Thank You, Next! An Interview With Sebastian Sada

A dream come true:

On set with Ariana Grande

Written by Ashley Alvarado, Design by Anna Keller, Media by Madison Trousdale

At some point, we have all longed to meet the iconic celebrities who appear on the big screen or whose hits we jam out to on the radio. Now imagine this: being approached with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on set with pop legend, Ariana Grande. Well, that’s exactly what happened to Sebastian Sada.

Who is he?

Sebastian Sada is a Rio Grande Valley native who graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in film. Growing up, he aspired to become a film director. He found himself constantly glued to a TV, growing increasingly fascinated by the process of filmmaking. With inspiration stemming from Ren Paradis, Martin Scorsese, Terensa, York, and Gaga, Sebastian developed a desire to produce beautiful artwork. To get his creative juices flowing, Sebastian often listened to classical music to help conjure up visuals, themes, and storylines. He also wrote down any ideas he had. By utilizing this method, he was able to formulate his vision. Driven by his dedication to art, he was able to make his dreams come true. 

““Anything is possible with enough confidence””

During his college years, Sebastian received the opportunity of a lifetime. It began with him partaking in a program that enabled him to take classes in Los Angeles. A friend of his in LA had an internship with London Alley, but decided not to pursue it after all. He had referenced Sebastian to fill in for him, where he was then selected as their newest intern. From this internship position, Sebastian landed the coveted role as a production assistant for the record-breaking music video: “Thank U, Next.”

“Where there is a will, there is a way.” -Sebastian Sada

When first working on set, Sebastian was buzzing with nerves. As he continued working, they gradually vanished with the realization that this job was just like any other (well, almost). With his entry-level position as a production assistant, Sebastian was able to connect with all of the cast members and crew (and yes, that did include the queen herself, Ariana Grande). Although the entire cast and crew made an impact on his life, Sebastian felt the deepest connection towards Troye Sivan. Troye helped Sebastian embrace his identity, and we are here for it.

This experience has taught Sebastian an important lesson, which is to take advantage of any opportunities that will help you get closer to your dreams. He reached out endlessly to all of his peers and expressed his goals and aspirations. Driven by his fiery passion, Sebastian never gave up on actualizing his dreams into reality. With his extensive networking and talent, he was eventually noticed by the esteemed production company, London Alley. 

Sebastian’s Advice To Aspiring Filmmakers:

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Building the confidence you need to get you to where you want to go is super important. No one is able to advocate for yourself the way you can. By establishing networks and being passionate about what you do, you can accomplish a lot. Also, be open to trying new things. Going into a set, you may be inclined to go for director, producer, or actor. But be open-minded and try other positions, such as a makeup artist, technician, or sound effects. When you expose yourself to different aspects of filmmaking, you may discover new passions that you didn’t know you had before.”