Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Stella Yrigoyen: From the Guthrie Center to Documentary Filmmaker

May 20, 2025 7:00 PM

As she edits footage for her latest project, Stella Yrigoyen reflects on how her journey began at the Guthrie Center. Not long ago, Stella was a high school senior with big dreams of informing, educating and raising awareness of important issues through documentary storytelling. Today, she is forging a path through her unique lens, giving voice to the stories that matter most.

The Journey

A 2019 Stratford High School graduate, Stella fell in love with filmmaking during her time in SBISD. As a child, she always knew she was drawn to storytelling, but filmmaking classes in Spring Branch ISD helped turn that interest into a passion. After graduation, she majored in radio-television-film at the University of Texas at Austin.

While at UT Austin, she landed a prestigious internship at Austin PBS, where she made connections that led to career opportunities. Since graduating from UT in 2023, Stella has worked as a freelance contributor on various rewarding film projects, but she’ll never forget her roots in SBISD. “The classes I took in SBISD gave me a solid foundation—and the push—to pursue a creative career,” she said.

‘Wish I Knew What I Know Now’

“Looking back, I wish I had trusted my abilities a bit more early on. Freelancing was how I got started in documentary filmmaking, and while it takes persistence, it also gave me the freedom to explore different projects and build my portfolio. You have to be confident in what you bring to the table and stay open to learning as you go.”

“Through the process, I learned that confidence isn’t about being perfect; it’s about showing up, taking chances and valuing your contributions. If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself to speak up, show up and never forget that what I have to offer has value."

“One thing I didn’t realize early on was how valuable internships could be. They gave me hands-on experience and helped me connect with people who opened doors for me. If I were to offer one piece of advice to graduating high school seniors, it would be to secure an internship before starting your first job.”

What I Learned in SBISD That Helped Me Most

“Classes at the Guthrie Center provided an excellent foundation for filmmaking and helped solidify my passion. I learned technical skills I still use today and discovered that creative freedom fuels innovation and encourages new perspectives—both vital for bold storytelling. And that’s what documentary filmmaking is all about.

“My film teacher, Mr. Ortiz, taught us how to use Final Cut, and through his classes and the curriculum, I discovered my love for editing and all the processes that go into making a film.

“In addition to teaching us about filmmaking, he gave us practical life advice—like the importance of networking and becoming a lifelong learner.”

Where I Hope to Be in Five Years

“In five years, I hope to be working full time on documentaries. I’ve been lucky to work on some great TV shows, like Chasing the Tide, a six-part series about a couple’s trek across Texas’s barrier islands that aired on PBS stations across the state, and City of Songs, a travel music show that recently aired on PBS.”

“Since graduating, I’ve balanced working corporate jobs while freelancing on documentary projects. My goal is to eventually focus entirely on producing documentary films and working on projects that align with my creative and professional passions.”