Priscila Sobrero’s journey into the world of television production started where it does for a lot of people in the industry: with a love for television. Born in Argentina and raised in California by her single mom, Sobrero found her voice in poetry during college and has some ideas she’d love to explore on the page in the narrative space, but it’s been as a development assistant where she’s really found a home lately.

"I’ve really started to love the development side of things. I didn’t even think I could do the job I’m doing now; I didn’t even think it was a thing," Sobrero said. 

"Looking back, I always used to write stories as a kid. In elementary school, I didn’t have a lot of friends, and writing and TV were my way to live vicariously. I struggled a lot in school, it was really hard for me, but the only time I really got any praise was in my creative writing classes. I remember my teacher using my work as an example and it was so bizarre for me. I’d never had any sort of affirmation, but she was like, 'You have a voice.' And she read my excerpts to the class." 

Sobrero continued to expand her voice in college.

"I majored in communications and minored in journalism and public relations, [but] still hadn’t found the thing that I was really passionate about. We didn’t have a lot growing up, but we did have TV. In high school, I was always the one who was very aware [of what was on] and my friends would ask me what to watch. As I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, one of my friends' moms told me, 'Maybe you should be a producer.' I didn’t even know what that was and it went into the back of my mind."

Meanwhile, she befriended film students on the video production team during her time as the social media assistant at college and started to help them out, opening Sobrero’s eyes to life on set. That’s where she discovered her passion.

"This is what I want to do. It was so exciting [being on set]. It was the first time I was like, 'This is something I really like,'" Sobrero said, smiling. 

She went on to intern at Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Univision. It was at Jimmy Kimmel, where, as a seat filler, Sobrero sat next to the executive producer, she realized this might be a thing she wanted to do.

"[The executive producer] did it so seamlessly. She was so badass. At one point I was like, 'I want her job.'"

Her experience there eventually led to an interview with Vida showrunner Tanya Saracho.

"I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I didn’t know what a showrunner’s assistant was. I started working the day before we went into lockdown."

An interesting time to start a new job in any industry, and a tough transitional time for Saracho, who had just said goodbye to Vida and was starting at Universal Content Productions (UCP).

"I’ve been a part of the really big things that have started in the last year and a half," Sobrero said, which include Saracho’s launch of Ojalá Productions and joining forces with executive Christine Dávila.

"We haven’t had a show, so I haven’t done any of that stuff. But I’ve done a lot on the development side, which has shown me I really like that side. And because Tanya is a writer, we’re so focused on the writers ... It’s the writer’s voice and the writer’s vision, and that’s our main priority. It’s always the writer first and it’s cool to see how they’re creating our company with that in mind."

Laughing, she admits she never considered writing.

"But working under Tanya, I’m seeing her being this chingona doing all the things and at some point, within a few months of working with her ... my mom and I are always joking about the crazy stuff that happened to us, and saying someone needs to write a book about it. So I was reflecting during quarantine like we all were, and I was like, 'I should write it,'" she said.

"Journaling has always been a therapeutic thing for me."

But working with Saracho and Dávila has inspired her to do it more — just on the side for now — and grow as an executive. Her favorite part of working at Ojalá: "I love that I can work on so many different things at the same time. I love the YA space and feel lucky that we have one that I love so much. I get to be friends with all these incredible writers ... I love putting the puzzle together. I love giving people a job! I love nurturing a project from beginning to end," she said. And one can tell from how easily Sobrero talks about her job and the level of excitement in her voice that she really, truly does find joy in all of it. 

Part of her journey into the world of development was the NALIP Latino Lens: Producers Pipeline Incubator.

"There were 12 of us from the industry at all different levels. It was incredible. NALIP is so supportive. Now, I have a whole community behind me. The coolest thing I got [out of it] was a mentor — and the connections. Now I also have more confidence to produce. I’m producing my first short this fall. I’m so eager to get started! Before, I wouldn’t have done it."

Sobrero’s biggest piece of advice to writers: "Connections. It’s said all the time. Networking is one of the biggest pieces of advice people will always get. But it is how it works. I would tell anyone to connect with anyone they think is interesting and they want to meet. Go on LinkedIn! Look at jobs that you want and connect. Find a writer’s group. Find your community, find your people. That’s where it’s gonna start," she said.

"And keep writing! Be persistent. But don’t send your script first. We have to delete that, legally. Work hard, even if it means taking a job not in the Hollywood world, but that keeps you writing. Take all the internships and opportunities that you can. Connections are a big part of how I got here."

And Sobrero’s eye for good story and her development skills are how she’ll keep rising through the ranks.