Meet Magi Avila

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

Hi Magi, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After over 20 years in the industry, reading scripts and performing on stage and in front of cameras, directing and producing felt like a natural progression. You can’t read a script or watch a film without appreciating the hard work of every team member. My passion for bringing stories to life grew stronger, and I wanted to create opportunities for my friends and myself. So, I decided to start a production company where we can nurture our artistic talents and create our own opportunities. Knocking on doors is important, but you grow as a filmmaker by doing. This way, doors will open up faster.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey in art has been a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs. Transitioning from a successful career in Mexico to Hollywood was humbling and often disheartening. I felt lost and struggled with the language barrier, making it hard for casting directors to understand me. But, working in Spanish-speaking commercials and films helped me stay afloat during those tough years.

Over the last five years, my admiration for icons like Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez has grown as I’ve come to understand the immense hardships they endure. My understanding of the industry and humanity’s complexities has deepened, making me appreciate the merit and skill required to succeed.

Directing my debut film, “Altitude Not Attitude,” was born from a period of personal upheaval—surviving a breakup, losing my home and business, and facing financial ruin. Riding buses and trains to waitressing jobs, I was struck by the resilience of people with visible and invisible challenges and disabilities. This inspired me to tell their stories and my own. Filming the documentary was like solving the most fun and complex puzzle, becoming my obsession for three years. Every moment, from dawn writing sessions to late-night editing, was a mix of joy and challenge—a true paradise where I discovered the depths of my passion and creativity. One of my proudest moments was premiering “Altitude Not Attitude” and seeing the impact it had on audiences, inspiring people to take positive actions in their lives. This project taught me the importance of focusing on something greater than myself and the power of storytelling.

I’m currently excited about new projects like the sci-fi adventure “Deep Echo,” a super fun and thrilling Sci-Fi/adventure film which promotes important social messages, we have a fundraising that you can find in it website, www.DeepEchoMovie.Com and the YouTube series “Think About It,” which has been garnering attention. Each project, whether it’s acting or directing, is a chance to tell meaningful stories and create art that resonates.

What sets me apart is my resilience and commitment to my craft, even in the face of adversity. I am 100% bilingual, born and raised in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. My story is one of perseverance, hope, and the belief that our gifts are meant to be shared for the greater good. My brand stands for creating opportunities, nurturing artistic talents, and making a positive impact through storytelling. And of course, a little humor always helps to keep things in perspective!

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.
Restaurants: Arden, Ka’teen, Yamashiro, The Little Door, The Palms Court, Dama, Inside Out, RH Palms Court

Live entertainment
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Greek Theater, The Troubadour, The Hollywood Improv, The Laugh Factory,

Gardens
The Huntington Library and botanical gardens, Descanso Gardens, The Arboretum, Exposition Park Rose Garden, The Getty Center central garden, Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine

Architecture and more
Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, again! Los Angeles City Hall, Bradbury Building (set for the Blade Runner movie!), The 1932 Walt Disney’s Carolwood Estate

Museums
LACMA, The Getty Center, MOCA, The Hammer, Norton Simon, Museum of Latin American Art, Japanese American Museum, Craft Contemporary, The Museum of Illusions!

Hiking & beaches!
Echo mountain, the Malibu lake, Inspiration Point, and Trail Canyon Falls, and all the beaches and their yummy restaurants and live street performers, events, farmers markets, etc.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Music Maestro Jesus Veliz-Ochoa, Virginia Hernandez – International Multi-award-winning produced playwright, and Rogelio Rodrigues Rojero – Multi-award-wining theater producer provided me with eternal roots. Virginia’s books are marvelous! All my teachers at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute. My private Acting Coach, Robert Colt, with his out of this world ability to bring out my deepest truths.

Tim Oman-Retired film teacher from USC, Who introduced us to Tom Provost and his amazing Cinema Language: The Art of Storytelling Master Class. I continue to learn from Provost everyday! Daniel John Carey with his book “Screenwriting Tribe” and screenwriting Master Classes group. They have been truly amazing. I am deeply grateful! and last but not least, Anne Marie Gillen and her film financing teachings, one of her books, also a bible for independent filmmakers: “The Producers Business Handbook: The Roadmap For The Balanced Film Producer”.

Film Festivals that offered so much support, classes, and encouragement, LA FEMME, ARFF, (Around International Film Festivals) and WXSA, Spotlight Documentary Awards, Virgin and Spring Cinefest, including IDA, the world’s most prestigious Documentary Awards, and the Academy Award Qualifying Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival, Orlando Film Festival, Social World, Best Shorts Competition, the Universe Multicultural International Film Festival, International Film & Script Festival Lotus, Latina Independent Film Extravaganza, Faith Fest, Web Series Festival, Beyond the Curve International Film Festival, kalakari film fest, Roma Cinema DOC, the Lift-Off Film Festivals of Paris, London, Berlin, Sydney, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam, the Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival, Inner City Short Film Festival, Social World Film Festival, Venice Shorts, Oniros Film Awards® – New York, ANATOLIAN FILM AWARDS, New York International Film Awards™ – NYIFA, Best Actor & Director Awards – New York, Cannes World Film Festival, and all of their amazing teams working sooooooo hard together to make these amazing film festivals a reality for so many!

Organizations such, The Aurelia, Wheel To Walk, Creative Steps, the Dana & Christopher Reeve foundations, and Creative Steps Organization and most importantly, all those good souls -the power behind the power who see me for whom I am and wouldn’t let me fall when I have been at my weakest points. Those faceless angels whom have gone through fire themselves and are now gibing back, teaching us to pay it forward; I will be eternally grateful.

Website: https://creative-visions.networkforgood.com/projects/206796-deep-echo-s-fundraiser

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magi.avila.official/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagiAvila

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqDq6jYcsxQ

Other: www.DeepEchoMovie.com

Image Credits
“Dog Eat Dog” film poster. Magi Avila with Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe Magi Avila with Vinn Sander, screengrab from “Think About it” “Altitude Not Attitude” film poster. Avila’s multi-award-winning documentary feature film directorial debut. “Street Living” Short Film/Proof of Concept poster. Produced and directed by Magi Avila. Magi Avila behind the scenes while filming “Street Living” with cinematographer / editor Jose Carrillo. Magi Avila as “Carmen Miranda: The Lady In The Tutti Frutti Hat, with Robson Vieira, Edgar, Marcelo Olivas Magi Avila on the red carpet for the premiere of her film “Altitude Not Attitude” Magi Avila at the prestigious American Film Market 2023, after a successful pitching session for her upcoming film “Deep Echo”, 20 out of the “Largo A.I.100 Producers Program” Made into stage to present. Magi Avila at the prestigious European Film Market pitching her upcoming film “Deep Echo”, also where 20 out of the “Largo A.I.100 Producers Program” Made into stage to present.