Mercedes Allen-Sarria
Unicorns & Unicorns
Executive Producer
Area of Expertise: Production, Experiential and Live Action
Mercedes Allen-Sarria, a longtime producer and volunteer with AICP, has spent her entire career fostering relationships between production, agencies, directors, unions, and the commercial industry at large. She possesses that unique combination on-the-ground expertise, resourceful problem solving skills, and production & business management experience to effectively deliver on creative and financial goals.
In the recent global crisis, this specific background led Mercedes to Sony Studio's where she was tasked to open a high complexity covid testing lab in record breaking time. Some of Hollywood’s largest film and television shows as well as countless commercials were able to remain open and thousands of individuals remained employed and safe. In addition to running operations locally, she also oversaw the high complexity labs and Production testing in Atlanta, Albuquerque, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York and New Orleans. She ran these operations in tandem while also serving as the Director of Production at Collector Media Works.
While at Collector, Mercedes serves as Director of Production and Immersive Content in Los Angeles, overseeing production for all of the company’s commercial and experiential projects. Mercedes is passionate about the ever-evolving and exciting world of immersive content, technology, storytelling, and the power of human connection.
Before Collector, Mercedes spent 5 years at Biscuit as Head of Production overseeing some of the biggest commercial campaigns during that time. Her expertise in strategy of the commercial world, eventually led her to her love for non-traditional storytelling through activations and experimental work. Mercedes ran the experiential division at Biscuit and was the Executive Producer for all immersive entertainment. Prior to becoming staff at Biscuit, Mercedes line produced and managed commercials both domestically and globally for over 15 years.
A current board member of the AICP, Mercedes has been active in teaching at AICP’s Production Training Seminar and also co-created the quarterly networking “HOP Brunch” for heads of production across the industry. She has also had longtime involvement with several outreach organizations in Los Angeles including Manifest Works and Streetlights (both providing job placement for at-risk individuals on set), Prop-Up (reusing furniture and props from productions to set up homes for aged out foster care youth), and Safe Place for Youth (reusing wardrobe to provide new outfits for homeless and at-risk youth).
Mercedes has a BA in film and documentary studies from the College of Santa Fe. In her home state, she served on the board of New Mexico Mental Health and worked with the organization Girls Film School to mentor at-risk youth on filmmaking, and ultimately led a group of mentees in creation of the documentary “Educating Marissa.” As a direct result of this documentary, New Mexico passed seven new laws addressing sexual assault in a special legislative session and Mercedes was honored as one of New Mexico’s Women of the Year. Mercedes currently resides in North Hollywood with her husband Mateo, two children, Leo and Remi, and a terribly behaved cat named Rufio