Tell us a bit about your organization and what your specialty is in the film and video space.

Pilar is a highly passionate and motivated Telly-award winning film Actor, Singer and Director. With over 15 years of professional acting experience, Pilar has a unique, non-hierarchical approach to filmmaking and prioritizes the value and empowerment of every cast and crew member.

Pilar’s love for directing and screenwriting is inspired by the desire to change the narrative and add more inclusive stories by focusing on QTBIPOC experiences. As filmmakers, we have the power to influence the cultural milieu. Pilar creates with the passion of humanizing their QTBIPOC community.

What is your organization’s ethos and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?

2Spirit Media is a production company that aims to create projects with a fierce passion for humanizing the QTBIPOC community to be represented on screen and staffed on the crew in above-the-line positions.

How can people join or learn more about what you do?

Follow us on Instagram @ 2spirit_Media_

Tell us about your Telly Award winning piece. What’s the story behind it?

The Pincher is a femme-led comedic action short. The Mafia mistakes a fake designer purse for “the drop,” a fun night of clubbing may turn deadly for two idiot besties.

For most of my acting career, I played stereotypical roles based on the color of my skin and my weight. I wanted a chance to flip that narrative and play a role that centered my queerness and didn’t make my weight the butt of the joke. I thought it would be fun to write a stupid drug comedy that centered non-male, queer, and trans leads. I wanted the head of the mafia to be a badass Afro-Latina who pulls the strings of the underworld. Every mafia has its signature, so I decided hers would be taking the eyeball.

What are you most proud of about this piece? What was your biggest challenge during production and how did you solve it?

We were lucky enough to work with a dream team of women and gender non-conforming people as head of their departments. Producer & Director- Pilar Adara, DP- Chris Wairegi, Steadicam- Megan Masur, Editor- Sophie Jade Hood, Gaffer- Yessica Curielm, and Composer- Lacy Strong.

It was my first time doing a blood splatter shot and I had no idea how technical it would be to get the blood and the camera timed in sync. It ate up most of our day getting the shot.

Do you have any advice to other filmmakers based on your career or your team’s approach to work?

Work with the people who inspire you, even after spending long days on set together. You want to work with people who treat your PA with the same respect they would give to your EP. Trust your vision of your film. Have a list of 5 people you are open to receiving feedback from. Be fluid to new ideas, but remember, at the end of the day, you’re steering the ship.

Can you share a behind the scenes story or fun fact about the making of your piece?

I’d never worn press on nails before so they kept falling off in between shots. Then I decided to lean in to the character’s chaotic, messy aesthetic and used it as a character personality trait. If you look closely, you will see in some shots, I have a full set and in others not so much. After we wrapped the scene, we kept finding fingernails in the weirdest places on set.

Tell us about the most memorable response you got from this work.

I was excited that so many people recognized the movie The Big Lebowski’s influence on The Pincher. People pointed out that they noticed the lut and pacing of the drug trip scene. Many people said they wanted to see The Pincher as a full feature.

Complete this sentence: ‘Great video storytelling is…’

… personal, honest, and collaborative.