The Women Behind Becky G’s Documentary: a conversation with Jennifer Tiexiera & Gabriela Cavanagh

An interview with co-directors Jennifer Tiexiera & Gabriela Cavanagh
Interview by Mercedes Gonazales Bazan

In Rebbecca, co-directors Gabriella Kavanaugh and Jennifer Tiexiera deliver a raw, intimate portrait of global pop star Becky G as she returns to her roots through regional Mexican music, a deeply personal album, and her first headlining tour. Far more than a music documentary, Rebecca explores identity, generational trauma, and the power of showing up for oneself.

We spoke with Gabriella and Jennifer about the process of co-directing, shaping the story in real time, and what it meant to honor Becky’s truth on screen.

How did Rebbeca come to be? Was the project initiated by Becky G, her label, or by you both?

Jen: Gabriela and I met Becky separately, but we both had the same reaction—immediate awe. Early conversations with her were so powerful. She spoke openly about the experiences of being a child of immigrants and first or second-generation identity, in ways we hadn’t really heard before. We knew those words would resonate deeply.

Gabriela: When we saw she was going on her first headlining tour, we reached out in hopes of documenting that moment. But the project quickly evolved. It became clear that Becky had so much wisdom, born from real personal growth, and she was still very much in the middle of that process. She was open and generous, and it felt like all the stars aligned. She was at this incredibly unique moment in her life and career.

What was the collaborative process like between the two of you as co-directors, and with Becky herself as both subject and executive producer?

Jen: I love co-directing. It’s always been part of my process, and with Gabriela, it just made sense. She has an incredible eye and was in the field filming, while I came in with editing experience. We both brought those strengths together. We didn’t want to make just a music or tour doc. Becky was willing to go deeper, and that really shaped the film.

Gabriela: I remember hearing Becky speak on a podcast once, and I didn’t even realize it was her at first. She was talking about generational trauma and identity—things I’m still trying to work through in my 40s—and I was just blown away by her insight. So from the start, we knew this would be a close partnership between the three of us.

Gabriela, this was your directorial debut. What was a major learning moment for you during the making of this film?

Gabriela: There were so many, honestly. One big one was learning the beauty of collaboration—something Jen really encouraged from the beginning. I feel lucky to have worked alongside someone whose work I already admired so much. It reminded me that it’s okay to lean on others.

Also, I had to unlearn some of the expectations around big productions. Some of the most powerful moments came from being a one-person crew. It doesn’t have to be flashy to be intimate and effective.

Did you have specific goals when it came to crafting the emotional arc, or did that unfold naturally through filming?

Jen: We always just wanted to do justice to Becky—her individuality, her power, her story. Our goal was authenticity. We hoped this film would be bigger than just us or her. That others—especially families like hers—would see themselves in it.

Gabriela: Becky has lived so much life in 27 years. She's incredibly accessible that way. The emotional arc definitely emerged through the process, but the guiding intention was always about honoring her truth.

What was the timeline for production, and how did the project evolve over time?

Gabriela: Our first shoot day was the first day of Becky’s tour. We were basically launched into it immediately—on the road, filming, building trust. A lot of parts of the story didn’t emerge until months into filming. But overall, it moved quickly: the tour was in September, and we finished editing by the following June.

The film has a strong balance of interviews, vérité, and archival footage. How did you craft that mix?

Jen: Honestly, the archive was a treasure trove. We didn’t realize at first just how much Becky’s mom, Alejandra, had filmed over the years. But we quickly learned that if someone mentioned something—there was probably a home video of it. That made editing really exciting.

Gabriela: That early access to the archive is also why we started editing so soon. Once we saw the volume and richness of it, we knew it would play a big role in shaping the story.

How did your backgrounds as editors influence your directing process?

Gabriela: This was my first time directing after years of editing. It changed how I approached production. During the tour, I was filming single-camera coverage and mentally editing while I shot—focusing on different elements each night, like audience reactions or instrument close-ups, knowing I’d need it all to piece things together later.

Jen: We also worked with two incredible editors—Lauren Sappa and Alex Bose—who helped bring it all to life. It was such a collaborative effort, and they found the perfect balance between intimacy, archive, and performance footage.