Meet Fabiola Campos | Director, Writer & Editor

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

Hi Fabiola, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my success is the most important thing I have, and that is my family. My dad and my mom are my role models to follow; they are the hardest-working people who fight every day so that my sister and I lack nothing. Without them, I couldn’t be where I am. Before having the opportunity to study abroad, I didn’t have the hope that something like this would happen to me, especially a career like film. Since I mentioned to my dad and mom that I wanted to go to that specific university when I was 14 years old, without hesitation, they immediately began to find a way for me to go to the United States to have this opportunity. When I was accepted to the university, I remember they came to me in my room on August 28th and said, “Fabi, we did it, finally.” Those words have motivated me every day, through ups and downs, since that moment I’ve done everything for my family. My Campos Campos family are the only people who have always supported me from day 0. It is only because of them that my success and all the projects I do have motivated me to move forward and finish them with total success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The world of cinema was always something I loved, watching movies, but it wasn’t something I paid much attention to until I was 14 years old when I started watching ‘The Walking Dead.’ I became more and more in love with the visual and technical aspects, and I always wondered how they did it. I decided to pursue a career in the film industry to learn more, and I fell in love with it. I’m always excited to watch movies because now that I’ve learned more about cinema, I see more than what an average person sees; it’s like a sixth sense.

Becoming the professional I am today was very difficult since I decided at a young age that I wanted to study film and go abroad to study. Being an international student makes things three times harder, and many people don’t realize. Firstly, because of learning another language, and secondly, moving to another country and starting from scratch, which, for me, is the most difficult thing a person can decide in their life. I say this because I’ve lived it, leaving everything behind to have a better opportunity for myself and my family. I can say it’s something completely out of this world, very risky, and mature to make such decisions.

I’ve learned so much from so many people, and now that I’m in the real world after graduating, I can say it’s not easy. I greatly admire all the people who have faced economic problems and who fight and never stop fighting to keep moving forward. Yes, my journey has been very tough and very different, but I’ve been able to pick myself up from my falls and keep moving forward, learning from them. That’s taught me to be who I am today.

Being an international student in the United States, trying to get my art and my short films recognized, is very difficult because there are so many people with phenomenal talent. But what sets me apart from them is my story. I come from a very small country called Panama, and the film industry there needs more support, but each of my projects tells the story of my life and how someone who wasn’t sure of herself in the world of cinema can now say she wants her voice to be heard loudly. I want Fabiola Campos Campos from Panama to be recognized worldwide not only for what she does but for what she tells in her stories. I want to gradually grow as a person and as a filmmaker, learn from the best, have my country at the top, and be recognized for the talent that I and my other colleagues in this industry have.

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 I could give you a tour because you’re visiting Panama, without a doubt, I would choose two places. First, the Casco Antiguo, which is one of my favorite places in Panama because it has history, it has feelings, and it has that touch of Panama. You can see Panamanian culture in the streets and take a tour of its museums around the entire Casco Antiguo. You can also try delicious Panamanian food and, without fail, buy yourself the famous Panama Hat. And if you reach a corner, there’s an incredible viewpoint where you can see the beautiful city. The second place I would take you to without a doubt would be Colón, a province of Panama that’s only 40 minutes from the city. This province is special to me because it’s where my dad grew up and where my parents started. I would especially take you to the beaches of Colón, and I couldn’t say which ones because all of them are beautiful. Something I love about Colón is its gastronomy; if you like seafood, you’ll enjoy it. Besides, the people in Colón have an incredible vibe; they always have a smile on their faces.

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?
My entire life has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but without a doubt, my mom Karol and my dad Olger are the people who have illuminated my path. They are the reason I am where I am; they have such a futuristic vision of life that helps me understand what life wants from me. My mom and dad have always fought for everything they have, and thankfully, God has never let them lack anything. My mom moved to another country at the age of 18 to sacrifice her life to be with my dad. My dad also left his home to start a life with her. My parents lived in one of the provinces of Panama called Colón, in a small village called Pilon, in a tiny room that barely fit the two of them; it was very small, and my dad always went to work in the mornings to bring food to the table every day. They both sacrificed many things to live and eat well, but the important thing is that they did all that to be together. Thanks to that and the stories they tell, they have a big impact on my current life because despite having nothing and not knowing what to do, they did everything possible to be happy. That teaches me that every day we should be grateful for the things we have, and that’s why I am grateful to them. My parents have been my role models since I was a child. They have always taught me to be an independent person and to have a vision in life no matter how difficult it may be. Thanks to them, I fight every day to give them the life they deserve because they deserve more than what they give, and I want to be one of those people who, despite starting from zero with nothing, can have everything they need.

Website: https://fabiicamposs13.wixsite.com/happy-place-by-fabi

Instagram: Fabiicamposs_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiola-campos-2bb688234/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fabiicamposs13

Image Credits
Dagniel Mantilla