Maya Delgado Talks About Being Behind The Camera And Her HeARTS Of Maya Foundation

A double-threat!

From acting to singing, Maya Delgado is incredibly talented. She recently starred in Season 2 of the Apple TV+ series ‘Ghostwriter’.

We had the amazing honor of talking with Maya about POC representation in entertainment, growing as an artist, and more!

You recently created your first short film ‘The Hive’ alongside your brother Marco Delgado. Can you tell us more about what ‘The Hive’ is about?

M: “The film is about two orphaned sisters, Willow and Estefania, who live in an abandoned town. They are trying to take down a hypnotizing VR platform called “The Hive” that’s consuming the lives of people.  One of the victims is their mom, who abandoned them to join The Hive. I don’t want to give too many spoilers, but the girls discover shocking secrets about what’s really going on with The Hive. VR and A.I. are at the forefront of many ethical conversations and societal concerns, especially its effects on my generation’s future, so this topic really sparked my interest. I chose this theme to shed light on the possible outcomes of new tech and its possible adverse effects for future generations.”

Do you want to pursue writing and directing more in the future?

M: “Yes, definitely. I plan to film another short film this summer. I’m usually the one performing in front of the camera but I really enjoy the process of being behind the camera and working with my brother as a director, producer, and working with other creative people that help us put it together. I especially think it’s really important to have teen writers because we are going to be the next generation leaders in the industry so I’m excited to continue working on making films and projects not just as an actress but as a writer and director.”

You founded a nonprofit scholarship organization called heARTS of Maya! What is the purpose behind your organization?

M: “I started HeARTs of Maya with the intention of helping youth who are passionate about the arts just like me. I have been able to get training from amazing teachers and coaches throughout my career, but I know not everyone has the financial resources to pay for this training.  There are aspiring artists with amazing talent that don’t have the means to pay for training, classes, etc., and I believe they deserve to have those opportunities just like I do. Most importantly, everyone should be able to have a creative platform and outlet, but that’s unfortunately not a reality for some people right now. However, I hope my organization can change that one artist at a time:).”

What goals do you hope to achieve with the heARTs of Maya organization?

M: “One big goal I’ve had for a while is to be able to give a four-year scholarship to send an artist to a performing arts college or university. To date, HeARTS of Maya has awarded over 50 scholarships to youth between the ages of 8 and 17 to take summer intensive training, semester classes, a series of lessons, etc., and I am very proud of that!  However, being able to send someone to college would be on a whole different level and I would love to help someone achieve that. This is not only a dream of mine but also someone else’s dream.  How awesome to be part of that?!”

You were featured as the character ‘Young Tess’ in Season 2 of ‘Ghostwriter’. What was that experience like?

M: “I had an amazing time filming ‘Ghostwriter’. I went to Canada to shoot and not only did I work with amazing actors, directors and crew, I loved getting to know Toronto. It’s such a beautiful city!  Tess is a  gifted young artist and has a fiery personality, making an impression with anyone she meets.  She was a Latina feminist in the 1950s and I had never played a character like that. Her character was so special to me because I was able to resonate with her and I’m sure a lot of other young girls did too.”

How important do you think POC representation is in the arts?

M: “I think it’s extremely important that everyone sees themselves reflected in the media and on screen. This is important because having a film, actor, or character that you can connect with is empowering, not only to a single person but to the communities they represent. I’m Latina, half Cuban and half Mexican, and I take pride in being able to represent my community when the opportunity arises when acting, singing, writing, or doing any creative art form.”

What are you looking forward to the most in the future of your career?

M: “I’m looking forward to growing as an artist! This industry is ever-evolving and I am also evolving as a person with it.  I am preparing to “roll with the punches” as they say and trying to become as well-rounded as I can in this industry.  I would love to be a renowned actress and/ or singer someday but I also realize there are so many other great professionals within this industry, such as writing, directing, producing, entertainment law, etc.  I’m really excited for what the future holds because I have a great supportive team, I love to learn and grow, and this industry is full of possibilities if you have dedication, perseverance, and work hard to achieve your goals.”

Where can our readers follow your journey?

IG: @mayasdelgado | Website: mayadelgado.com | Foundation IG: @heartsofmaya | Foundation website: heartsofmaya.org | IMDb:  imdb.me/mayadelgado

Make sure to watch Maya in ‘Ghostwriter’, available now on Apple TV+!

Photo Credit and Styling Credit: @RochelleBrodinPhoto | Rochelle Brodin

Alessia Shaw- Movie/Entertainment Editor– Alessia is a rising Junior in high school located in Southern California! She is an actress, writer and avid mental health advocate. Alessia loves writing in many forms, especially spoken word poetry. As her resume continues to grow, so does her love for the arts. She hopes to continue her acting path and attend a performing arts college in the near future.