Yinan Estrada-Ortiz was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is currently working as a Coordinator for Art and Set Decoration Departments for TV & Film in New York, and occasionally as a Production Coordinator for indie films, music videos and commercials in Puerto Rico. She has worked in audience favorites such as Only Murders in the Building, Dickinson, Jack Ryan, Billions, Orange is the New Black and The Blacklist, among others. Puerto Rican films closest to her heart where she worked with family and colleagues are Antes que Cante el Gallo and Nuestra Isla Nuestro Encanto.
Before relocating to New York, Estrada-Ortiz managed the Puerto Rico Film Fund to finance independent features, documentaries, short films and workshops. She proudly represented the Film Commission and projects in international forums, coordinated the 2010 Film Fund Annual Call for Entries, and handled projects for international co-productions. She received a Master of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in Journalism and Latin American Studies. While at UT Austin Estrada-Ortiz assisted in several research studies looking
at on the lack of access to digital technologies by Latinos, health news coverage in US Latino-oriented media, and the lack of diversity in US newsrooms.
She currently enjoys pottery as a hobby and an annual visit to her home country’s beaches in Puerto Rico.
Yinán Estrada-Ortiz Favorite Sets
Q&A with Yinán Estrada-Ortiz
Q.
If you had one more hour in the day what would you do with it?
A.
If I had one more hour in the
day I would love to make it to the pottery studio more often, that would be a great gift to
myself.
Q.
How did you get started in this field?
A.
I started out in TV & Film working as a set PA. When
there wasn’t work for a newbie, I would do craft service for commercials and music videos, later I became one of the regular PAs, 2nd AD, Production Coordinator for small projects, eventually transitioning to Art Department Coordinator. I am certain the reason I understand production is all about teamwork is because I worked in more than one department and I appreciate their effort.
Q.
Dream country to work in?
A.
I dream of working in documentaries and in many countries, I really couldn’t narrow it down much more than Cuba, Brazil and Korea.
Q.
Describe your childhood bedroom?
A.
My childhood bedroom was my mother’s teenage bedroom and the focal point was a wall with huge blocks of black, red and silver wallpaper. I didn’t know it at the time but looking back I had the coolest room; it was a great design!
Q.
What is your favorite and least favorite part of your job.
A.
My favorite part of the job is
collaboration, I find gratification in working as part of a team knowing we put a great set together, often in record time. On the flip side I’d say my least favorite part of a job is the lack of teamwork from some, whose large egos reject input from the rest of the team. When everyone contributes the team is happier and the final product is great.
Q.
How would you define your work in three words?
A.
Collaboration, logistics, multitasking!
Q.
You are stuck on an island, you can pick one food to eat forever without getting tired of it,
what would you eat?
A.
MANGOES!
Q.
A book that everyone should read?
A.
El País bajo mi Piel (The country under my skin) by
Gioconda Belli, a Nicaraguan writer who became involved in the Sandinista Revolution.
Q.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A.
I dreamt of being a journalist, but the idea of the profession is more noble than corporate interests allows you to be.
Q.
What is one Instagram account you can’t live without?
A.
That would definitely be my dad’s
#planetakike because I am always amazed at what comes out of his head!
