Meet Marissa (she/they), a 1,000 Dreams Fund Broadcasting Cadetship winner.

What is your dream in gaming, esports, and/or content creation?

My dream is to continue growing as a streamer, filmmaker, esports professional, and producer while creating communities where others feel welcomed, supported, and inspired. My ultimate dream is to make movies, host large-scale gaming tournaments, and create a foundation to help others who started out like I did.

1DF truly inspired me to want to create my own organization in the future to guide those with big dreams who may not have access to the right resources and tools. I don’t just want to learn how the industry works—I want to absorb how you teach others and how effective that guidance is, so I can one day help others in the same way. I want to show young creators in this state of the world that their passions are enough to build a meaningful future while being their authentic selves.

Please share how winning support from 1,000 Dreams Fund is important to your dream and what impact it will have on your career?

This cadetship is a crucial step in my startup journey and will help me sharpen my production skills, deepen my understanding of esports broadcasting, and grow into a stronger, more confident filmmaker and creative. It will provide me with the tools to tell better stories, create more impactful work, and eventually share that knowledge with the next generation of creators who are seeking guidance and opportunity in this field.

I know firsthand how difficult it is to break into esports and production as someone who built everything from the ground up. Gaming has shaped my life in every way, supporting me through identity struggles, financial hardship, and moments when I doubted my future. It gave me community, creativity, confidence, and ultimately a career path I never knew was possible.

During my journey, I received support that motivated me to hang onto hope. My dream isn’t just about my own growth—it’s about lifting others alongside me who may have lost their way to what truly inspires them.

Winning support from 1DF directly impacts how I apply my skills across every aspect of my creative work and how I influence the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers. I want my impact to be felt not only through what I create, but through what I’m able to give back to others.

What advice do you have for others who want to work in gaming, esports, and/or content creation?

My advice to anyone who wants to work in gaming, esports, or content creation is to not give up after your first “no.” Rejection is part of the process, not a reflection of your potential. I was very disappointed I didn’t have a job set up right after graduation like everyone else, But I used my time to gather more experience instead of giving up whether that be learning more alone, making films and content with peers, contract work, and applying for other internships. Production has so many different umbrellas, and the more experience you gather, the more opportunities you’ll discover across different areas of the industry.

Many of the skills I started with cosplaying and streaming translated directly into production roles such as art direction, live streaming technology, video editing, design, sewing, and more. Nothing you learn is wasted if you stay open to where it can lead. Don’t limit yourself to one box, and don’t wait for permission to pursue what excites you, even with the lack of production equipment.

Stay curious, build as much experience as you can online if you can’t get hands on experience, and always shoot your shot—you never know which opportunity will change your life by simply showing up, showing off your work, or even meeting that one person that will lead you to the moment you were waiting for.