Meet Alexandra Parral | Location Sound Mixer and Documentary Director

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

Hi Alexandra, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Being a freelancer in media during the times where there a pandemic is around the corner, a recession comes every few years, and a strike last for months, it’s considered demented for a person that likes stability. As a location sound mixer and documentary director, I had come to learn that stability is not always a safe place. Sometimes, stability looks like putting all your eggs in the same basket, then, what happens if that basket gets destroyed by a recession? Or COVID comes and you get fired? I had come to understand that it is not the industry’s responsibility to take care for my well-being, but my own decision to adapt and be flexible to all the different circumstances that come my way. It is only me who I can rely on, to understand that I cannot be waiting for work to come my way if I am not willing to have the mentality of even change careers if it was necessary to keep navigating in the ocean of unexpected events. Adaptation and flexibility are what had made me successful to keep living from this industry.
One of the situations you must adapt is to the different people you are working with. It is nice to work with the same people but sometimes they change careers, or they change from producing narrative to documentary, and they want to bring you on. If you don’t adapt, probably you won’t come along.
Sometimes you must be flexible about pay. Occasionally, that friend or coworker will ask you to do a short film with very low budget, but if you see the talent and the determination, that usually leads to more work that is fully paid, or at least you meet somebody new on the set that will lead you to your next paying job. If you are too proud all the time, karma is in charge to teach you the lesson.
And maybe a little more difficult, we must diversify our skills. With social media and AI, the reality is that many of the productions we are working now are smaller or the workflow is different. In that case, we must diversify our skills, maybe add some newer abilities to what we already do, or just learn something else of our interest all together.
Overall, I think what makes a person successful is the attitude. The attitude to adapt, be flexible, put limits on our ego and know our own value. Our value is not about what we do, is about what we are. It does not matter what profession, job or skill we get paid for; we can always change that or learn new skills. Nevertheless, what makes people want to hire you and be around you, collaborate with you, is your human aspect, your good attitude, your empathy, consciousness and the willingness to adapt to those new needs of the market. At the end, to work in films and documentaries is an art form, and art equals nature plus humans. Being nature and humans the ever evolving and changing entities of this world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was born in San Diego, California, but was raised in Tecate, Mexico until I was 16. Later, I moved to San Diego and graduated from the film program at SDSU. My writing and directing skills were recognized in some shorts that won awards at a few festivals. Those were student films but showed me that I could write and direct; erasing my fear of not being able to direct because English was not my first language.
When I graduated, nobody hired me because my lack of experience, so it was my barista job in Tecate, Mexico, and my waitress job in San Diego that made me survive.
Eventually, I started my career in editing. And at the same time, maybe because of the musical background, I was asked to do sound in some independent shorts, and other small projects. I didn’t have any gear so people would let me borrow or rent gear for me so I could perform my job.
With time I was able to save for my own gear, get more contacts, and have more consistent work. I remember those contacts used to tell me that they would hire me because they liked my attitude and initiative. Even though they had to rent gear for me sometimes, they rather hired me because of the attitude, my willingness to learn and because I was able to perform my job efficiently.
The gigs became more complicated, or interesting with time. Celebrities, politicians, athletes where the daily. Eventually, I was invited to travel sometimes to places like Ecuador, China, Russia, Japan and France. Now, I can say I participated with NBC for two Olympic Games, and I was able to work at the Tour de France.
Just recently, I got my first EMMY for my participation with the XXIV Olympic Winter Games.
I think I had to overcome things like language, lack of contacts, and financial hardship to buy my gear at the beginning. But as a freelancer, there will be always obstacles to overcome, just like strikes, COVID and other difficulties of life. Even driving from city to city can be overwhelming if you are tired and need more sleep. That is why I learned that investing in my well-being is very important. If I am 100% feeling healthy and emotionally good, my performance at my jobs will be better than if I am not feeling good. Exercise, trying to eat healthy, being in healthy work environments and healthy friends are always a recommendation. There will be always difficult moments, anxiety, stress, sad days, tiredness, but as my dad says, “rest, take the sword and keep fighting.” My satisfaction is to be an inspiration for other young women or even kids; to prove to them that success is tangible and obtainable.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend was visiting me in the city, I would take him to hike at Griffith Park. There, you get to see the Hollywood sign, and a explore the museum inside the Observatory.
Later, I would take him for some delicious pasta at the Spumoni Restaurant in Studio City.
On another day, I think it would be nice for him to see the stars at Hollywood Boulevard and visit the Chinese Theater.
I believe we could end the night at the Hollywood Bowl enjoying a concert.
Next day, I would take him to Malibu, to enjoy the beach and the Getty Villa.
The last day, I would spend it at the Getty Museum. So many things to admire and learn there. A picnic at the gardens to feed our stomachs and the souls.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think all my family, friends and coworkers that have believed in me deserve recognition and gratitude. From the friends that had pet sit for my dog, fish and cats, to the ones that gave me a ride, gave me a job, and listened to me in difficult times.
I also believe that I should thank to all the people that didn’t make the road easy for me. They made me question and analyze if I could improve and be better, or just feel more strongly sure of why I should keep doing what I was doing.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandraparral?igsh=dWhjMzE1YzBoMHpj&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Michael Bowie
Jeovanna Perez