Meet Yaselyn Perez | Film Director & Content Strategist

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

Hi Yaselyn, how does your business help the community?
I spent so much time focused on defining what my impact would be when I first began professionally. The kind of impact that we see from well known directors and documentary filmmakers. The kind of impact that lets the history books know that we were here on this earth and there’s works to prove it. I wanted to put myself in the spaces that would allow me to get to the point of being so well-known that my style speaks for itself and would eventually inspire others. That’s how I thought I could change the world. I thought that I needed to earn the eyes of a million people to make that impact. As I began reaching newer spaces and working with neighborhood heroes—I realized that my impact starts right there. Right in front of the artist that only has 30 monthly listeners on Spotify. In front of the couple that isn’t working with a huge budget, but wants to remember their wedding day. In front of the local family business that wants to use video as a means of attracting customers. I’m so interested in helping people find solutions to make their lives a little easier and a little more memorable. The kind of work that I do always comes back to me. Every person I have worked with has talked about my videos changing a perspective on themselves. Their spontaneous phone calls to ask if I’m booked for the weekend because they have a good idea. The willingness to refer me out to their trusted friends and family. This is how I help my community—by building authentic relationships with people that just want to be heard, seen, and felt. My hope is that there are other video professionals out there that will recognize their strength in this super power that we have (and to not give up). Maybe if we all work this way for our respective communities it can account for the world. As for now—I’m taking it one client at a time.

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.
It all starts with the first interaction! From the hand shakes (or elbow taps these days) all the way to the deliverables—everything matters. My professionalism is honestly the most exciting part about all of this, it’s the thing that puts me apart from other local videographers and story tellers. If I can break my professionalism down into 3 ingredients it would be a make up of Passion, Respect, and Urgency. The ability to have a conversation with my clients and really dig deep to come out with a video that means something to them is a super power. To send them the visually stimulating treatments is a skillset that not too many have the time or patience to give to every single client. I’m the type of creative that will put every thing I can offer into any and every project. Sometimes it can be taxing on my emotional and mental health—but then I learned that rest days exist (haha). It requires strength to continue striving forward, and some days I have to figure out if I’m really built for it all. Those days happen and that’s okay—that’s human. But I have learned that it is absolutely necessary to give as much of you to yourself that you give to your clients. Understanding self value in a world that is quick to put a price on what art ~should~ be worth is crucial to moving forward. It is something I still face today as I continue to work with people that have bigger budgets than the year before. The crucial lessons I have faced recently is to take pride in studying people, follow your gut instincts, and say no to the projects that don’t fall into your mission statement. These are lessons that are never learned just once, but that’s the beauty of business—you’re always learning.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The covid world really changed a lot of how I would approach this question, but I would keep my ears keen to any small events going on with surrounding local shops. I can be a big foodie so making a stop at The Rabbit Hole Vegan spot is a must (along with The Alchemist). Local record shops are an absolute pleasure during the evenings.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I genuinely believe that every person that I have come across in my life has had a hand in where I am today. The endless support from my parents and grandmother since childhood. The willingness of friends to jump in front of my lens and play along to a script that was half baked. And the patience of my loved ones to understand my crazy work hours today. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for all those little happenings—those people allowed me to save hope to be brave enough to do this. Thank you family, old friends, new friends, my partner, and my clients—you all got me here.

Website: www.yaselynperez.com

Instagram: @thatsjustyas

Linkedin: Yaselyn Perez

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQS1bZpFvbRAJLmjBfAoZqw

Other: Email: ravensrosemgmt@gmail.com