Eleven years in Hollywood
Here's a little recap...
Today is a special day.
It’s my mother’s birthday, and if you know me, then you’re aware of the beautiful relationship I have with her. She’s such a remarkable woman who, among many things, has always supported my dreams.
Happy birthday, mami!
Today is also my eleventh anniversary in Hollywood. On my mom’s birthday, we hopped on a plane to Los Angeles, and she came with me to help me set everything up as I started pursuing my dream of becoming a professional writer.
We did all the touristy things for a few days, with the entire world feeling like an ocean of possibilities. Then my mom went back home to Mexico, and I lived alone for the very first time. I look back now and can say, What a journey!
2014
At the Los Angeles campus of the New York Film Academy, I learned everything I know about screenwriting. I made the most of it, even though I could only afford the One-Year Conservatory, because earning in pesos and spending in dollars is, to say the least, rough!
2015
I got my OPT, which is a work permit that qualifying students can obtain after graduating. I got my Social Security number, my driver’s license, and focused on rewriting my material while doing an insane amount of research on this little thing called the O-1 visa, also known as the Artist Visa.
2016
It turned out the O-1 visa was harder to get than I thought, so I went back to Mexico. I was a little sad because it felt like taking a step back, but I remained motivated. I focused on building my resume, and started getting my first gigs. I got into my first writers’ room in Mexico City, although the show never got made.
2017
My scripts were placing in or winning some competitions, and I started gaining traction. However, the reps I met with all said they couldn’t get me jobs without a visa. So, I returned to Los Angeles as a student once again. I enrolled in a Filmmaking summer program, which led me to direct my horror short film, We’re All Here.
2018
My actress and dear friend, Christin Muuli, was also in the midst of her visa process, so we decided to submit the short to a few festivals. To my surprise, it was selected for several! It even won some awards. The most special moment came when We’re All Here was selected for my hometown’s film festival—and the best in Mexico—the Morelia International Film Festival. I got to see my work on the big screen! Hearing the audience gasp and nervously giggle is a moment I will never forget. Thanks to this, finally, I got my visa!
I also wrote a movie for a wonderful producer in Mexico who is now a dear friend. The film was never made and I was beginning to learn that this is just part of the business.
2019
Although I had been hustling and working really hard for the past five years, it felt like this year everything finally happened—suddenly, and all at once. I won the HBOAccess Fellowship, then the ScreenCraft Fellowship. I signed with my wonderful reps, made the Young & Hungry List, and received my first job offer to write for the CW’s Two Sentence Horror Stories.
2020
I joined the WGA! Then the pandemic hit, and I finished my writers’ room on zoom. I went on to write for CBS’ All Rise. With my O-1 visa’s three-year term coming up next year, I had to start working on my renewal (yes, it takes months to get the application ready). My wish was to apply for the merit-based green card but there wasn’t enough time to do it properly. My lawyer suggested I renew my visa first, so we could take our time to build a strong case for the green card. I’m glad I listened…
2021
While still working on All Rise, I was also developing projects with people I admire. I sold my own TV show to CBS Studios in a bidding war with Warner Bros. Unfortunately, the show never got made—who knows, maybe it will one day. In between seasons two and three of All Rise, I wrote a horror film for Sony. Can you guess what happened? Exactly! It never got made! I learned to appreciate even more every piece of work that makes it to the small or big screen.
2022
I was having the time of my life on the third season of All Rise and started a rewrite for Paramount. I filed for my green card, and in August, it got approved! The journey didn’t end there, though. I still had to take medical tests and biometrics, send them to USCIS, and then wait for the actual green card to arrive, which took fourteen months!
2023
Until the writers’ strike hit, I worked on the film for Paramount. This movie was actually going to get made and would’ve been my first studio credit but the entire industry stopped. I finally had time to work on my own material again and wrote a movie I’d been meaning to write for years. Around Thanksgiving, my green card arrived!
2024
While the industry was experiencing a major contraction, I continued writing and was able to finish my feature and write a new pilot. I started making progress on securing the rights to a book I loved, and pitched a movie with a hero of mine. One of my features began getting packaged, with producers and a director attached. The same happened with one of my pilots. This was the first year I didn’t have to worry about the looming visa or green card processes.
As you can see, immigration has played a big role in my journey (one day, I’ll dive into that a bit more). I half-joke when I say that after going through the visa and green card applications, along with the stress and full-time work they entail, handling the industry feels like a piece of cake. I can’t believe I’m still here, and yet, at the same time, I never doubted it. I’m ready and excited for the next decade!
If you have any immigrants in your life, show them some love and appreciation. It takes a unique kind of bravery to do what we do.
I want to dedicate this past decade to my mother. Thank you, Mom, for raising such a resilient woman. I owe you everything!
♥
What’s coming?
The Luna Tales is expanding! From now on, in addition to my monthly journal entries like this one, I’ll also be posting poems since I love writing them and many of you reached out requesting more after I posted a couple. Expect some AMAs too!
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Wonderful story in many ways, Lucy. You are a strong and resilient woman and a credit to your remarkable mother. All happiness and love to both of you!
Wow your story is so impressive and amazing! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and Happy birthday to your Mom!