Meet Alyssa Park | Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Park and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work-life balance is always such an interesting topic as it varies drastically for each person. For the longest time, I had the mindset of needing to hustle to continue to get farther in my career and dreams. When I first started this career path I was fresh out of school, single, and eager to dedicate my entire life to creating; whether that be through dance, photography, videography, travel, or learning about each of those passions. But, very quickly, I learned that this was not as sustainable as I had thought. I have several chronic health conditions and let me tell you– they have a way of making themselves known in times of stress. I found that the more I pushed myself at work, the more my illnesses would flare due to the stress that was all around. This forced me to take a serious step back and reevaluate how balanced my life truly was. When I did, the craziest thing started happening. The more space I gave myself from certain stressors, the more I wanted to create authentically. It was the space away from work that made me want to work even more! When I say “even more”, I don’t mean “more time”; I mean with more passion and authenticity, which I think is extremely important as a creative. Work and life seem to flow more effortlessly since I’ve shifted my perspective. I now look at life as something I want to cultivate and create with, rather than against. I am excited to use the lessons I’ve learned about balance and space to help inspire others to find what balance looks like for them. How can we work to nourish our life and how can the way we live nourish our work?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I jokingly say that my first love in life was dance. It was the thing I always came back to growing up. Even to this day, while it may look different from when I was younger, it is still in my bones and my soul. One day in my teens, I picked up my dad’s Canon 7d camera and a new love was born. The joy of combining dance and camerawork is something I truly live for. Bringing a picture to life through movement is unlike anything else. My career has flowed seamlessly from dance to filmmaking thanks to my connections and community in the dance world, and the opportunities to create content that melds the two worlds.

Over the years, another piece of the puzzle has emerged: my curiosity about the psyche. I have been in therapy for five years, and in this time have done many deep dives into an understanding of who I am. This brings a level of depth to my art that I never could have imagined before doing this work. For my Capstone Project at The Los Angeles Film School, for instance, I created a short film that explored my mental health and the deep healing journey I was on at the time. The emotional intensity of working on this film showed me how creation and collaboration can provide healing. As artists we love sharing stories and through whatever medium my art takes, I want to share stories with care, compassion, and understanding.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ever since I moved to East LA, I would say I am biased toward this side of town. It has the best food, the coziest neighborhoods, and the sweetest nature areas. When my friends and family come to visit, one of my favorite places to take them is Descanso Gardens, which is 150 acres of blissful botanical gardens in La Cañada Filtridge. Before the gardens though, I would take them to my all-time favorite restaurant in Highland Park which is Kitchen Mouse. Very allergen-friendly and the cutest place to eat!!

Depending on their vibe, I would love to take them to Remainders, a creative reuse store in Pasadena. It’s a thrift store for arts and crafts and is an artist’s/DIY dream!! Also stopping at the flea markets is always a go-to.

If we needed to pick up something to eat, I would take them to the Green Grocer in El Sereno on Huntington, or the farmer’s market in South Pasadena. We would finish the night with some non-alcoholic spirits at Free Spirited in El Sereno or go watch the sunset on the beach or at a park!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many incredible people in my life who have helped get me where I am today, and it feels impossible to find the right words to describe all that they have done. Starting with my fiancée, Kati– she knows me more deeply than anybody else and brings such a beautiful perspective to my life and to those around her. She doesn’t work in a creative field, but has the most grounding presence that keeps me aligned with my values and supports me through it all. Next is my family– they have been my number one support through all of my creative endeavors. I am so grateful to them for providing me with the tools to succeed in whatever my heart and soul desire since a young age. To my therapists, coaches, acupuncturist, physical health care team, and beyond: I thank each of them for helping me find homeostasis within myself from which to work and lead my life. To my creative mentors and coworkers: I thank them for providing their insights and wisdom. They all hold so much power and passion and show me that anything is possible. And lastly, to my dear friends: the ones that hold the glue together. They represent my past, present, and future, and they feel so special in this process of life and creativity.

Website: https://aparkfilms.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_parkranger_/

Other: https://www.thescorekeeper.org/

Image Credits
Holding Camera Front Photo: Michaela Todaro
White Room: Lexi Dysart
Tan Warehouse: Winnie Mu

Company Credits: Dupree Dance and Geometry Dance Company