Meet Mica Tyler | Director, Cinematographer

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

Hi Mica, how do you think about risk?
Risk is key for me. I think that it is what takes me places. I enjoy going out of my comfort zone, because that is when I learn something about myself and about this world. It’s how I expand. I always try to listen to my intuition and follow it.

The first big risk I took was when I was 16 years old. I decided to do an exchange program for a year abroad. I ended up doing my senior year of high school in Los Angeles (CA) and living with a host family that even I consider my second family. That experience opened my world and gave me confidence.

At the beginning of this year, I was traveling in Europe for a family vacation when I decided to stay a bit longer to try to connect with people and see if there were any professional opportunities in film that would help me grow. I ended up going to a filmmaking program/festival around Italy for two months, making a variety of short films with people from all over the world. This experience led me to understand more about my creative process and how I want to pursue my artistic career. After this, I decided to move to Spain to continue working abroad. If it wasn’t for that initial risk I took, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

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.
Art has always been there for me, in different shapes and forms. It has always been my safe place, even before film, through drawings, crafts, music, or photography. When I found filmmaking, my experiences with different arts came together and they all made more sense to me. When I am shooting, when I am creating, I know that I have something to say; it feels like what I am meant to do, and I can’t picture myself doing anything else.

I started working in film while I was studying for a degree in Communications at university. I wanted to get as much experience as I could before graduating so I worked freelance with different production companies of different sizes. Later, I started my own small production company. From both platforms I gained experience in documentaries, advertisement, music videos, short films, and features. I was able to learn different skills that have given me a wider vision when I address an idea.

When I approach a new project, I try to understand its essence, what needs to be communicated, to tell the story in the most effective and unique way. For me, it is key to work in teams and treat people with respect, because I feel that how we do things, directly impacts the things we do. I believe that the process is as important as the result.

In my career, as a director and cinematographer, I want to tell meaningful stories, to give a voice to someone that deserves to be heard, or to simply share a heartwarming life story that makes us want to experience, to keep on going. I want to tell stories that we can relate to in some way, that touch us; perhaps, just create a visual experience that wakes up a new idea within us or connects us with something we’ve forgotten. I want to use my medium for something good, something that makes us more empathic human beings.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Lately, I have been moving a lot, living in different places for short periods of time. This has given me the opportunity to get to know cultures through locals, and it is my favorite part of traveling. For me, sharing with people and cultural exchange are the richest experiences we can treasure.

This is also why I love filmmaking; it takes me places I never imagined and gives me the opportunity to get to know “strangers” in a deeper way. For example, recently in Italy, I shared a full Italian meal with a lovely couple in the countryside of Sardegna, and I got to know Rome through the eyes of a local musician.

These experiences enriched me, and I suggest that if you go to my home country, Uruguay, you try the same. Share with locals because our culture is our biggest treasure. I also suggest going in summertime, to have an Asado which is a big barbecue, to have Mate with Bizcochos (a typical drink and pastries) in La Rambla by the sea, and to go to the countryside or to the beach in the east of the country.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our experiences and what we do with them, make us who we are. My family’s encouragement of my risk-taking ventures allowed me to pursue my creative path more freely.

My parents always taught me to be free, to be creative and to be responsible. My education and culture taught me to be receptive, to care and to share.

Today, I feel like all these little pieces come together when I approach a new experience. I listen, I observe, and I try to understand my possibilities and opportunities.

Website: micatyler.com

Instagram: @micatyler

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mica-tyler-a38713b8

Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user58537304

Image Credits
“Acqua sorella” Short film by Alondra Villarreal (DOP: Mica Tyler) “In contro la bellezza” Short film by Damian Comas (DOP: Mica Tyler) “Voy a quererme” Music video for Paula Go by Mica Tyler (DOP: Federico Castiglioni & Fito Shaw) “Fortezza” Documentary by Mica Tyler and Daniil Belosheikin