Opportunities rarely come fully formed in El Paso. Often these “I did it” moments are pieced together through time and dedication. For local emerging content creators, that means carving a path where one is nonexistent.

Creative director, producer and editor, Jasmine Powers has built a platform amplifying voices in El Paso and beyond through her interviews and videos. Her work blends curiosity and creativity by turning simple ideas into full-fledged projects. She credits her right-hand man, Bryan “BMART” Martinez, as the photographer and videographer who has helped bring her visions to life.

Before her work began gaining traction, Powers dropped out of college at the end of her junior year, choosing a route of not having a college degree.

“I was terrified, but I was more excited and proud of myself for making a decision that I knew would take me where I wanted to be,” Powers said. “When I dropped out, I knew it was for a bigger cause. When you put pressure on something, sometimes you cry, but other times diamonds are created.”

Yet stepping away from school didn’t slow Powers down; she immersed herself in her work, learning through experience rather than in a classroom. One video at a time, Powers and her team built a stronger presence for themselves, even opening doors outside of El Paso.

The work partnership between Powers and Martinez began when they reconnected as old friends. They had known each other before life pulled them in different directions as Martinez studied engineering, while Powers studied business. A few years later, Powers reached out after seeing his camera work online, wanting to collaborate.

“At the beginning, she would always ask me a lot of questions. She didn’t know a lot about the camera work, lighting and audio,” Martinez said. “Nowadays, there’s hardly any mistakes.”

One of their first projects together came in 2024 with a local gym seeking promotion. Despite being paid only $50 for the shoot, both agreed to take it on, focused less on the money and more on taking the first steps to building something bigger.

“Her work ethic is crazy. She’ll be texting a million people to see who’d be down to do videos. While she’s doing that, I’m over here editing the videos,” Martinez said. “It works out because she’ll be the one in front of the camera asking the questions, I record it, and once that’s over, I go through editing, and Jasmine’s already looking for the next project.”

Over time, their work groove started to evolve. Early on, shoots involved long video sessions that needed hours of editing. Like anyone starting something new, mistakes were common, but each mistake is a learning opportunity that can turn into something better.

A shoot with fitness influencer Vanessa Guzman pushed how well they can adapt on the fly. Powers had struggles with the interview format and scrapped it, instead going for a workout-focused video using b-roll from the shoot. The final video ended up with over 100,000 views, proving that flexibility can turn challenges into amazing outcomes.

Following the success of a video with Camryn Heon, a member of the Mexican National Women’s Ice Hockey Team who has roots in El Paso, that reached over 1 million views, Powers broke the seal to begin connecting with professionals outside of El Paso.

One opportunity brought Benedict Coulter, a trailer editor whose work includes Top Gun, Gladiator and Barbie. Powers reached out to him on LinkedIn, and when he responded, she immediately booked a plane ticket.

“He was the nicest man ever. We met him in downtown LA, it was me and my videographers from El Paso,” Powers said. “He had open arms, he was so kind. He jumped in talking about his time with Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, and all these incredible talents.”

Another project led the team to interview actor Sean Kanan, known for his roles in Cobra Kai and Karate Kid 3. 

Powers highlighted the persistence that’s needed to land opportunities like this.

“There’s been so many people we’ve interviewed that I’ve just DM’d,” Powers said. “You’ll get rejected by 100 people. But the 102nd person that sees your text, they’ll respond.”

Powers and Martinez also stress the value of experience, even when it doesn’t come with a paycheck. As for some when entering the creative space, projects come with long hours with little to no pay.

“In the beginning, I did free work every single day for a year,” Powers said. “You literally have to put your head down and work through all of that. Even if people are telling you not to do it, you just keep on going. Each step builds trust in yourself, and eventually, it gets a little easier. If you want to accomplish things, even you are going to think you’re crazy.”

Powers continues to balance her creative projects with a full-time job, using it as a way to fund her vision while still building workplace skills and connections along the way. She has learned that hard work not only strengthens resilience but also teaches patience and discipline.

“There’s power in working because you build resilience. You also have to reset, you have to protect your energy,” Powers said. “Even when you’re clocking into somewhere that doesn’t fully align with your dream, it can drain you. I have to remind myself that this is funding the bigger vision.”

While managing the demands of a full-time job, Powers channels her energy into positive growth, turning challenges into motivation. Each victory, no matter the size, adds to the foundation of what is being built. Through trial and error and a hunger for more, Powers has pushed the narrative, not just for herself, but for a new generation of creators in El Paso. In a city where opportunity is labeled as limited, Powers, Martinez and other creators are proving that it can be made, one project at a time. 

Iziah Moreno is the photo editor and may be reached at [email protected] and @iziiaaahh on Instagram