Meet Nancy Villarreal: Artist | Owner of VideoStadik

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

Hi Nancy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I didn’t always imagine what it would look like. Most of the time it just felt like a need to move in a different direction. I’ve always been a freelance artist; the freedom and the flexibility really benefits my mental health and I’ve learned to make that a priority. After working in television for 13 years, I experienced a burn out and wanted a change. I had to drop into my body every day for years and noticed that being at these big corporations no longer felt aligned. I noticed that the message was hardly conducive to our society, I felt stuck and creatively limited. At first, I thought I wanted a career change, but after taking a break I realized that the work I do as an artist and as a video creator had the potential to make a significant impact in a more meaningful way. I felt eager to pivot and pave a way that would allow me to tell better stories that uplift and empower. I recently have been inspired and moved to work with people and organizations who are in the frontlines doing transformative work in our communities.

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’m a  bilingual, Latinx professional visual artist, filmmaker, photographer, painter and owner of VideoStadik, a creative company founded in 2020. Born and raised in Boyle Heights, CA (Tongva Land). I have a passion for storytelling and I like to approach work in unconventional and experimental ways. I am known for being a multi-faceted creative with the ability to visualize and bring ideas to life. I’m most proud of learning how to be flexible with my work without compromising my truth. I’m excited about seeing all current projects evolve and continue to work with folks who aim to uplift, empower, highlight our women, children and underrepresented communities.

The journey has definitely been messier than the timeline I’m about to drop. I think back to how hard school was for me, and how I didn’t understand my teachers, how I wasn’t learning the material and that led me to teach myself a lot of what I know and learn through my peers. One of the things I value the most is that now I never stop learning. In the 9th grade I gravitated more towards the arts and felt encouraged to explore it a little more. In 2001, I repeated my senior year in high school and took extra classes to graduate on stage. I’m endlessly thankful for my oldest sister Violet who spent hours of her extra time tutoring me, holding me accountable for completing assignments and meeting the graduation requirements. In 2003, I earned my Associate’s Degree in Multimedia and Graphic Design. Right after, I earned my first part-time job at IMPACTO, an after-school youth leadership program in Boyle Heights. IMPACTO was my first job as a youth mentor, art teacher and graphic artist. In my spare time, I was creating home videos and quince videos for family and friends. I started to really love making films of all types. Soon after, video turned into my career. In 2005, I started editing local Spanish T.V. at canal 62. Do you remember the spanish “Jerry Springer” show?, “Jose Luis Sin Censura”. Yeah. Embarrassing enough I even participated in one of the episodes. I’m glad my mom never watched it and I hope those tapes are lost. By 2007, I was freelancing at Univision Los Angeles KMEX-34 as editor, producer, and photographer. I also freelanced at DirecTV Latin America. Fast forward to today, I’m proud to mention working on projects with the following organizations: Amity Foundation “Changing Lives Through Zero Waste” a community garden project led by my life long friend and supporter Juana Ochoa, director at Amity Foundation and Aaron Flora founder of Renewable Farms.  Footlocker LA “Women’s Self Defense Workshop”, a collaboration with The JYIM. McDonald’s “Vive Tu Ritmo Fiestas Patrias,” a referral given to me by my close friend Jean Luis Contreras, owner of Gracon Productions. In 2019 an old friend from college Luis Bravo, introduced me to a team of creators with Fantasy Sports Cave, a small media company which lead me to create content projects with the LA Clippers, NBA Kawhi Leonard, and “Baby2baby Community Backpack Give Away” event, L.A. Sparks “WNBA 2019 Season” and LAFC “2019 MLS Season”. In-between all this video and photography work I was also able to weave in being part of group art shows to showcase my paintings alongside talented artists with ArtShare LA and I’m looking forward to future shows.

I truly Believe people are choosing brands that align with their values and are making efforts to have a social impact. They are looking to connect with their favorite brands on a deeper, more human centered level. We connect and relate to each other through stories; how we tell our story shapes the narrative of this world. My work exists to help individuals and organizations tell those stories through film and art.

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?
We’d most likely end up in nature. We’d take a long early breezy ride through PCH on our way for a trail hike near Malibu Mountains or even Griffith Park for a nice picnic and flag football or catch. If it’s WNBA season we can’t miss some live Los Angeles Sparks Basketball. I’m a kid at heart so we’d probably end up somewhere for arcades, go-karts and games. The desert is always nice for some night time lapses, I’m a big fan of starry skies. So a movie at the drive-in is never a bad idea. Live music is so fulfilling so a visit to any outdoor venue like Hollywood bowl, Greek theatre or any small live music happening, a backyard Banda, Mariachi or Trio will do. We’d enjoy a nice seafood platter at the San Pedro Fish Market or head down to Boyle Heights for some street tacos, El Mercadito for some gorditas, Al’n Bea’s for some deliciously heavy bean & cheese burritos, or Ave 26 for anything street delicious. Better yet we’d stop at my mom’s house for some pozole, enchiladas, chilaquiles, you name it her love is there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My late grandmother Lupe, who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in the 1970s with her 12 kids. She has been a great inspiration to my story as an entrepreneur. She was in the real estate business, was a cook and a talented seamstress. A humble and hardworking woman. She was also devoted to her community and religion. I want to dedicate this shoutout to my entire family to my nieces, nephews and all the children in my life who inspire me to be a positive role model. To my parents and four sisters who extend themselves to show support and belief in me throughout my entire messy journey. To my friends who encourage and challenge me to evolve and grow.

A very special shout out goes to one of my younger sisters Sonia Fregoso, a licensed psychotherapist, taroist, consultant, coach, an overall amazing and compassionate human.  She is the founder of Angel city holistic therapy. Her approach to therapy is “Be human first, therapist second.” Her humanness shows up in different ways. With her clients, she uses her openness, compassion, calm energy, and humor to help clients share their stories and acquire tools to encourage the self-healing process. She teaches her clients how to ride the waves of emotions and helps them get to know themselves better and learn how to step into a whole authentic self.

We both kicked off our business journey around the same time, right before the pandemic started. During the lock down the only place we could go work and feel safe was her office space in South LA. The energy she put in that space has been gentle, nurturing, meditative, serene, quiet and productive, it has been a sanctuary. This same energy is felt everywhere she goes. Sonia was one of the very first who inspired me to paint on a large scale. She provided a 22ft wall in her office. That was my first abstract mural. Since then I’ve been really moved by large scale painting. I’m really glad I’ve had someone like her to nerd out with about building websites and creating content. I’m endlessly thankful for her guidance, mentorship and sometimes free therapy. Jk.

I’d like to shout out all the people I’ve met and learned from in the industry. My ex co-workers who put up with me when I slacked off and my managers who understood every time I was late for work or called in sick more than twice a week still gave me the opportunity to blossom.

Lastly, to everyone I’ve collaborated with. These individuals have really made me feel seen as a working professional artist.

Armando Aparicio @thelaexplorer, Vlogger and talented video creator who will show up anytime to give me a hand on any given project.

Fernando Arevalos, owner of Boyle Heights Area Brand @bhab1875 who has been a big supporter. He has provided continuous art projects to expand my craft in painting. We are gearing up for a video project coming later this year.

Jyima Oforiatta, founder of The JYIM @theJYIM. Jyima has been a mentor and someone who naturally makes you feel like family. He has provided opportunities for me to elevate my business, my large scale painting and video content.

Camila and Alan from Power2thePeople @power2thepeople a conscious hiphop soul duo. The message they share in their music is inspired by self-healing, where love, peace, and compassion take center stage.I have the honor to collaborate on current video projects with them. They have truly made me feel seen and welcomed in this amazing movement.

Mercedes Hart @de_la_meche is a multi-faceted artist, curator and has a passion for social justice and for her community. Mercedes has been a major inspiration in my recent art endeavors abroad. We are currently collaborating in a variety of long term art projects.

Website: https://www.videostadik.com

Instagram: @_nanxyz

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-villarreal-1984421a6

Image Credits
Kaneesha Helms