Meet Raquel Trujillo | Screenwriter & Actress

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

Hi Raquel, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I believe I never made the actual decision to pursue an artistic career because I always thought that was the norm. I unconsciously inherited that desire and passion from my family. They all work in theater. My aunt owns a theater company in Spain and, since she opened it back in 2009, that place has been our life and it has undoubtedly become a source of inspiration and indescribable learning for my career. My aunt is an actress and director, my mom a costume and production designer, my uncle an actor and playwright, all my cousins, even my dad, are actors. Given the scenario, I do believe it would’ve been weird to become a lawyer or a doctor – it would’ve made me the black sheep of the family.

Jokes aside, I grew up on and backstage, acting professionally for more than twelve years in some of the most emblematic plays of the Spanish classical theater, giving voice and life to incredible characters. It was that experience what really made me realize how powerful stories can be, how much they can impact the audiences, society – especially young people. Making them think, making them forget, making them enjoy, making them see life from a different perspective. Telling stories is such a meaningful and magical power, and since I was a kid, I knew that I wanted to contribute to that magic.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Because of my background, I always knew that my destiny was to tell stories and, in one way or another, I’ve always done it. First, as a creative child, who used to make up super interesting and crazy lives for her imaginary friends living in her grandma’s garage; later, as an actress, being the channel through which the story gets to the audience, and now, as a screenwriter, generating those stories, giving birth to those characters.

In that sense, my career as a storyteller has pivoted so much throughout the years, being able to tell stories in many different ways. However, it was during my exchange year in London that I fell in love with screenwriting, with that idea of putting visual images on paper that could be able to say much more than words. I wrote my first script then, and I haven’t stopped.

After that moment, I tried to link everything that I did to screenwriting. For instance, one of the turning points in my career was the development of my undergrad thesis for which I adapted a novel into a TV limited series. I wrote the six scripts of the project, a bible, and I produced and directed a teaser trailer. It was, without a doubt, one of the most fulfilling and challenging projects I’ve ever done, and it really opened the door to many other opportunities that came later.

This industry is never easy, especially if you are a woman, but I’d dare to say that being a screenwriter in Spain is genuinely harder – there are not the same resources, the same visibility, nor the same opportunities for people who are taking their first steps. I was lucky enough to work in development at Paramount in Spain for two years right after college and there, apart from getting invaluable learning as an aspiring screenwriter, having to read and analyze tons of scripts, I was able to witness firsthand how hard it is to make something happen, to move a project forward, especially for new voices. I knew that I had to take a step further, that I had to differentiate myself as much as I could if I wanted to devote myself to this art. That’s why I decided to apply to one of the most important (and hardest to get) fellowships in my country that would allow me to study an MFA in Screenwriting in the US; the cradle of cinema, TV, and entertainment. And here I am now.

As a screenwriter with a clear focus on TV, I aspire to tell stories that capture people’s hearts, that show the world as I see it, complex but full of exciting adventures. For me, there is nothing that describes life better than a dramatic situation surrounded by comedic responses; as Phoebe Waller-Bridge says “disarm the audience with comedy, then punch them in the gut with drama when they least expect it” and that’s what I long to do, what I’ve been trying to do during these past two years as a Screenwriting Fellow at the American Film Institute. More specifically, I’m really interested in stories that portray the duality and nuances of family and its meaning – in my opinion, one of the strongest relationships a human being can have. Stories that mainly talk about female experiences, like motherhood, friendship, growing old. But above all, I aspire to tell stories that make the audiences feel, forget, enjoy, and see life from a brighter perspective. Because, at the end of the day, film and TV are forms of entertainment in their truest sense, and I’m here to serve that purpose. Let me entertain you!

Right now, apart from my feature comedy about two wannabe detective grandmas and my teen mystery show developed with my fellow screenwriter and friend, Grace Hansen, one of the things that excite me the most is my first project as a playwright, The Last Verse, – the theater adaptation of one of my first feature scripts – that premiered in Spain last December and it’s starting its regional and national tour in the next months. I’m incredibly excited and thankful for all the people who believe in me and help me make my dreams happen.

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?
If this is their first time in the city, I would for sure take them to some touristy places… The Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica, The Dolby Theatre, Griffith (both park and observatory). After strolling through some of my favorite neighborhoods like Los Feliz, Silverlake, or Larchmont (and their Flea Markets), another stop should be the Hollywood Reservoir, a true gem in the city. It’s incredibly beautiful and peaceful, it makes you feel like you’re not in LA – and has a wonderful view of the Hollywood Sign too. And, honestly, I wouldn’t consider it a successful trip without hitting a theme park, preferably Disneyland.

Because it’s LA and, here, we mainly make movies, I think it’d be worth it to do a studio tour, Warner Bros., Paramount or Universal (I must admit WB is the one for me). I’m sure they’ll enjoy getting a closer look at the ins and outs of the industry and how the movies or shows they love are made. Besides that and maybe a trip to the Academy Museum, to finish the movie itinerary I would probably take them to Cinespia or Rooftop Cinema Club, two very cool ways to enjoy films in a different way.

To eat, I’d take them to some of my favorite spots like La Pergoletta – an Italian restaurant in Los Feliz with probably the best carbonara and panna cotta I’ve ever tried – a Thai Place (there are so many) or brunch at The Alcove, or Beachwood Cafe. And, of course, burger and fries at In-N-Out is a must.

I’m from an island so I would also have to take them near the sea. A sunset in Venice, a beach day in Malibu or Manhattan Beach. I’m dying to visit Catalina Island, so I’d very likely use the opportunity to explore that gem that would for sure remind me of my hometown.

And, because of who I am and my roots, we would definitely go to the theater. People only think of LA as a film city but there’s actually great theater here as well. Maybe a musical at the Pantages or Ahmanson Theater, or a play at Pasadena Playhouse or Geffen Playhouse. A visit to the theater always caps off any day for me.

However, I must confess that, after two years living in LA, I still consider myself a true novice. One of the greatest things about this city is that it is immense and, therefore, so are the possibilities it offers. There are always new things to do, different places to visit, people to meet. It’s fascinating.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, my family. All of them. They were the germ. Without their passion, their encouragement, I would have never discovered what I love doing, what I believe I’m in this world for. And I owe that especially to my aunt.

But I couldn’t have gotten to where I am, or be who I am, without my parents. They are my cheerleaders, they are always there to celebrate all my wins. They follow and support me in every crazy adventure I decide to embark myself into – like going to pursue my dream to the other side of the planet. But they are also the ones to bring me back to earth, when things are going wrong, when I panic about the little things, when I overthink too much – they are definitely less dreamy than me but because they know firsthand the difficulties involved in being an artist… and that’s sometimes what I need.

I am very fortunate to have had and continue to have great mentors and friends who have really helped me along the way. My first film teachers in Madrid, my former bosses, my screenwriter mentors, my AFI fellows, La Caixa Foundation for their invaluable support that has made me be here in LA today. I hope I can keep having their guide throughout my career.

I also want to dedicate this shoutout to all those people who think their dreams are too big, who think it’s too late for them, who don’t find the support they need… keep going, it would be worth it. There’s nothing as fulfilling as having a vocation, something to devote yourself to. If you have it, if you know what it is, forget about anything else and fight for it.

Website: raqueltrujillor8.wixsite.com/raqueltrportfolio

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Other: Email: raqueltrujillor8@gmail.com

Image Credits
Raúl Guadarrama, Jesús Bilbao, Aarón S. Ramos, Sage School Portraits