Alicia Rivera Frankl is a trailblazing force in the entertainment industry whose life story spans continents, cultures, and careers. Born and raised in the Bronx’s housing projects to a Puerto Rican father and Jewish mother, Alicia’s early years were shaped by resilience, family closeness, and a hunger to rise. From sleeping in a single bed with her parents to buying her first brownstone at 22 with help from relatives, Alicia’s journey has always been rooted in community and determination. She began her professional ascent on Wall Street, becoming one of the first Latinas hired by a major brokerage firm. Though she was studying to become a broker at the Institute of Finance, Alicia felt a spiritual calling to pivot—and she did. She left finance to pursue filmmaking, securing funding for her husband’s first show and launching a prolific career behind the scenes.

Alicia made history as the first Latina to head the accounting department at Paramount Studios, contributing to iconic productions like Shogun, Lethal Weapon, and Zorro. Her expertise in finance and production led her to serve as VP of Finance for Moctesuma Esparza and later co-founded DragonTree Media, where she continues to mentor emerging filmmakers—especially Latinas—on budgeting, scheduling, and producing.

Fluent in Spanish and Hebrew, Alicia has lived and worked around the world, including a transformative period in Israel during wartime. She proudly identifies as a “Spanglish New Yorker” and plans to write A New Urican Goes to Tel Aviv, chronicling the challenges of navigating a foreign country without knowing the language. Now approaching 80, Alicia remains a powerhouse of energy and wisdom. Despite enduring ten back surgeries and a heart operation, she reinvented herself after six and a half years of recovery, guided by faith and the belief that it’s never too late to start anew. Her grandmother’s mantra— “As long as God is in your life, you’re good”—continues to anchor her.

Alicia raised her children in Beverly Hills, worked tirelessly to provide for her family, and embraced her role as a “sugar mama” while her husband stayed home. Though divorced, she remains deeply connected to her children and grandchildren, and lives in Marina del Rey. Her son Rami is a writer and aspiring investment banker.

Alicia is a proud member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), where she served as Chair of the Latino Committee, and the International Alliance of Crew & Stage Employees (IA) as a production accountant. She views producers and directors as small business owners and champions their growth through mentorship and advocacy.