People in my life have said, "Natalia, you are much more confident now." "Pacheco, where did you learn so much about film?" I'm always surprised people see this in me, but I know it comes from a good foundation. Ghetto Film School (GFS) has been a transformative force in my life, helping me discover and explore who I am. GFS is a non-profit teaching students aged 14-19 the art of filmmaking in their 30-month program. The adjacent GFS Roster program, open to a wider age range of 18-34, further develops filmmakers' skills.

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At 15, my GFS orientation concluded with a presentation on their annual international thesis. A group of students would complete the program by traveling abroad to make a short film. This became my goal and dream. 

Spoiler alert: I wasn't chosen to be on the crew, and 17-year-old me was gutted. Although I missed the opportunity, GFS bestowed the confidence I needed for my career, which I appreciated more. I persevered and applied myself at UCLA Film while remaining involved with GFS.

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Flash forward two years, and I receive this email: "Fwd: Join the GFS 2022 International Thesis Alumni Film Crew." Maybe out of luck, I was accepted to GFS' alumni thesis program set for ICELAND. Starting in January, I spent several sessions with 89 other classmates. In May, I jumped at the opportunity to pitch for director.

On May 9, 2022, I was chosen to direct Stronger. A story about Hilda, a tenacious girl training to be a strong man and follow in the footsteps of her deceased father. It's a family drama filled with healing and Iceland's beauty. I was simultaneously grateful, scared, and excited (I was more emotional than when I graduated college).

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Stronger became my water, food, and air for 2022 and 2023; it was an insane learning curve. My emails were flooded, and my laptop was always open to Zoom to plan shotlists and discuss locations. I implemented all my research with my cast and crew to make this film feel authentic. The challenges were numerous-from managing a large team to making difficult creative decisions, from ensuring the safety of the cast and crew to navigating the unpredictable Icelandic weather.

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Stronger premiered in May 2023 after help from my cast, crew (for production and post), mentors, friends, and family. Without them, Stronger would not have been possible. My career and voice have evolved after Stronger; the narratives I have recently pursued focus on people and experiences I want to preserve through film before they're forgotten. I have also found an intense passion for the art department. Production design marries my directing pursuits and time on set the best. It allows me to tell a story through visual cues, which can provide depth to any project.

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Ghetto Film School has been my pillar of support for 7 years, and they continue to be my community. Through GFS, I have been invited to networking events and worked on commercials. I have written several scripts and met so many inspiring, amazing people. Thank you, Ghetto Film School. I appreciate you more than words can say.