Today we’d like to introduce you to Angeline Abrera.
Hi Angeline, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My passion for my career and everything that I’m honored to be working and doing now all started in high school. I was class of 2018 at Jersey Village High School here in Houston, TX, and was a part of their film organization/club, JVTV, during my junior and senior year. Funny enough, I actually didn’t even sign up for this class! Originally, I had signed up for a photography class that year because I had just started freelancing on the side, so I wanted to build up my photo skills. But of course, the class ended up getting filled. I remember showing up on the first day of junior year with JVTV on my schedule, and I was so confused and even a little frustrated. I asked the front office if it was possible to change my schedule to photography, and they said no. But who knew that all of this was truly a blessing in disguise. So, I decided to stay in JVTV to try it out, and in all honesty, it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I learned how to edit videos; aside from the silly home videos I would film with my cousins, I learned how to set up video interviews, storyboard, etc. I was able to direct, produce, film, and edit a ton of projects, from PSA videos a documentary to news packages and more. Throughout my first year in JVTV, I fell in love with the class and visual storytelling and ended up getting close with our teacher, Cindy Stoker. I truly admired her teaching style, work ethic, witty humor, and her guidance both in film and in my life. From being one of her newbies in the class to eventually being her mentee, I knew she believed in me and my potential. Because of that, she pushed me to apply to PBS NewsHour’s 2017 Student Reporting Labs (SRL) Academy in Washington D.C., where they choose 20 students across the US to participate in a week-long workshop to work alongside public media mentors to produce original digital content and sharpen their journalism and production skills. I remember applying and truly thinking nothing of it, and to my surprise, I got accepted! I flew to D.C. and got to work with other young storytellers, and it truly changed my life. All of this taught me that everything happens for a reason, a mantra that I continue to live by today. I got to network and collaborate with so many creatives through JVTV and my time with the SRL Academy, which provided me with other opportunities within the industry later down the line. Since then, I have graduated from the University of Houston in 2022, earning a B.A. in Media Production, B.A. in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, and a Minor in Creative Work in the UH Honors College. I fully believe I would not be here today, freelancing in the music, media, and entertainment industry if it wasn’t for that class schedule mishap.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest struggle as a creative freelancer has definitely been navigating the freelancer space, especially in a world that likes to fit you into a single box. There definitely is negative stigma around being a freelancer and how it’s not stable, practical, etc., and of course, I’ve heard these negative comments many times from others. Though these things can be true to some extent, as finding stability and opportunities have been quite the struggle for me personally, I think as creatives, we thrive off of projects that not only fuel our passion for a certain art or medium but off of creating pieces that are meaningful and impactful, and that’s the reason why we do what we do. I try and tune those negative voices out, but it can definitely be difficult to do because sometimes, you start to believe it. All of this mainly stems from the pressure I feel from my peers, with everyone posting about their new job, salary raises, and overall, just feeling “left behind,” even though that is definitely not the case. I often have to remind myself that everyone is on a different path and has different passions, which that’s the beauty of it. If anything, the struggle has also mostly been with myself and comparing myself to other artists, not feeling good enough to pursue this type of career, and of course, imposter syndrome. However, with my many interests in film, photography, entertainment, music, and all things storytelling, it’s hard to stick to only one thing/project at a time, but I think that’s why I loved what I do so much. I have the opportunity to pour my skills into different pieces of work that I’m able to share with different audiences.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
With my background in Broadcast Journalism and love for the arts, I strive to create and share diverse stories across the media and entertainment industry through various art mediums. From producing news packages about local stories through PBS NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs (SRL), freelancing for the past 6+ years shooting photos, videos, and designing content for local businesses and other creatives within my network, to now programming events across the globe with the music and tech organization, The Digilogue, my range of interests and skills has allowed me work to be seen across various industries.
Additionally, my passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has manifested into every project that I take on. These are the projects that I’m most proud of: Speaking as a panelist for PBS NewsHour’s SRL Panel, “The future is now: How young storytellers are building a stronger, more diverse media industry,” moderating an interview with Holly Charles-Pearson to discuss Sexual Harassment in the workplace as a woman of color for my Gender & Violence course at UH, and programming an Asian American Heritage Month event in Los Angeles through The Digilogue, “Celebrating AAPI Women in Music & Tech.” I am always searching for ways to intersect my skills in all things media and my knowledge in DEI and WGSS into everything I do, which I believe sets me apart from others.
Along with being a freelance photographer, I’m also the Content & Brand Strategy Coordinator at The Digilogue and a photojournalist at HTX VOX. I recently also just got brought on as a Social Media Manager and Production Assistant for my mentor, Holly Charles-Pearson, and her film titled “If They Took Us Back.” It’s safe to say that there are ample projects that I’m extremely grateful to be a part of that are keeping me busy and fueling my passion for the arts.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Aside from Cindy Stoker, who I had mentioned previously and helped me get my start in all things media, another mentor who I admire and look up to is Holly Charles-Pearson. She was also featured here on Voyage Houston in 2019 (https://voyagehouston.com/interview/life-work-holly-charles/). Holly was my high school English teacher from 2016-2017, which so happens to be the same year I started JVTV and met Cindy Stoker! Holly and I grew really close during my senior year (2017-2018) when she had asked our JVTV class to produce a promo video for her upcoming play. After our class worked on that project with her, I became very interested in her work in the arts outside of teaching.
After graduating high school, Holly then brought me and a few other students on to continue producing video work for her other productions through Houston Play On Purpose (HPOP) – a charitable and educational organization purposed with raising awareness for social causes, injustices and issues which disproportionately affect underserved and/or minority populations through theatrical productions. While working with Holly, I grew interested in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and creating purposeful art, which is why she started HPOP in the first place. I wanted to learn more about her mission to create but also impact and bring awareness to the societal issues that we have here at home in Houston, TX, that need to be brought to our attention. Because of this, Holly inspired me to double major and add a Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies B.A. to my degree plan on top of my already-in-progress Media Production B.A. I was eager to learn about the intersection of DEI and art, the stories I would want to create and share with the world because of it, and how I could do so.
Aside from helping Holly on projects through HPOP, I got to assist her with other creative endeavors for the past few years. Some include shooting her engagement and wedding photos, personal headshots, graphic design elements for her side projects, and more. She’s always been the main person I can turn to for guidance, not only in my career but in my personal life. With Holly, I find myself constantly learning about the world and who I am.
Now, I’m helping Holly create her first ever short film titled If They Took Us Back. The imaginative story takes place between unidentified West African and U.S. cities and, though set in present-day; it is inspired by a hypothetical exile of formerly enslaved people following the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Creating a film like this has been both of our dreams for a while now, so I’m honored to be working and learning alongside her. I’m truly grateful to have a mentor I look up to in all aspects of my life who pushes me to be the best I can be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/angelineabrera
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angehline/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeline-abrera/
Image Credits
Daniella Quevedo
@dcqphotos and @soma.wrld on Instagram
