Scholarships: MACEF's role in supporting future filmmakers’ education
Education is one of the most powerful tools anyone seeking success can have behind them. And education can come in many forms.
For filmmakers, it often comes in the form of film school.
Film school can give aspiring filmmakers a leg up that they wouldn’t have had without it, especially if they didn’t grow up around anyone in the film industry.
Learn why MACEF is dedicated to providing support for aspiring Mexican-American filmmakers who want to learn about filmmaking from top film schools.
The need for Mexican-American filmmakers
Why should we even care about the need for Mexican-American filmmakers?
It’s simple. Hollywood has long been lacking in telling diverse stories, especially when it comes to the Mexican-American community. Latinos (of which Mexican-Americans make up 70% of) make up 20% of the American population, yet have only 5% of speaking roles in Hollywood. While that discrepancy is shockingly bad, behind the camera, things are even worse. Latino directors and writers make up only 1% of those in the industry.
The lack of Mexican-American filmmakers is a significant part of the reason for the negative stereotypes of Mexican-Americans that are prevalent in the media.
When Mexican-Americans are rarely the ones telling their stories, how can they be told accurately? No one will treat their story with as care and with as much dedication to truth as the people themselves.
Authentic stories are essential for dispelling stereotypes and fostering a more truthful understanding of the Mexican-American experience, both for people within the community and outside of it. These storytellers bring an intimate knowledge of their culture, traditions, struggles and triumphs ensuring that narratives are presented with depth, accuracy, and authenticity.
Film school’s role in educating the next generation of filmmakers
Of course, many of the greatest filmmakers of all time never spent a day in film school, which is why we have programs that help these types of filmmakers as well, like our production grants and mentorship programs. However, formal education in film school can be incredibly powerful.
Networking and career opportunities
The networking opportunities available for film school students is one of the greatest benefits of attending film school. Students have an opportunity to build relationships with both peers and people who have been in the industry for years. Many film schools also offer career support to help students network and find internships. This can lead to full time positions after graduation as well.
Practice with a mentor
The hands-on experience, especially under the guidance of a mentor, provided to film students is another major benefit of attending film school. Working closely with experienced mentors can provide practical insights and constructive feedback crucial for a filmmaker's growth. This personalized guidance helps students refine technical skills, storytelling, and their ability to navigate through the industry.
Comprehensive education
The comprehensive education provided at film school is one of the major benefits of attending. Students generally receive a curriculum covering cinematography, editing, scriptwriting, directing, and more. This helps to create a well-rounded understanding of the craft, empowering filmmakers to express their vision effectively.
Resources/professional equipment
Many film schools have incredible resources. This might include professional camera equipment and sound stages. Students can gain proficiency with industry standard equipment and help them to hone their technical skills. This exposure not only boosts confidence but also ensures graduates are well-equipped for the demands of the film industry, giving them a competitive edge when they are ready to jump into professional filmmaking.
Structure
As stated before, many successful filmmakers have succeeded without attending film school. But, the structure provided during the years in school can help aspiring filmmakers fast track their experience and learning. There’s tremendous value in the film school format.
Scholarships: empowering Mexican-American filmmakers
MACEF is committed to fostering the next generation of Mexican-American filmmakers by offering a range of comprehensive scholarship opportunities. In our scholarship initiative, we've collaborated with esteemed institutions such as UCLA, USC, and AFI, awarding scholarships to promising young Mexican-American filmmakers who have the ability to make a significant impact in the industry. Since 2021, students in this program have received tens of thousands of dollars in tuition money.
Here are just two success stories of students who have been positively impacted by this program.
“I just graduated from the Peter Stark Producing program at USC in May and just wanted to share my gratitude for the scholarship you all awarded to me.
The scholarship helped me stay focused on my goal of becoming a film producer allowing me to work on sets alongside some amazing Latinos in the industry. I co-produced a PGA and google supported project titled, "Esmeralda" which features the lovely Annie Gonzalez and Julio Macias. I was also able to co-produce an Alfred P. Loan Project from USC titled "Launch Fever," a true story about a Latino engineer who tries to warn NASA of the dangers of bringing a shuttle into orbit which ultimately led to the death of 8 astronauts. Without the support of the scholarship I would not have been able to work on these amazing Latino-centered projects and I am truly grateful!
I also wanted to follow up and see if there was any way that I could schedule a meeting with Moctezuma Esparza. I was really looking forward to meeting him at our awards ceremony and would love the opportunity to connect with him and learn about his journey and how we can keep supporting our gente in the industry.
Looking forward to hearing from you Dr. Ruiz!”
Gabriel J. Medina
“Even though UCLA has an excellent cinematography program, I was afraid to commit to leaving my full-time job… When I was notified that I was receiving this award, I had officially decided I was going to attend UCLA for my master’s degree. Without this Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation scholarship, I would not be a Bruin right now.”
Paloma Ronquillo
While we’re proud of the support we’ve been able to give so far, we’re excited to see our scholarship program grow and help even more aspiring filmmakers. If you believe in our mission “to change the intentionally distorted and damaging Mexican-American narrative, by educating the community and supporting film & television makers and their stories which will change that narrative.” then think about donating to MACEF. Your donations empower our initiatives, like the scholarship program, that play a crucial role in reshaping the Mexican-American narrative.
Join us in building a more inclusive and vibrant film industry.