Meet Louise Barretto | Producer (Stills & Motion)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Louise Barretto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Louise, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Ultimately, we all want to create amazing things but I always put the people and relationships first and have that in my mind when I make big and small decisions. What is best for the team and for everyone involved takes precedence. Producing films and images is such a collaborative effort and is impossible to do alone. Real collaboration is giving the whole team a seat at the table. None of that gatekeeping and withholding information just so that you can keep an upper hand. We all have the same goals and people feel more connected to the project if the people leading have an open door policy. Knowledge and information can come from anywhere and even the most unlikely places, so it’s always good to hear what people think. I want to create art and have a safe space to do that — without ego. The best idea wins — and it’s cool if that’s not my idea.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s definitely not easy choosing to be a freelance producer especially with the WGA and SAG strikes happening right now. There’s a lot of trial and error when it comes to navigating my career. If it makes sense, I also just jump head on into the projects that are offered to me.

I love stories that make me feel something or change my perspective about how I see the world. Maybe it’s rooted in wanderlust. Barbie by Greta Gerwig is an example of that. She crafted a film that not only addressed the unreasonably high expectations that Barbie has set for little girls, but also made sure the audience understood the illusion. Barbie is unrealistic and lives in her Barbie world. She did all that and also made a laugh out loud movie. She made a feminist comedy that also has existential themes about being a man and a woman. It’s just brilliant.

Every project I do gives me a little bit of self discovery. I’m currently line producing a project where I have to scout multiple locations to find the right look for the script. I realized that I love meeting new people in their homes and seeing how they live. As much as the houses I scout interest me, I’m also interested in the lives of the people that live there. I met someone who used to be a pro tennis player or someone who directs music videos of huge heavy metal bands and artists. I want to hear about their lives, apart from just seeing the house. I’m mostly interested in the humanity of people, and maybe that’s why I’m drawn to narrative projects because it allows me to flex that muscle — to put myself in other people’s shoes and see the world the way they see it.

In terms of challenges, I take my job very seriously but I also try to keep a sense of humor about everything. There is humor everywhere and in every situation. There’s also a solution to every problem — if you’re able to see it from a different angle.

I’ve also learned that you don’t have to do it alone. Two heads are always better than one. Find collaborators that match your energy but also ones that complement you. They may be good at things you’re not, and you can learn from them.

I want the world to know that only you can define success. So there’s no need to look to others to compare. We are all on our own journeys and you need to be able to appreciate how far you’ve come. Also, don’t be afraid of failure because that means you’re on the precipice of a breakthrough.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my friend were in town, I’d take them to the Academy Museum to see those Oscar statuettes in person and a lot of film memorabilia. I’d also take them to Petit Trois Le Valley. I once saw Chelsea Handler there and even maybe Barry Jenkins, so they’d get a celeb spotting as well. If they want to get some exercise in, I’d take them to Millennium Dance in Studio City to take the Beginner Hip Hop class of Kayla Janssen. I’m not a good dancer, but dancing helped me just learn to feel good in the body that I have. Then I’d look for one of those film screenings with filmmaker Q&As so we can watch a film and really know what the filmmakers were thinking about. For drinks, we can go to Figaro Cafe in Los Feliz. They have happy hour food and drinks, so it’s very chill but is also a good spot to people watch. Then we can head to the nearby bookstore Skylight Books to browse art books, etc. I’d also take them to Psychic Eye Bookstore and they can get a 30-minute tarot card reading for fun. And if they were inclined as well, I would take them to Shaman Ada Trinh’s Kundalini and Sound Bath Sessions so they can clear out all the negative energy they have and unblock their chakras.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my friend and mentor, Joyce Liu-Countryman. I met her while working on a short film titled No Vows, No Cows for Film Independent Project Involve. I always joke around that Joyce wears many hats and has a lot of secret talents – she’s an extremely creative producer, she’s a SAG actor, she has 2 Master’s degrees (in Film Producing and Psychology) and she’s just an amazing person all around. I’ve learned so much from her — not just in terms of producing but also on how to run a set and run a team of creatives.

A shout out is also in order for Film Independent. Film Independent is such a wonderful resource for indie filmmakers. Aside from their screenings and mixers, you can get your project fiscally sponsored by them so your project gets 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and you can raise funds for your film that way.

Website: https://louise-barretto.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louielouie16/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-barretto/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/louielouie16

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louie.barretto

Image Credits
Irvin Rivera Brooke James