Hope Lopez Exclusive Interview - 'It’s Not About You. It’s About The Story'

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Hope Lopez was recently interviewed by TheCelebrity.Online Magazine and below is the Q&A session we had with her.

Hope Lopez As Cover Interview – September 2023

How do you introduce yourself?

My name is Hope Lopez. I’m a multidisciplinary filmmaker and Chicana activist born and raised in Southern California. I’m a show-runner, director, writer, producer, actor, editor, and musician with the intention of bringing accurate representation to marginalized communities through complex and intersectional characters.

How was your childhood to adulthood transition?

For a little baby girl born in Fountain Valley, dreams mean something significant. It’s the heart and soul of what it means to be alive. I grew up a little Chicana with dreams. The biggest one I ever had was to own my own Mexican restaurant. That was the most realistic. However, it was through films that my imagination really soared. I fell in love with the escapism. Not to mention, watching films was a family pastime, almost like a sacred tradition. By thirteen, I moved from San Pedro to Orange County in which a world of opportunity opened up. Finally, I had the calling to make films. Previously, I was considered a fan of cinema but then I turned into a complete cinephile. By college, I took every free opportunity to write my own stories and fell deeper in love with my passion.

What hardships did you face in life?

For me, writing serves as a form of catharsis. It also saved my life. When I was 19, I was groomed and sexually assaulted by an abusive manager. The only healthy way of coping was to write and to dream my way out of an oppressive situation. I wrote about my experiences and gained a new sense of power over my narrative. Not only that, it was my dream of becoming a filmmaker that kept me alive. My dream of my voice being heard and having others’ stories heard. This is my mission in life. To have underrepresented voices come to the forefront.

What do people usually not know about you?

A lot of people don’t know about my incredibly diverse background and how this fundamentally shapes my identity. I am seventy-five percent Mexican and twenty-five percent New Zealand. Some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins are mixed with Samoan. Growing up in such an environment gave me a certain perspective that not many people experience.

What sets you apart from others in industry and life?

What sets me apart from my peers in the industry (and in life) is my vulnerability. I’m not afraid to share my experience even when it pertains to stigmatized subjects such as sexual assault or mental health. In fact, these topics are the type of stories that I write about. Overall, the more I create, the more I realize how to let go of my ego.

What are your upcoming events/plans?

As of now, Funny’s Not Dead Productions stands in solidarity with the WGA and SAG so we have paused production. Once proper negotiations have been made between the studios and creators, we will crowdfund so that we can actualize our vision.

What expert advice you want to share with the readers?

It’s not about you. It’s about the story.

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