Bethany Murillo ’21 started acting when she was just five-years-old, and as she grew up on the stage, she took an interest in working behind the scenes. For Murillo, expressing herself and honing her creative skills has always been a way to glorify God. Learning about the filmmaking industry and stepping into new offstage roles allowed her to grow as a creative and as a devoted follower of Christ. Cofounder of Chicano Hollywood, Murillo’s love for filmmaking hasn’t wavered, and seeing how empowering it can be for the Latino community to see themselves on screen and behind the camera has only furthered her goal of showing others how they can succeed in the industry, too.
Film was the only path Murillo wanted to pursue in college, and she also wanted to attend a Christian university where she could connect with people who would understand her approach to creativity as a spiritual practice. Murillo enrolled at Azusa Pacific University as a cinematic arts production (BFA) major. “I see stories as guides that help people connect with God and feel less alone,” she said. “As a Latina, I wanted to create diverse coming-of-age films that could help people find themselves in their adolescent years.”
While Murillo learned to create films that help others feel less alone, she was also
making lifelong friendships behind the camera. In the BFA program, Murillo worked
alongside a community of women who wanted to pursue careers in the film industry,
inspiring and supporting each other throughout the program. “APU showed me what it
means to build a community,” she said.
The BFA program set Murillo up for success by emphasizing the importance of community
in the industry. Filmmaking is a collaborative process, so as Murillo and her peers
developed their skills and individual passions, everyone had something to contribute.
“The program teaches you how to advocate for yourself and to know how to be an active
member of collaborative work.”
In their junior year, APU’s cinematic arts students pitch film projects, only two of which are picked to be made into films. Murillo’s pitch, a coming-of-age film starring a Latina actress, was selected, and she directed a team of her peers on set. “I’m proud of how I led that project because it taught me how to make important decisions and problem solve.”
That assignment was the first large-scale project Murillo directed, and it spurred her passion for filmmaking. After graduation, Murillo joined her dad in building Chicano Hollywood, an organization that would lift up Latino voices in the film industry on stage and behind the camera. After working as a media and creative intern for a church in Oklahoma, Murillo returned to California to help make Chicano Hollywood a reality. Murillo’s father was a pastor who felt called to production 17 years ago, and the organization has since become what Murillo describes as a family-based ministry.
In the past few years, Chicano Hollywood has gained momentum and made a name for itself.
The organization holds conferences and workshops while also working on its own projects.
“We want to show the Latino community that there are a lot of us in the industry and
that there can be more,” she said. “We’re reminding people that this is an option
for them and that there’s value in training for this kind of career.” Last summer,
Chicano Hollywood hosted a film festival where they screened over 100 films and held
workshops and panels for 1,500 attendees.
Working for Chicano Hollywood allows Murillo to live her dream. She is able to create content and host events while also fulfilling a personal dream of inspiring people through her creative talents. At the heart of everything she does, Murillo is an advocate for Latino creators. “I want to empower our community because they have everything they need to tell their story; it’s just a matter of supporting each other,” she said. “I love seeing the world that I live in on screen and being able to reflect our community’s experiences. When I’m directing or watching our content, I see the actors as my family and neighbors. Their stories are grounded in truth and authenticity, and that’s personally impacted me.”
While Chicano Hollywood works on a variety of projects, Murillo and her father approach every aspect of the organization with faith and a goal to glorify the Lord. “Sometimes people struggle to navigate the entertainment industry as Christians,” she said. “If we pursue our work as worship and ask how God can use our creative gifts, we don’t have to keep faith and filmmaking separate.” Murillo constantly draws strength from her time at APU. From talking with her peers about different denominational practices to being a part of the Kaleo SALT team, Murillo is grateful for how APU shaped the way she approaches faith as an integral part of personal and professional life.
Within the next few years, Murillo hopes that Chicano Hollywood will continue to grow and expand its reach to more of the Latino community. She also hopes to direct a feature, increase the scale of their events, and become a stronger leader. “It’s been incredible to see this organization get started, and I’m excited to see not only how much it can grow, but how God can use our work for His glory.”