants and she's also first generation. The dream was always just to get through another day, do well in school, make it by without any trouble, make good choices. My parents don't have college degrees, so mine will mean a lot to me. Getting a degree has always been a really big, incredible, idea to me, especially as a child. I didn't really see anything past that honestly. Even now, I love film, I want to do this forever but with how crazy my life has been in the past four years- I have no way to predict what even the next 6 months are. So my dreams are very, very abstract things- nothing concrete. I know I fight for the confidence to take up space everyday, to create what I want to create without guilt, and to make my parents/self proud. I know I want my life's work to also be something to help others. So I guess I'm fighting to help create a world "at least within film" so that another little first generation Latina girl can see herself in media, understand that dreams are for everyone, and create some of her own.

 

ODT: Where can we find out more about The Light Leaks? 

KH: Our Website/ Twitter / FB / Instagram