Samara Lopez-Jones

I am currently studying in Television, Film, & Media Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. I am studying to be a Film Director, Producer, and Director of Photography. Due to the insufficient amount of positive imagery and accurate representation of Indigenous people within mainstream film and media, I have personally experienced the inner struggles of forming identity and assimilating into White-American culture. My mom’s service, working at a tribal college and serving as president of the board of the Indian Health Center, has played a pivotal role in my life when connecting with my Native roots and resources in my community. Volunteering for the Indian Health Center’s community events and leading group discussions with the Native American youth mentorship program at Stanford and UC Santa Barbara has shown me that I’m not alone when feeling these inner struggles. There is still so much work to be done in order for our voices to be heard and included. I feel a great responsibility as an Indigenous filmmaker to raise the voices in my community and embrace our vibrant culture and our resilience.

Sharing stories from under-represented communities and including them in mainstream media is essential if we are to bridge the divides in our society. I plan to enhance my ability to create films which compel audiences into the world of another in a way that enables viewers to empathize with those who are different from themselves.