1) Ana, tell me a little bit about who you are and how you ended up in Barcelona.

-I always traveled, lived in different places since I was a small child and then went to a British school in Mexico City until I finished A’ Levels.

Having studied with people from all around the world, now I know that it helped me see the world an easy place to get around.

Before Barcelona I lived in Paris and London and felt that Barcelona was the place in Europe to live.

2) What is it about film and moving image that makes you tick? How did this passion come about?

-My father is in the business and other members of my family as well, so I grew up on a film set, on editing suites and going to Post production sessions in LA.

Since I was 13 years old, I know I wanted to work in this business.

But what is more exciting about film is helping lines in a piece of paper become a film.

3) How did’ The Lift’ come about?

-Long story!

A Mexican guy I met when I lived in London convinced me to move here to start a Production Company and I felt it was the right time, so I just moved here and went for it.

4)The film production and commercials industry has suffered a lot in the crisis, I have seen you stay very positive and faithful during this period, how have you managed to?

-If I were not positive, I wouldn’t survive. This industry is about being creative and innovative, if you can’t think that way in terms of business, you don’t have a company.

To be honest, I’m always positive, life is short, better live happily.

5)You have been subsidising your staff with a 20-min energising chair massage every Wednesday at the office for 3 years(even through the crisis) why?

-I feel I am a generous person. In this business we work very long hours, there is very much stress, it’s very demanding and very competitive.

If taking a break for 20mins once a week makes you feel better and makes you work better, why not?!

6)What does good health mean to you?

-When you are young you think you are indestructible. You drink, you don’t sleep, you eat bad… When you get older and your body doesn’t react the same, it means it’s time to take care of it.

I am diabetic and I have no other choice but to lead a healthy life. For my disease, the only way to stay healthy is eating properly and exercising.

Health to me means staying alive longer. We only have 1 body, better love it.

7)Why do you love Barcelona?

-Because it’s small and walkable and even if you drive, you don’t have much traffic.

Having the sea in front of us is amazing for me, coming from Mexico City, it’s a great luxury.

The weather is perfect and you can have your our activities and way of live, not like big cities, where the city itself pulls you into a rhythm you don’t necessarily like.

Basically, Barcelona has QUALITY of LIFE.

8)What future projects do you have in mind with ‘The Lift’ ‘  and how can people find you?

-We want to start getting into other businesses like TV production, events and other sort of projects which can be interesting to make as well as give us money.

www.thelift.tv

9)In Mexico they beilive alot in spirits, saints and celebrating the dead etc, did you grow up spiritually?

-It’s true that Mexicans have a certain kind of spirituality in their veins. But not always well directed or with real studies, it’s more instinctual or passed on generation to generation.

My great grandmother was quite special, she always had premonitions and could know when things would happen, then my mom studied (and keeps studying) psychology and many other alternative things regarding the mind and spirit, and it is from her that I have learnt more academic stuff.

Although we all believe in spirits (good and bad) and life beyond death!

10) One of my heroes is Frida Kahlo, as a mexican, how has she influenced your life?

-When I was a teenager and I had the capacity to understand her worked, it really shocked me. I felt that she had transmitted her pain so well, but I always felt bad for her tormented life.

Now, as an adult, I think she must have been the coolest woman of her time.

Museo Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul) en la Ciudad de ...

Museo Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul) en la Ciudad de México (Distrito Federal), México. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thank you Ana Laura!