How a First-Generation Latina Filmmaker Went from Reel Works to New York University Tisch
Latina filmmaker Yasmin Perez Ojot is ready to break barriers and make her mark in film. The Reel Works alum and soon-to-be NYU Tisch student recently worked as a Production Assistant for Lauren Sowa’s short film, “The Knock Shadow.” We caught up with Yasmin to talk about her journey, recent projects, and how they’ve shaped the stories she wants to tell.
Finding Reel Works
Yasmin and peers at Reel Works for the 48-hour youth film challenge.
Yasmin was a high school senior when a teacher encouraged her and her classmates to apply for Reel Works’ Doc Lab. Initially rejected, she assumed filmmaking wasn’t for her and planned to study computer science at community college instead. Months later, an unexpected email invited her to join a 48-hour youth film challenge at Reel Works. Despite having no experience, Yasmin said yes.
“We didn’t really know what to do. But during those 48 hours, we grew together and we’re still friends now. It was really inspiring and motivating for me, because I had never done anything filmmaking-related.”
The Narrative Fellows Program and The Power of Mentorship
Winning the challenge inspired Yasmin to apply for Reel Works’ Narrative Fellows Program. Through the program, she learned everything from pre-production to scriptwriting, producing two short films, “Pizza Delivery” and “Tabula Rasa.”
Yasmin on set of “Pizza Delivery.”
Mentorship shaped her experience even more. Her mentors Coty Rodriguez and Sunni Anderson both encouraged Yasmin to explore stories connected to her Guatemalan roots and immigrant community. Growing up, Yasmin didn’t always see herself in films that she watched.
“That kind of opened my eyes,” said Yasmin. “Maybe I can go work there someday and be in my family's homeland.”
Sunny’s guidance helped Yasmin tour NYU’s campus and decide to pursue film instead of computer science. Today, she’s determined to tell more immigrant stories from a young person’s perspective.
“We see things a bit differently. So it can not only help raise awareness, but you can also see things from a different point of view and help you understand a bit more.”
Working on “The Knock Shadow”
Through her Reel Works connections, Yasmin landed her first set experience as a Production Assistant on Lauren Sowa’s “The Knock Shadow,” a psychological thriller set in the 1980s. The short film was produced by an all-women team in collaboration with the Healing Tree, which Yasmin found inspiring.
“It was a very welcoming environment,” Yasmin said. “We were all just staring at the monitor like, ‘this is so cool what we just created.’”
Yasmin’s Takeaway
Reel Works gave Yasmin real-world experience, mentors who understood her background, and the confidence to tell stories she didn’t see growing up. As she heads to NYU Tisch, she hopes to keep building narratives that highlight immigrant families, first-generation journeys, and complex identities.
Interested in filmmaking? Learn more about Reel Works’ free filmmaking programs here.
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