Maria grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where it was customary to declare one’s major right at the start of college and then take an exam specific to that major for placement. She was online planning to choose Psychology but when she was at the front of the line, followed her gut instinct and chose Film. Maria went to college at night while working during day to pay for it. She began as a PA for production companies. While going to college and working as PA, Maria directed a few documentaries on her own. At age 19, before her second year of college, one of the directors that she PA-ed for set out to start his own Production company and hired Maria to be his one and only Producer. From there she grew to become his EP and then left his company to expand her horizons.
Maria had grown to become an AD which in Brazil meant that she truly the Director’s Lieutenant. She got her hand in casting, creating production budgets, working with the editors etc. She worked as AD for Fernando Meirelles and a few other big names and was AD on two feature films in Brazil.
Maria fell in love which took her to NYC. With no English, she had to virtually start again as Assistant Editor. From there she became Video Commissioner at Elektra Records, and then received an offer at Select NY (a Fashion Beauty boutique agency) where she started as an EP and grew into HOP/Partner. After 10 years at Select, Maria left to expand her horizons beyond fashion/beauty and to sink teeth into tech. She has been freelancing at Facebook ever since.
Maria’s happiest when she’s being challenged by a difficult project and is passionate about bringing innovative solutions to the table that are seemingly impossible.
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