Meet Daniela Garcia | Director & Costume Designer

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

Hi Daniela, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Back in 2018, I was working as a freelance content creator, photographer, and video editor. During my college years, I discovered my passion for filmmaking. I decided to produce a short film on my own time, which it’s called Instantes. I shot it in what people love to call “guerrilla style.” At the time, I was still a student, just starting to understand how the industry works. That experience revealed a new side of myself, and it gave me the confidence to pursue a Master’s degree in Filmmaking abroad.

But then the pandemic hit, and all my plans fell apart. Slowly, I drifted away from my professional goals and went through a creative breakdown that lasted nearly three years. I lost confidence in myself and kept postponing the dreams I had once been so determined to chase.

As time passed, I started feeling like it was pointless to start over… The classic mid-20s crisis. But then I stopped and asked myself: Daniela, where do you see yourself in five years? That question grounded me. It made me sit with my thoughts, and in that moment, I decided to take a risk and start over: return to the path I once believed was meant for me.

I consider that decision one of the biggest risks I’ve taken. When I was younger, I had a completely different perspective on life. Some of the things I once thought were good for me turned out not to be. I was afraid that filmmaking might be one of those things. I felt lost, unsure of what I wanted from life. But I gave myself permission to try again and to take a second chance.

Since moving to LA a year ago and returning to “school life” at NYFA, I’ve often felt like a fish out of water. I was surrounded by younger people who hadn’t lost three years of their lives like I had. I struggled with intrusive thoughts like, This isn’t meant for you. You’re too far behind. And I’m sharing this because I believe that accepting your vulnerabilities is a crucial part of being an artist. I’ve come to learn that everyone has their own path, their own struggles, and their own timing.

Pushing myself forward and letting my ideas evolve into film projects has helped me regain my confidence. And from here on, the risks keep evolving into new adventures and bigger challenges. I’m learning to embrace them because I truly believe that taking risks makes me a better filmmaker and, ultimately, a better person.

I recently completed my Filmmaking program, and I’m ready to take the next step: to keep working hard and putting my name out there, step by step. My main goal is to become a fearless storyteller, someone whose stories reach wide audiences, inspire empathy, and make a social impact.

So yes, taking risks is what’s pushed me forward. It’s helped me become the person I want to be and start telling the stories that matter to me. More than anything, it’s taught me how to be brave.

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.
I think of art as a way to express the reality we live in. There’s nothing more beautiful, or more tragic, than the world around us. And learning to understand and empathize with stories that aren’t even our own, that’s what helps us grow as human beings.

There are two things I truly love doing: directing and costume design. Designing costumes for a film gives me the freedom to explore storytelling beyond just performance or camera composition. It lets me express a character’s world and emotions through everything from basic color theory to textures, patterns, and layers. Every detail matters. It’s such a fun and rewarding craft, and I love being part of that creative process to help make each character’s essence feel as unique and real as possible.

Filmmaking is my artistic tool, especially when I get to direct. There are so many events that deserve to be told, and so many people who deserve to be seen and heard. Through this craft, I want to honor the society we live in, and the beauty that comes with imperfection, struggle, and growth. I mostly want to tell the stories people are afraid to talk about.

Shooting my latest short film, Cruda Verdad Dura Moral, made me realize that I can overcome any challenge as long as I put love and passion into it. It’s been the biggest production I’ve worked on so far, and I learned so much from the cast and crew who brought it to life. I truly believe collaboration is one of the most powerful learning tools, and it’s what makes filmmaking such a rich and meaningful way to tell bold, impactful stories.

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 my best friend were visiting me for a weekend during the summer, we would spend the whole day at Laguna Beach, sunbathe a little, jump into the water, then walk around the beach town, grab lunch, and of course, take lots of photos, maybe even make a mini vlog.

Over the next few days in town, we would go to Glendale. I love the Americana at Brand. Maybe we’d first stop by Porto’s and grab a chicken cilantro salad, aka the most delicious salad in LA, then head to the Americana, grab a coffee, and walk around the shops, followed by a movie at the AMC.

Also, the Hollywood Walk of Fame never gets old. The next day, we would go there and finish the day at CityWalk at Universal, maybe grab some dinner there and walk around the fun shops.

And in between any part of this itinerary, we’d squeeze in a lunch or dinner session at Oste, around Beverly Grove, where they serve the most delicious burrata and pesto I’ve ever eaten.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I can be quite the pessimist sometimes (not something I’m proud of), but I’m blessed to have people in my life who remind me how loved I am and how much I’m capable of.

Most of my family lives far away, back in my hometown of Ciudad Obregón, Sonora. But despite the distance, I feel their love and support every day. Especially my parents, Mayela and Leobardo, they make sure to give me the emotional support I need to keep going, day by day.

They’ve always believed in me the most, and they’re the ones who encouraged me to pursue this journey.

I’m also deeply grateful to my aunt Tere and my uncle Sergio. They’ve given me a home here in the city, and they make me feel loved and cared for

Overall, my family deserves the most recognition. Without their belief in me, I wouldn’t be here, chasing the dream I’ve always held close to my heart.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16592982/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_7_tt_0_nm_8_in_0_q_daniela%2520garcia

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bydanielagarcia/

Other: https://vimeo.com/user64544402

Image Credits
Homaira Chowdhury
Anton Sinitsyn
Netraa Dave