Meet Katherine J. Espin | Actress, Director and Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katherine J. Espin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katherine J., how has your work-life balance changed over time?
A new balance in my life has clearly taken place recently. It pains me now to say how much of a workaholic I am or can be. I have always been a busy bee and have kept my plate full of projects and career oriented activities. Not really going out much and having a social life so to speak. I’m sure many can relate to that. I will say that it has led to quite the small number of burnouts here and there. A recent one back in the winter of 2023 caused me to recover for 3-5 months. Granted, all that non-stop work of school and artistic work in the last 10 years has led me to where I am now. The cost however, was the loss of self in a more physical, mental and emotional toll. Now I try my best to take very intentional and scheduled times of rest and recharge in between large project, or after multiple small ones. As an artist, one is very sensitive to things by nature, and being this open channel for acting and filmmaking work, one pours themselves into what they do. You definitely need more time to fuel back up again. The biggest hurdle I’m still working on, is healing that mentality of “guilt” when it comes to rest. Rest is extremely important, more important than work in my opinion. You can’t pour out of an empty cup. During this last time of recovery back in March and April of this year, I gave myself more time to go out, dance at 80’s clubs in town, eat at new restaurant locations, stay inside and play video games, and just sleep in a little longer. It has been so therapeutic as well. My personal mantra this year and moving forward is, “Work hard, play hard.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Never have I felt more in my element. As a child I always expressed myself freely through art; drawing, painting, dancing, singing and acting. I feel like the majority of autistic and ADHD kids are that way too. Now as an adult, having pursued a creative career in acting and filmmaking, doors have been opening left and right. I have never felt more at home. I grew up in Humble, TX and I moved out to Los Angeles back in 2018 after being accepted into the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. This two year acting conservatory not only helped me acquire the foundational acting techniques I was missing, but also helped solidify this path I had chosen to take. In the business of making movies.

It has not been easy. I’m DACA and that alone has always put me up against obtaining the educational and job opportunities that many others my age have. When it came to attending this very expensive conservatory, the private loans from Sallie Mae alone, were going to put me in quite the financial debt upon graduating. Even then, I chose to stick it out and do whatever would serve me long term. I gained so much from that institution thanks to the wonderful teachers there.

Even before moving out to L.A., I had faced some minor prejudice of just being a young girl in filmmaking classes. The college I attended previously had a wonderful filmmaking program, and I loved the teachers. It’s actually what made me fall in love with the filmmaking process as a whole. However, I will never forget the odd looks I would get having just come from my ballet class and into my editing one. They gave me looks as if I was lost or had stumbled upon the wrong classroom. But nope, I was there to fill up one of those seats. I was one of two girls in most of my film production classes. And one day, as we were setting up the green screen room to film a scene, I noticed that the guys that were setting up the lights were doing it in a careless manner and I brought that to their attention. I wanted to show them how to properly do it so as to not damage the equipment, but they looked at me upset and just say, “What would you know? You’re just a girl.” I remember just being quiet and in shock. So many questions flooded my mind, but I just turned and walked away. I never felt it more in that moment, that this was just the beginning of the struggle that has been and still is for women to break into this male dominated industry. It honestly lit a fire in me to show them wrong. That it clearly has nothing to do with gender. It’s all about that talent, passion, skill and drive.

I’m very thankful that after graduating from acting school in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, I still chose to create and begin making movies with other creative friends who were also skilled in areas of filmmaking. After looking back in the last 5 years, it’s incredible to see how much we’ve all grown. I know my skills in editing have improved immensely. As well as my acting skills. Diving into uncomfortable challenges and roles that I know I can do, but with an added push in some way, have allowed me to grow in the craft.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that this is truly a collaborative art form. As a director, the more I allow and trust others to come in and provide their unique service to the project, the more freedom I have to focus on what truly matters, the vision and message of the story we all want to share with the world. As much as my control freak wants to take over, delegating has been my biggest friend. Also, another lesson I have learned that goes hand in hand with this one, is just letting go and trusting that what I have to give is enough, because I am enough.

What I hope to bring and share from the projects I’m involved in and/or bring to life, is to hopefully provide moments of bliss. Through stories and characters that bring a sense of hope, love, joy, reflection and healing in some way. Not just to entertain, but to add some value to one’s life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ah. Funny. This happens every time a family member of mine decides to come visit me. There’s honestly so much to see and do! But for the first time, and for a week, I typically reserve and schedule tours for the Warner Brother’s lot, the Universal tour and park (if the money allows), as well as the LACMA, The Broad and the Museum of Motion Pictures. I definitely try to make time for us to go to at least 2-3 nice restaurants in town, depending on their taste in cuisine. The must see touristy sites I like to take them to are The Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign, as well as the Santa Monica Pier. If we have some down time, I like to take them to stores like the Last Book Store, The Grove, The Americana and the boutique areas of Old Pasadena. If we have time for the beach, then I like to take them to Point Dume in Malibu. That’s my favorite full day beach spot, from morning till sunset. If we have time to go out to dance, I like to go to Boardner’s Blue Mondays on Thursdays or Club Decades on Fridays. And if we have the time and money to go to certain places, Disneyland for 2 days is a must, a musical performance at the Disney Concert Hall or a musical show at the Pantages, are all wonderful pricey experiences. It honestly depends on who comes to visit, I then tailor it to what they may be interested in. It’s always going to be a fun time. There is so much that L.A. has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to my Media Agency business members! Palabra Creative Group ( @palabracreative )
These founding members include myself as one of the heads in the Post-Production Department, along with the following members:
Emiliano Sorrosa-Elionai ( @emi_award ) : Agency Founder – Co-Creative Director
Textli Gallegos ( @tayecana ) : Agency Founder – Co-Creative Director
Jasmine Afshar ( @jasmineafshar ) : Head of Public Relations/Communications
Angel Lizarraga ( @_angel323_ ) : Head of Writing
Bian Carbajal ( @briansea_ ) : Head of Cinematography
Luis Nunez ( uneasynunez@gmail.com ) : Co-Post Production Head

Website: https://www.katherinejespin.com

Instagram: @katherinejespin

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-j-espin-1115b3227/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katherinejespin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherinejanetespin/

Image Credits
Headshot Photographer : Casey James ( @studiocaseyjames ) www.studiocaseyjames.com

Behind the Scenes Stills : Emily Islas ( @gemimi.i )