Meet Jillian Ibarra | Writer & Artist

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

Hi Jillian, how do you think about risk?
Until recently, I’ve lived a life curated around what I thought people expected from me. I’ve always played by the rules and never got in trouble. As an introvert, I tried not to step outside my comfort zone. Risk-taking was not an option for me.

Earlier in my life, I had to take care of my three nephews. The expectation was to attend school full-time and maintain a full-time job to help support them. Leaving a steady job/career for an unsteady job in the entertainment industry was risky. But as I have grown, I realized life is about taking those risks whether they work out or not.

Though I may have realized it later in life, the desire to pursue a career in the entertainment field finally drove me to take risks.

The most significant risk was being honest with myself by acknowledging that I was not happy with my chosen path and that I needed to follow my dreams. It was a risk choosing a career in the entertainment industry. Still, I am genuinely grateful for everyone who gave me their unwavering support, respect and encouraged me to pursue my wildest dreams.

Trying to enter the entertainment industry is about taking risks and hoping that someone will someday open the door for you. The ‘riskiest’ dream I have is one day, changing lives with my work and making the reader/viewer feel seen and heard.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
To get to know me is to think of a quiet, book-smart introvert and add some Latina spice to her.

Hi. I’m Jillian. *virtual hand wave*

I grew up watching these skinny, beautiful, amazing actresses leading films and tv shows that inspired me to be just like them one day.

So, I started acting professionally but I realized one little thing. Those roles I would go for were mostly for white women, and me? I’m…not. So, I did something about it. I became a writer and my lead characters represent me and my culture, which I did not grow up seeing.

Write what you know. What I know is this;

Born and raised in Los Angeles to Hispanic Immigrants, SoCal is a huge part of my identity. Since childhood, I dreamt of working in film and earned degrees in Theatre and Film Studies, but doubts led me down a different path. I worked with Domestic Violence Survivors and even graduated with a Masters in Educational Counseling. Yet, I found myself with a degree and job I didn’t hold a passion for. Due to the Latin/Hispanic community not represented accurately in the media today, I want and need to change the game.

I am most excited about writing with my authentic voice and having people hear it. My stories read as if they were real–based on the strangers we see daily and that they, too, have their own stories to tell. They are the main characters in their stories. and I am finally comfortable enough to say I am mine and won’t let anyone else try to take that from me again.

With the encouragement of my friends and family and a strengthened backbone, I decided to forge a new path towards my actual dream, screenwriting and graduated with my MFA in screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University. The road to today was not easy. I was encouraged to write with caucasian main characters. Still, one day, my teacher of color pulled me aside and told me I was not writing with my authentic Latina voice, and that is where my whole world changed– writing stories with women of color as the main characters. I wasn’t met with understanding when writing about protagonists of color. Instead, I was once verbally attacked, most notably by a former professor who hurled racist remarks at me in front of the whole class, unprovoked. It left me broken, to say the least. Being part of the Latinx community, I’ve come to realize our experiences of racism and injustices are massively underrepresented in the media and socially. My friends and family stayed by my side and taught me that being my authentic self will get me further than being fake ever will.

I want the world to know that while I’m still a work in progress, let’s be honest, who isn’t, I can truthfully admit that I am getting better at loving myself wholeheartedly and being kinder to myself every day. My self-concept grows stronger each day, which bleeds into my writing. I look forward to more great experiences while trying to find my footing in working full-time in the industry. Embracing my roots, I write with my California-bred, Latina voice to accurately represent the Hispanic community in film and TV.

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?
For the amount of negative press Los Angeles gets on a regular basis, as a true L.A. native, I have grown to not only appreciate but fall in love everyday with this city. From the architecture, landscape, scenic views, food, culture, entertainment and most importantly the diversity, Los Angeles has everything! I would start with the Santa Monica and Venice beaches. And of course, Dockweiler beach to not only watch the waves but the airplanes flying by. While at the Santa Monica beach, we’d visit the pier and Third Street Promenade.

Being from Culver City, we’d visit Sony Studios and all the shops in the surrounding neighborhood.

One of my favorite drives would be down the famous palm tree lined streets that welcome you into Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. The nearby Westfield Century City mall is also a must.

Then of course, Hollywood, not only for the Hollywood Stars but also the Hollywood sign.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, The Getty and LACMA are the top museums to visit and get souvenirs.

My two top favorite things to do is go to the airplane landing viewpoint which is the In and Out by LAX and find a spot to watch the sunset over the mountains where the Hollywood sign sits and/or any of the beaches.

And of course, lastly would be to take any person on the 405 freeway so they can get the FULL Los Angeles experience. Ha!

I’m so grateful, my whole life, I get to call Los Angeles my home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Of course, there are many thanks to go around to the people that have supported me through-out my dreams and crazy life. I would be nothing without the very best parents that did not deter me from my dreams but instead encouraged me and even dreamed bigger for myself than I ever did. In addition, would be my four brothers, Aunt, Uncles and Cousins that, too, dreamed big and celebrated any accomplishment big or small. To all of them, thank you for always believing in me.

Lastly, to my friends who kept me accountable in not only writing and staying afloat with what’s going on in the industry but always encouraged me in never giving up on myself, no matter how much of a roller coaster my life got. I thank them for checking in on me when I was at my lowest and celebrated me at my highest. They never once let me think negatively of myself and always motivated my strengths.

Special shoutout to Nourah and Kendra who deserve all the flowers for their encouragement, friendship.

To Nourah, who kept me booked and busy with any projects she’s involved in and any film/tv shows recordings and premieres.

To Kendra, for your unwavering support and dedication to holding me accountable towards keeping my dreams alive.

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillianIbarra

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jillianibarra1525

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11733509/

Image Credits
Pictures Headshot and 1 & 2 are my personal photos Pictures 3-8 image credit Usman Ghani